Side Effects of Effergin

Effergin is a dietary supplement drink mix advertised as preventing heart disease, reducing blood pressure and improving erectile dysfunction. The primary ingredient in Effergin is the amino acid arginine, which poses a risk for side effects in some people.

Side Effects

• Possible arginine side effects include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and gout, reports RxList. It may also cause headaches, an increased incidence of cold sores, numbness and swelling in your legs.

Drug Interactions

• Arginine can potentially cause dangerous drops in blood pressure when taken with hypertension drugs, reports RxList. Arginine combined with the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil or heart medications such as isosorbide or nitroglycerine may cause dizziness.

Risks

• Arginine can cause changes in your blood chemistry, such as high potassium, high chloride, low sodium, low phosphate and high creatinine levels, reports the Mayo Clinic. Arginine may also cause low blood pressure, with the potential for fainting or depriving your brain or heart of oxygen.

Warning

• Some patients develop severe, potentially life-threatening, allergic reactions to arginine. If you experience hives, chest pain, shortness of breath or swelling of your face or throat, seek emergency medical attention, suggests the Physicians’ Desktop Reference.

Considerations

• Because arginine's effects upon fetal development are unknown, avoid using Effergin if you are pregnant or nursing. If you have a history of allergies, asthma, cirrhosis, hypotension, heart attack, genital herpes, diabetes or kidney or liver disease, products containing arginine may be unsafe.