Blood Test came back NEGATIVE for HSV1, HSV2, and EBV — should I stop taking Lysine?

Two considerations, regarding a decision to stop either the prescription antiviral or lysine.

First, and probably most important, was the relief you got after taking (first) the antiviral, and (second) the lysine. There is an exceptionally high chance that those antiviral agents stopped the replication of herpes viruses in your inner ear. With that, the inflammation the virus causes in the inner ear, which causes the symptoms of Meniere's in most cases, ceased. Can't ask for anything better. That, alone, strongly suggests that you should continue with the lysine.

Of course, you are wondering that if the blood tests for the listed viruses were negative, then doesn't that mean that viruses causing Meniere's are no longer active or present and you can then terminate either or both antivirals?

If the blood tests are entirely accurate, that would be the case. But even after their activities (replication and resultant inner ear tissue inflammation) have abated (which seems to be the case right now), the viruses may still be present in the inner ear; just not active. If that's so, when the antivirals are stopped the viruses will sooner or later re-activate, start to replicate, and the consequent inflammation will bring back symptoms.

My personal recommendation (subject to approval by your physician, of course), would be to continue with the lysine for at least another six months. A full year might be better. Then, incrementally reduce the lysine dosages each day, over several weeks, being attentive to the resumption of any Meniere's symptoms. If they appear, go back to the lysine immediately, at a full dose.

This is pretty much what I did, with the regimen I devised. After working it up and taking it, my symptoms slowly began to fade. Seemed like it was working, was preventing the reappearance of symptoms. Incidences of vertigo subsided, and later feelings of ear fullness became less severe. Finally, only some reduced tinnitus continued. After about a year, with no vertigo or fullness, I slowly backed off the regimen. Now, for well over a decade, I've had no symptoms. The tinnitus finally abated.

My best wishes. Keep us posted on your progress.

--John of Ohio

 

The ability of the herpes virus to become resistant to lysine therapy is minimal. In herpes viral replication (the making of more herpes virions, virus particles) the amino acid arginine is used; is required. But if present, lysine is able to chemically substitute for arginine. Where an arginine would be in place a lysine interferes and gets substituted. Without arginines in the proper locations and sequences, the herpes virus becomes disabled; unable to replicate. A herpes virus using lysines instead of arginines is no longer an infective, bioactive virus; wouldn't be able to replicate itself.

Yes, vitamin D numbers above 100 ng/ml are too high. Cut your dosage 50 to 75%. Ideally, you want the level to be between 40 and 60ng/ml.

--John of Ohio

 

I was just wondering since you both were dealing with a viral cause, if you had any other symptoms of a viral infection or just Meniere’s. I’m trying to figure out what triggered mine after being dormant for years.

 

For Grapejuice, I have no idea if the COVID19 virus is in any way, shape, or form related to the HERPES Simplex virus but I caught COVID on Christmas day, 2021, and coincidentally or not, my Menieres symptoms came rushing back in early January and lasted through March. Since then, I've been symptom free.

Best of health to you!