L - ARGININE

[rotciv]

Hi,

As part of a treatment for my relatively mild Peyronies I started taking one of the recommended supplements, L-Arginine, 500mg daily, with breakfast.

After just over a month (originally week) I noticed that I was starting to get a build-up of phlegm in my chest which I could feel rising and having to be swallowed. Sometimes the phlegm caused a slight cough to clear it.

The phlegm started to build at about lunchtime, but I never had a problem at night in bed and always woke with a clear chest (which was counter-intuitive, as I'd have thought lying down would make it worse).

To see if the L-Arginine is implicated I've stopped taking it so I can see if the phlegm clears; if it does I can then restart to see if it returns as a double-check.

With something as vague as a little phlegm it might be difficult for me to pinpoint the cause exactly, so I thought I'd ask here if anyone else had noticed this?

One of the published side-effects of L-Arginine is that it can make asthma worse; I'm not an asthma sufferer as far as I'm aware, but I did wonder if there was a link.

[edited to correct week to month - too tired to post?]

[Hawk]

We are all different but in 7 years on this and other forums I have never heard of an association between L- Arginine and phlem.  

[rotciv]

Thanks Hawk,

As this stuff's on sale in any health food shop, I thought it unlikely as well but wanted to ask. Interestingly, two days off it and no real phlegm issue today.

Oh, and I corrected my original post. It was about 6 am when I wrote "week" and must have saw what I expected to see rather than what I actually wrote when I reviewed it. I was on the L-Arginine just over a month and the phlegm thing seemed to build up over time.

I'll stay off it for a week or so, then restart to see if symptoms return. I'll keep you appraised. Then I'll check out Ubiquinol.

[Unbelievable]

What's the opinion on this supplement? Is this just part of this cocktail I keep hearing about so you don't know which one is actually working? Thanks for your help as I'm new to this...

[Jonbinspain]

Briefly, Arginine is an amino acid that helps the body produce Nitric Oxide. This dilates the blood vessels and improves blood supply to the entire body - including, of course the penis. Good blood supply is essential to maintain a healthy penis. And, of course, it's rather difficult to achieve an erection without it!.

[Rags]

I know the function of L-Arginine for NO production/blood flow (it's in a lot of bodybuilding supplements for that reason), but I'm wondering if there's any evidence to support that it would permanently improve Peyronie's, or if it's just something people with severe Peyronie's take to help them with their erections?

I spoke about my own circumstances in another thread, here's a quick recap: I have what most would probably consider mild Peyronie's. I have scar tissue and indentation/bend to a small degree that is much more noticeable in a flaccid state (I have lost all rigidity and girth in the flaccid state, and my penis tends to look a lot droopier and thinner when it's flaccid; however, when my penis "shrivels up" due to something like cold weather, or after ejaculation, it is now much smaller than it used to be, and takes on a 'pinched' form, as if the blood is constructed in a ring around the middle of the penis -- almost as if I were holding it pinched with invisible fingers right in the middle, so clearly the scar tissue is cutting off circulation to an extent). When I'm erect I think I've lost a little bit of length -- maybe about an inch -- but overall there's no real bend or issues with my erections.  Probably the worst thing is that I can sort of feel the breakage point in my penis when I'm erect (where I think it must have 'snapped' during intercourse a few years ago) but, apart from a little bit less length, I don't have nearly as bad a case as most people here with significant bends, etc.

So, to get to the point: taken with ALC and Coq10 (in the hopes of 'healing' the scar tissue) is this going to help permanently improve my situation or is it kind of pointless for me to take given that I don't have significant problems with erections? I guess it can't hurt to take but I'm just trying to figure out whether it's a temporary fix or a permanent fix. I feel like with my condition it may not be necessary.

[Jonbinspain]

O.k. First thing to understand is that there IS no guaranteed cure for Peyronie's. What we do know ,from all our collective experiences, is that blood flow is essential to the maintenance of a healthy penis.

