Levocarnitine is used to prevent and treat a lack of carnitine. It is used to prevent and treat this condition in patients with kidney disease on dialysis. It is given to people whose body cannot properly use carnitine from their diet. Lack of carnitine can lead to liver, heart, and muscle problems.
Levocarnitine is a naturally occurring substance required in mammalian energy metabolism. It has been shown to facilitate long-chain fatty acid entry into cellular mitochondria, thereby delivering substrate for oxidation and subsequent energy production. Fatty acids are utilized as an energy substrate in all tissues except the brain. In skeletal and cardiac muscle, fatty acids are the main substrate for energy production.
Primary carnitine deficiency due to inborn errors of metabolism BY MOUTH Adult: Up to 200 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses; maximum 3 g per day BY SLOW INTRAVENOUS INJECTION Adult: Up to 100 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses, to be administered over 2-3 minutes Secondary carnitine deficiency in haemodialysis patients INITIALLY BY SLOW INTRAVENOUS INJECTION Adult: 20 mg/kg, to be administered over 2-3 minutes, after each dialysis session, dosage adjusted according to plasma-carnitine concentration, then (by mouth) maintenance 1 g daily, administered if benefit is gained from first intravenous course
SIDE-EFFECTS Abdominal pain . body odour . diarrhoea . nausea . vomiting SIDE-EFFECTS, FURTHER INFORMATION Side-effects may be dose-related?monitor tolerance during first week and after any dose increase.
PREGNANCY Appropriate to use; no evidence of teratogenicity in animal studies.
There have been no reports of toxicity from levocarnitine overdosage.
Do not store above 30°C. Keep away from light and out of the reach of children.
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