L-Arginine

[MaryMcE]

Hi all.

I have never been diagnosed, but certainly have something going on with my bladder. I was on the BCP and it bottomed out my estrogen level, dried out my bladder totally, and I got a UTI and the antiboitics burned the crap out of my bladder (my theory in piecing this all together after almost 2 years).

Estrogen therapy was HUGE for me and gave me about 80% relief, but some days are still pretty uncomfortable with bloating and pressure. I am taking D-Mannose, which I love and the girl at the health food store recommended L-Arginine as well. I waited until I talked to my doctor, as it says on the bottle not to use with estrogen. He said that the estrogen I am using is low dose, but that L-arginine was garbage and not to waste my money, but he didn't see any problems if I did. Well, I felt FANTASTIC using those 3 things. I had about 6 weeks of feeling really great. (It was heaven).

However (isn't there always a however??? - urg) on the L-arginine bottle it says not to use it for more than 8 weeks. Does anyone know why? What are the dangers? I would love any more info on this stuff.

Thanks all.

Mary

[Julie B]

Hi Mary!

Great that you are having such good luck with the treatments you are using.

The reason you should limit the l-Arginine is that it competes with other amino acids for absorption. So, if you are filling your body with l-Arginine, you aren't absorbing l-Lysine which creates its own problems, one being that you are more susceptible to cold sores.

I hope that helps!!!

[MaryMcE]

Thanks Julie B.

I stopped it on the weekend so I will take a long break for sure. It says right on the bottle not to use if you have herpes, so what you said makes a lot of sense. I do not have herpes or cold sores, but I sure don't want them either!

Any thoughts as to how long I need to wait before I use it again? I do not want it interfering with any other of my body's levels.

Thanks again for the info!

Mary

[Purplez]

My doctor last week suggested I try L-arginine. He said some of his IC patients are helped by it. I'm starting to take it and I think it does have a positive effect.

I do take protein powder that contains many amino acids, so hopefully that balances things out, related to Julie B's post.

[MaryMcE]

Thanks Purplez.

Did your dr. say it was okay to take continously? I stopped taking it Saturday and have had a terrible few days with today being the worst in a few months. I'm just about ready to jump back into the bottle!!

m

[Purplez]

Mary,

My doctor did not say that I couldn't take it continuously. Here's what I am finding online about side effects and precautions. So you might note if any of these conditions apply to you, to be on the safe side:

http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/herbsvitaminsad/a/Arginine.htm


Side Effects of L-Arginine

L-arginine may lower blood pressure because it is involved in the formation of nitric oxide. It may also result in indigestion, nausea, and headache.

L-arginine should not be used following a heart attack. If you have a history of heart disease, consult your doctor before taking L-arginine.

Higher doses of arginine can increase stomach acid, so it may worsen heartburn, ulcers, or digestive upset cause by medications. Arginine appears to increase stomach acid by stimulating the production of gastrin, a hormone that increases stomach acid.

L-arginine may also alter potassium levels, especially in people with liver disease. People with kidney disease and those who take ACE inhibitors or potassium sparing diuretics should not use supplemental L-arginine unless they are under professional supervision. It may also alter the levels of other chemicals and electrolytes in the body, such as chloride, sodium, and phosphate.

Arginine may increase blood sugar levels, so it shouldn't be used by people with diabetes unless under a doctor's supervision.

Pregnant and nursing women and children should not use supplemental L-arginine, as it's safety has not been established.

People with genital herpes should not take L-arginine because it may aggravate their symptoms.


Possible Drug Interactions

L-arginine may counteract the benefits of lysine to treat herpes

NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) or other drugs that are hard on the stomach should not be combined with L-arginine.

Drugs that alter potassium levels in the body, such as ACE inhibitors and potassium sparing diuretics.

THere's additional info here, under Precaution:

http://www.nutrovita.com/info/l-arginine.html


Here's an interesting site about the benefits:

http://www.drmirkin.com/women/W131.htm

... which says this:

"L-arginine, a protein building block, raises tissue levels of nitric oxide and relaxes bladder muscle spasms to help control the pain of interstitial cystitis "

It cites a 1999 clinical study, where it was found effective. So maybe that was the reason it was helping you?

[MaryMcE]

Thanks so much Purplez. That is a lot of great stuff! I do not have any of those things going on, so maybe it will be okay? I'll give it a couple more days and see if things improve on their own with just the estrogen and d-mannose. If not, I'll try the L-arginine again.

What dose are you taking and how many times per day? I'd love to hear how it works for you. I noticed a difference after about 4 days of 1000 mg 3x per day. I went down to 2x per day after about 3 weeks.

m

[Purplez]

Mary,

I am taking 500 mg, 3x a day. I don't know if there's anything magical about that dose. It's just what my dr suggested.

[MaryMcE]

Well, I was off the L-Arginine for 2 weeks and by the second week I was just miserable coz I felt so awful. I started the L-A again and within 3 days I felt better again.

I'm going to stay on it for a couple of months and then decide what I want to do. I am taking 1000 mg 3x a day at present. I hope to cut that dose down to 500 mg 3x a day.

How are you making out Purplez?

Mary