Have you seen a Urologist?  If not, it really would be advisable. If a diagnosis of Peyronie's is made, then yes, Arginine will at least help your condition.

I wish I could tell you that if you do this, or take that, your condition will improve, but for the reasons I gave, I can't.  If you have a relatively straight erection, and no trouble getting, or maintaining an erection, then your condition is not too bad. But really, see a Urologist. You can find a list of recommended ones on this site.

[Unbelievable]

Jonbin,

Thanks for your reply. I have seen an urologist and all he did was tell me to take Vitamin E. So Pentox and Arginine and VED are all new to me as I wasn't recommended anything! I will try Arginine very soon. Thanks.

Just bought it on Puritan's Pride...1000 mg, 100 tablets buy 1 get 2 free...not bad.  

[Njnist]

Jonbin,

Thanks for your reply. I have seen an urologist and all he did was tell me to take Vitamin E. So Pentox and Arginine and VED are all new to me as I wasn't recommended anything! I will try Arginine very soon. Thanks.

Just bought it on Puritan's Pride...1000 mg, 100 tablets buy 1 get 2 free...not bad.

I got the same answer from my uro after 3 visits over a year (starting with the initial pain). When he finally realized what it was (of course I already knew thanks to you guys) he told me to take vitamin E and pretend like I don't have it. Damn Kaiser!! I am now taking l arg, ALC, E occasionally, Omega 3s and a b-complex as well as CoQ10. I'm only 26 and am trying to educate him on Pentox as I want to try everything I can to fight this any way I can. The first time I messaged him about Pentox, he said he had not heard of it's use but instead suggested Potaba but followed it by saying I would have to take a lot of tablets. I don't want to even go down that road, it sounds like a nightmare. I'm tempted to order Pentox online but I know I shouldn't be taking it without a doctors order.....maybe I can talk to my General MD about it:(

[IhatePD]

Unbelievable and Njnist, find another urologist that is up to date on Peyronies Disease. My urologist gave me the same wait and see and try some vitamin E. Six months later and after trying all the topical scams from the Peyronies Disease Institute, I found this website and went back to my urologist armed with new information. He is great for treating BPH (enlarged prostate) but knew nothing about Pentox or its use in treating Peyronies Disease.

I picked Dr. Metro in Norristown PA from the recommended list of urologists on this site and now I am on Pentox, L Arginine, daily Cialis, Ubiquinol and traction. Do not wait. I wasted six months while my Peyronies Disease got worse. That pisses off about the Peyronies Disease Institute much more than the money. I wasted time as the disease progressed when I should have been on Pentox immediately!

I hope I am not out of line here but if anyone out there has a good urologist that is not on the list, let the moderators know so they can be put on the recommended list.

To the moderators, please correct me if I am wrong on how to add names to the list and let everyone know how to add recommended urologists to the list.

Thanks to all of you who put this site together!

[Njnist]

Yah I did search for a peyronies specialist and even messages a urologist center in San Diego. They never messaged me back. I was up in San Francisco visiting my sister recently and really wanted to stop by UCSF medical but it would be pointless without a referral and besides I don't really have the money to pay out of pocket considering I am a working student. Either way I ordered some pentox and will be discussing concerns with my doctor and perhaps take any necessary precautions from taking it. I know he can't encourage its use but he can perhaps educate me on what to watch out for while taking it.

When I do start taking it (working my way up to tid dosing of course) should I continue by 2g of arginine and carnitine daily as well as fish oil and coq10? Or should I cut any of those out ? Right now I plan on taking all of them together if I tolerate them. Thanks guys for the help

[Jonbinspain]

Hi Njnist;

You're young and Providing you don't have any heart or blood pressure problems, you should be o.k. I take pretty much the same supplements + 3 x 400mg Pentox. I'm 63 but in pretty good shape as I'm in the gym 3-4 days a week.

There can be side effects to the Pentox. They vary on an individual basis.  So yes, start with the minimum and go from there. The only side effect I get now is occasional gastric upset, depending on what I may have eaten, etc.

