I just had my 2nd outbreak recently and I took 3000mg of lysine everyday during it, nothing like my 1st outbreak. It also went away in like less than 3 days. I now take 500mg everyday and haven't had any issues. I know some say that it has no affect at all but I'm not sure how much I believe that because I feel it helped me. I also buy my supplements through a store online, the description of lysine includes that it has been studied that it helps fight the herpes virus. I know a lot of doctors will tell you it hasn't been proven, but think about what has been proven. Medications that are approved by the FDA, all vitamins and supplements are not. Doctors get kick backs from medicine they prescribe, I just feel that there is more money to be made by pharmacutical companies and doctors when they can keep you taking THEIR meds. Think about it, hasn't it been proven that vitamin C keeps your immune system strong and isn't it said that when you get sick to stack up on vitamin C? But yet the FDA won't approve vitamin C to be something that can help people get healthy and keep them that way. If you ask me it's all a bunch of crap. I think there are dozens of vitamins and supplements out there that help our bodies in many ways, if they didn't no one would bother making them. In my opinion if you find something other then prescription meds that help you take them. I took lysine and am still taking it now because I feel it DID help me with my second outbreak.