Levocarnitine (Systemic)

Brand Names : Carnitor, L-carnitine

Category

• Carnitine deficiency prevention and therapy agent

Description

Levocarnitine (lee-voe-KAR-ni-teen) 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. Your doctor may treat lack of carnitine by prescribing levocarnitine for you.

Carnitine comes in two forms. Levocarnitine (L-carnitine) should not be confused with the D,L-carnitine form (labeled as �vitamin B _T �'). Only the L-form of carnitine is used by the body to treat serious carnitine deficiency. The D,L-form does not help the body use fat and can actually interfere with and cause a lack of levocarnitine.

Certain levocarnitine products have been specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for medical use and are available only with your doctor's prescription. Other levocarnitine products are sold without a prescription as food supplements and should not be used to treat serious levocarnitine deficiency.

Levocarnitine is available by prescription in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Solution (U.S. and Canada)
• Tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

• Carnitor

In Canada -

• Carnitor

Another commonly used name is L-carnitine .