[Njnist]

Yah, I have no health problems and am fairly active. I was getting some acid reflux from something I was taking but it has since subsided but other than that no problems with the supplements so far. I usually ate a fairly healthy diet but recently have been eating loads of fresh vegetables in everything I cook. No health problems, blood pressure is excellent. I figure I might as well give my body the best chance to remain healthy. I recently cut out dairy for another reason, so maybe that might help as well. Anyways, thanks for everyone's help I think I would've gone crazy without you guys around. Glad there is somewhere to discuss these things as peyronie's is still infrequently (or never) discussed in the mainstream medical world.

[james1947]

Njnist

Start with 400mg Pentox during breakfast (1/2 way more or less).
If no side effects for a week (or after the side effects stopped), take the second 400mg during lunch.
If no side effects for a week (or after side effects stopped), take the third 400mg during dinner, latest 06PM.
The doctors are concerned for internal bleeding as it is written on the pack as possible side effects.

James

[powderpowder]

Right now i am taking Pentox, CoQ10 and Vit E.  Should I add these supplements to my regimen?  What are the risks of taking these? Because I think I heard L-arginine or ALC (not sure which one) has some negative effects.

[james1947]

You may find answers to your questions in the links bellow:
Dosage per day for L-arginine and Q10 - Peyronies Society Forums
Carnitine help??! - Peyronies Society Forums
L-Arginine - Peyronies Society Forums
L-Arginine causing excess chest phlegm? - Peyronies Society Forums
And remember that Viagra, Cialis, Levitra is lowering blood pressure, L-Arginine does the same.
In my opinion, if on L-Arginine and using also one of the above, have to monitor blood pressure frequently.

James

[powderpowder]

Thank you James.  How do I go about getting blood pressure checked.  And by the way, with Pentox, do i need to get blood checked to see if levels are ok?  My primary physician still has no idea I have Peyronies.

[james1947]

One of the Pentox side effects is possibility that it will reduce the quantity of the white blood cells (leukocytes).
So I am proposing you make a simple basic blood test, after two or three months make it again and see if have difference.
I was hopping that this side effect will kick in while I was on Pentox because my leukocytes are at the 20,000 mark while the range for Caucasian man is 4,000 to 11,000. I didn't had this side effect to my disappointment.
Regarding blood pressure test, can buy an electronic device that you are mounting to the wrist while testing. I bought one long time ago, but also today the prices starts from around $50.

James

[Cal30]

Hi All,

I've decided to try l-argenine and I'm just wondering what daily doses you folks use? In the document prepared by James1947 (here --> https://www.peyroniesforum.net/index.php/topic,2728.0.html), it states 5g/day. This seems like a lot and I'm wondering if this should be done all in one sitting or spaced out through the day?

Also is it better to take l-argenine in the morning or at night?

(I'm planning to take l-argenine and pycnogenol to treat ED.)

Thanks,

Cal30

[UrsusMinor]

If you're trying to get erect, 5 g is about right, all in one go.

All that spreading it out does is let the body get used to it, so it has far less effect.

[dplookin]

Just a comment about Arginine.  A few years ago, I did a lot of research on L-Arginine.  The conclusion is that to get Arginine to function like it should, a person needs to take 5 to 7 grams for the full effect.  I have noticed that some people recommend taking just 1 gram.  It is best to take at least 4 grams to start.  Just FYI..........dplookin.  

[james1947]

dplookin

You are not new to the forum and you know that opening endless topics on the same subject makes the forum less readable.

James

[james1947]

This topic deals with L - ARGININE aspects.

James

[james1947]

From the link bellow, an additional support for the importance of L-Arginine:
Dementia 'halted in mice brains' - BBC News
What cached my eyes is the sentence bellow:

They found some microglia changed to become exceptionally adept at breaking down a component of protein, an amino acid called arginine, in the early stages of the disease.
As arginine levels plummeted, the immune cells appeared to dampened the immune system in the brain.

I suppose low Arginine levels dampening the immune system in general, not just the brain.

James