This is a great product for cats with feline herpes virus, an incurable and unpleasant respiratory illness that causes the cat to continually sneeze and suffer from sores in the mouth, discharge from both eyes and nose, and possibly tooth resorption as well. Although there is no cure for feline herpes and the infection is lifelong, l-lysine does a great job of eliminating the respiratory symptoms since it inhibits replication of the virus. This is well worth the expense of the supplement since feline herpes if untreated can lead to blindness.
NOW foods l-lysine is the same strength as Viralys, which the vet prescribed for my ill cat. She did not test for the disease but told me to try Viralys and if it cleared up the symptoms (which it did) then the cat has herpes and needs to take l-lysine every day. She said that l-lysine is harmless to cats without herpes so there is no need to go to the expense of lab tests; just see whether or not the supplement helps reduce symptoms. I open a capsule and mix the powder into a small amount of baby food chicken and the cat eagerly licks it from the spoon. My cat is small and I have found that in the absence of stress, giving the medication once a day is adequate. "Stress, illness, fleas, poor diet, extreme temperatures or anything else which can negatively affect the immune system may cause the feline herpes virus symptoms to re-emerge," so if I notice a runny nose then I step up the dose to twice a day.
If you are on a really tight budget you can purchase one-pound containers of l-lysine such as Vitacost L-Lysine Powder 435 mg which has 822 servings for under $10. Viralys costs twice as much (about $22) on Amazon for 100 grams, and it is also loose powder so dosing again is approximate. The Viralys container does not specify how many servings are included so it is hard to compare price with the NOW product. However, I like the convenience of the pre-measured capsules and presume that they stay fresher than a tub of powder does, particularly in a humid climate, plus I am hoping that quality control is higher for supplements marketed for people, so I purchase the NOW product.
Here are the dosing directions from Viralys, which is 500mg of l-lysine hydrochloride per rounded scoop mixed into a "palatable" base: Use in cats and kittens as a nutritional supplement for conditions responsive to lysine. The suggested amount for cats over 6 months of age is one rounded scoop (500 mg) given orally twice daily. The suggested amount for kittens under 6 months of age is one-half scoop (250 mg) given orally twice daily. The powder may be sprinkled over dry food or mixed with a small amount of canned food.
I am considering taking this supplement myself, since some research suggests that lysine might help prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis by increasing calcium absorption, although scientific studies are lacking. From UMMC: Most people get enough lysine in their diet, although athletes, vegans who don't eat enough beans, and burn patients may need to take a supplement. For vegans, legumes (beans, peas, and lentils) are the best sources of lysine, although it is also found in nuts, soy products, spirulina, fenugreek seed and brewer's yeast. However, I presume that the marketing for this supplement targets athletes hoping to increase muscle mass rather than vegans or senior citizens, since I find it at the grocery store in the section with protein powders and supplements for athletes.
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This Item  NOW L-lysine 500 mg, 250 Capsules |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | -18% $15.66 List: $18.99 | -7% $12.74 Typical: $13.70 | $25.97 | $14.95 | $25.00 | $34.99 |
| Price Per Unit | $0.06 / Count | $0.05 / Count | — | $0.06 / Count | $0.10 / Count | $0.12 / Count |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Sunday, May 12 | Get it as soon as Sunday, May 12 | Get it as soon as Sunday, May 12 | Get it as soon as Sunday, May 12 | Get it as soon as Monday, May 13 | Get it May 31 - Jun 6 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Flavor | ||||||
| Easy to swallow | ||||||
| Absorbency | ||||||
| Sold By | XSNonline | Spicy Products LLC | Green Valley Health Market LLC | NatureBell | Vitamins To Go | River of Human Health |
| keyword type | l-lysine-nutritional-supplements | l-lysine-nutritional-supplements | l-lysine-nutritional-supplements | l-lysine-nutritional-supplements | l-lysine-nutritional-supplements | l-lysine-nutritional-supplements |
| form | Capsule | Tablet | Tablet | Capsule | Caps,Capsule | Capsule |
| flavor | Unflavored | — | Now Foods L-Lysine 1000mg - Double Strength - 300 Tablets - Non-GMO Amino Acid Supplement (Llysine Hydrochloride)- 1000 mg Tabs - Vegan/Vegetarian | Unflavored | — | — |
| size | 250 Count (Pack of 1) | 250 Count (Pack of 1) | 300 Count (Pack of 1) | 240 Count (Pack of 1) | — | 100 Count (Pack of 3) |
| weight | 3.4 ounces | — | 1.1 pounds | — | 12 ounces | 0.01 ounces |
| age range | Adult | Adult | Adult | Adult | — | Adult |
| product benefit | SUPPORTS COLLAGEN SYNTHESIS | Immune Support | Now Foods L-Lysine 1000mg - Double Strength - 300 Tablets - Non-GMO Amino Acid Supplement (Llysine Hydrochloride)- 1000 mg Tabs - Vegan/Vegetarian | Antioxidant | Metabolism Management | Metabolism Management |
| serving suggestion | 1 capsule | — | 1 tablet | 3 capsules | One Capsule | — |
Reviews with images
Great product, just a little big
I have been using a different brand of lysine previously. This one is 500 mg vs my other that was 450mg. I was surprised how much bigger the 500 mg was than my old brand. It is not a deal breaker for me, but I wish it was a little smaller, although, I like that it has 50 more mg. See the picture, far left is this brand of lysine, right is old brand next to a penny for size. I use lysine when I get mouth sores that flare up. I should take it regularly, but I don’t. It usually takes a week and a half to two weeks to help make them go away. These are capsule form, vs tablets. The capsules are definitely easier to swallow and they don’t have a weird taste.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2023
Size: 100 Count (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase
I have been using a different brand of lysine previously. This one is 500 mg vs my other that was 450mg. I was surprised how much bigger the 500 mg was than my old brand. It is not a deal breaker for me, but I wish it was a little smaller, although, I like that it has 50 more mg. See the picture, far left is this brand of lysine, right is old brand next to a penny for size. I use lysine when I get mouth sores that flare up. I should take it regularly, but I don’t. It usually takes a week and a half to two weeks to help make them go away. These are capsule form, vs tablets. The capsules are definitely easier to swallow and they don’t have a weird taste.
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