Safety first
L-arginine side effects: stomach, blood pressure and medicines
L-arginine side effects most often involve the stomach: nausea, abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea. More serious are low blood pressure with nitrates, sildenafil-type medicines and blood pressure medicines, and deaths after a heart attack in one trial. MemoHoney has 400 mg of arginine rows per capsule, far below those studied doses.
Written by the MemoHoney label deskUpdated · 5 min read
What are the common L-arginine side effects?
The common L-arginine side effects are stomach ones: nausea, abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea.
Mayo Clinic also lists gout, headache, an allergic response, and airway inflammation or worse asthma (Mayo Clinic, L-arginine). Case reports describe esophagitis and acute pancreatitis with arginine-containing products (MSK, Arginine). Doses of 9 to 30 g a day mostly cause stomach upset. A MemoHoney capsule has 0.4 g in its two arginine rows, so what you would feel at that amount is not known.
Which medicines interact with arginine?
Nitrates, sildenafil-type medicines and blood pressure medicines interact with arginine, because blood pressure can fall too low.
| Medicine type | Concern |
|---|---|
| Nitrates for chest pain | Blood pressure may become too low |
| Sildenafil-type medicines | Blood pressure may become too low |
| Blood pressure medicines | Added effect on blood pressure |
| Blood thinners | May add to the effect |
| Diabetes medicines | May add to the effect |
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start. Keep taking prescribed medicine as directed.
Who should avoid L-arginine?
People after a recent heart attack should avoid L-arginine: in the VINTAGE MI trial, 6 of 153 patients on arginine died, against none on placebo (Schulman 2006, VINTAGE MI).
Take extra care with gout, asthma, allergy, and kidney problems, and if you are pregnant, nursing or under 18, as the MemoHoney label advises you to consult a physician first.
MemoHoney capsules: 30 to a bottleOne capsule a day · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · price and shipping shown at checkout
See the priceWhen should arginine side effects send you to a clinician?
Call a clinician for dizziness on standing, a rash, or stomach trouble that does not settle, and call 911 for chest pain, fainting or trouble breathing.
- Dizzy, faint or lightheaded on standingA sign blood pressure may be too low, especially with nitrates, ED medicines or blood pressure medicines. Sit or lie down, stop the capsules and call your doctor.
- Chest pain, fainting, trouble breathingCall 911 now. Do not drive yourself, and do not wait for a supplement to help.
- Stomach pain, bloating or diarrheaThe common side effects of arginine. Stop and ask a clinician if they last.
- Rash, hives or swellingPossible allergy. Stop and get medical help; swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing is an emergency.
- Memory slipping fast, getting lost, repeating questionsThese are warning signs NIA lists for a medical check. See a clinician rather than waiting for a supplement to help.
Signs from (Mayo Clinic, L-arginine) (NIA, Memory problems and aging) (FDA report a problem). This list is not complete. A supplement is never a reason to wait.
You can report problems to the FDA (FDA report a problem). Memory problems that are new or getting worse also need a clinician, not a supplement.
What does this mean for MemoHoney?
MemoHoney has two arginine rows that total 400 mg a capsule, so these cautions apply to it.
It is a dietary supplement, not a drug, and contains no honey. Check the side effects page and the medicines guide before ordering.
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FAQ
MemoHoney questions people ask
What are the side effects of L-arginine supplements?
Mostly stomach upset: nausea, abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea. Others listed are gout, headache, allergic reactions and worse asthma. It can also drop blood pressure too far with some medicines. Doses of 9 to 30 g a day mostly cause the stomach effects.
Can L-arginine cause low blood pressure?
Yes, it can, especially with nitrates, sildenafil-type medicines or blood pressure medicines. Symptoms include dizziness on standing. In trials at 4 to 24 g a day, systolic pressure fell about 5 mm Hg. MemoHoney's arginine rows are 400 mg.
Is L-arginine safe for the heart?
Not after a recent heart attack. In VINTAGE MI, 6 of 153 patients on arginine died, against none on placebo, and the authors said it should not be recommended after a heart attack. Ask your clinician if you have heart disease.
How long do arginine side effects last?
The sources do not give a standard duration. Stomach effects are usually tied to dose, and stopping the supplement is the usual response. If symptoms are severe or last, contact a clinician or pharmacist.
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Pages built from the label, the seller's brief and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site of a USA Authorized MemoHoney Retailer. It is not the manufacturer, and the label names INSTITUTO EXPERIENCE (Ogden, Utah) as the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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