Drug reference

Levocarnitine

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 1143, 1144

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

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 continued → to plasma-carnitine concentration, then (by mouth) maintenance 1 g daily, administered if beneﬁt is gained from ﬁrst intravenous course

PDF pages 1143, 1144

Cautions

Diabetes mellitus

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Safety

Side Effects

▶Rare or very rare Abdominal cramps. diarrhoea. nausea. skin odour abnormal. vomiting SIDE-EFFECTS, FURTHER INFORMATION Side-effects may be dose-related—monitor tolerance during ﬁrst week and after any dose increase.

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Pregnancy

Appropriate to use; no evidence of teratogenicity in animal studies.

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Renal Impairment

Accumulation of metabolites may Blood and nutrition occur with chronic oral administration in severe impairment.

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Monitoring Requirements

▶Monitoring of free and acyl carnitine in blood and urine recommended.

PDF page 1144

Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Forms available from special-order manufacturers include: capsule Solution for injection ▶Carnitor (Logixx Pharma Solutions Ltd) L-Carnitine 200 mg per 1 ml Carnitor 1g/5ml solution for injection ampoules | 5 ampoule P £59.50 DT = £59.50 Oral solution ▶Levocarnitine (Non-proprietary) L-Carnitine 300 mg per 1 ml Levocarnitine 1.5g/5ml (30%) oral solution paediatric | 20 ml P £71.40 DT = £71.40 | 40 ml P £118.00 ▶Carnitor (Logixx Pharma Solutions Ltd) L-Carnitine 100 mg per 1 ml Carnitor oral single dose 1g solution sugar-free | 10 unit dose P £35.00 DT = £35.00 Chewable tablet ▶Carnitor (Logixx Pharma Solutions Ltd) L-Carnitine 1 gram Carnitor 1g chewable tablets | 10 tablet P £35.00 DT = £35.00 Capsule ▶Bio-Carnitine (Pharma Nord (UK) Ltd) L-Carnitine 250 mg Bio-Carnitine 250mg capsules | 125 capsule £11.06 2.3 Cystinosis 2.3a Nephropathic cystinosis AMINO ACIDS AND DERIVATIVES

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Dose text by age group

Adult

Up to 200 mg/kg daily in 2–4 divided doses;

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1143

Adult

Up to 100 mg/kg daily in 2–4 divided doses, to be

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1143

Adult

20 mg/kg, to be administered over 2–3 minutes,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1143

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.

Drug reference

Levocarnitine

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 1143, 1144

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

PDF pages 1143, 1144

Cautions

Diabetes mellitus

PDF page 1144

Safety

Side Effects

PDF page 1144

Pregnancy

Appropriate to use; no evidence of teratogenicity in animal studies.

PDF page 1144

Renal Impairment

Accumulation of metabolites may Blood and nutrition occur with chronic oral administration in severe impairment.

PDF page 1144

Monitoring Requirements

▶Monitoring of free and acyl carnitine in blood and urine recommended.

PDF page 1144

Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

PDF page 1144

Dose text by age group

Adult

Up to 200 mg/kg daily in 2–4 divided doses;

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1143

Adult

Up to 100 mg/kg daily in 2–4 divided doses, to be

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1143

Adult

20 mg/kg, to be administered over 2–3 minutes,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1143

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.