carnitor
Carnitor (Levocarnitine) is a carnitine analog used to treat Deficiency Diseases.
Levocarnitine · by Leadiant Biosci Inc
Available as a generic: Levocarnitine
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Levocarnitine
- Drug class
- Carnitine Analog
- Form
- Tablet
- Strength
- Levocarnitine 1GM/10ML · Levocarnitine 330MG
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- May treat
- deficiency diseases
- Manufacturer
- Leadiant Biosci Inc
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$0.15 per ml — not your price
- FDA application
- NDA018948
What is Carnitor?
From the FDA label:CARNITOR ® (levocarnitine) is a carrier molecule in the transport of long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane. The chemical name of levocarnitine is 3-carboxy-2( R )-hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethyl-1-propanaminium, inner salt. Levocarnitine is a white crystalline, hygroscopic powder. It is readily soluble in water, hot alcohol, and insoluble in acetone. The specific rotation of levocarnitine is between -29° and -32°. Its chemical structure is: Empirical Formula: C 7 H 15 NO 3 Molecular Weight: 161.20 Each CARNITOR ® (levocarnitine) Tablet contains 330 mg of levocarnitine and the inactive ingredients magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and povidone. Each 118 mL container of CARNITOR ® (levocarnitine) Oral Solution contains 1 g of levocarnitine/10 mL. Also contains: Artificial Cherry Flavor, D,L,-Malic Acid, Purified Water, Sucrose. Methylparaben NF and Propylparaben NF are added as preservatives. The pH is approximately 5. Each 118 mL container of CARNITOR ® SF (levocarnitine) Sugar-Free Oral Solution contains 1 g of levocarnitine/10 mL. Also contains: Natural Cherry Flavor, D,L,-Malic Acid, Purified Water, Sodium Saccharin USP. Methylparaben NF and Propylparaben NF are added as preservatives. The pH is approximately 5. Chemical Structure
How to use
CARNITOR ® (levocarnitine) Tablets. Adults: The recommended oral dosage for adults is 990 mg two or three times a day using the 330 mg tablets, depending on clinical response. Infants and children: The recommended oral dosage for infants and children is between 50 and 100 mg/kg/day in divided doses, with a maximum of 3 g/day. Dosage should begin at 50 mg/kg/day. The exact dosage will depend on clinical response. Monitoring should include periodic blood chemistries, vital signs, plasma carnitine concentrations and overall clinical condition. CARNITOR ® (levocarnitine) Oral Solution and CARNITOR ® SF (levocarnitine) Sugar-Free Oral Solution. For oral use only. Not for parenteral use. Adults: The recommended dosage of levocarnitine is 1 to 3 g/day for a 50 kg subject, which is equivalent to 10 to 30 mL/day of CARNITOR ® (levocarnitine) Oral Solution or CARNITOR ® SF (levocarnitine) Sugar-Free Oral Solution. Higher doses should be administered only with caution and only where clinical and biochemical considerations make it seem likely that higher doses will be of benefit. Dosage should start at 1 g/day, (10 mL/day), and be increased slowly while assessing tolerance and therapeutic response. Monitoring should include periodic blood chemistries, vital signs, plasma carnitine concentrations, and overall clinical condition. Infants and children: The recommended dosage of levocarnitine…
Side effects
The following adverse reactions associated with the use of oral formulations of levocarnitine were identified in clinical trials or postmarketing reports. Because these reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate their frequency, reliability, or to establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Gastrointestinal Reactions: Various mild gastrointestinal complaints have been reported during the long-term administration of oral L- or D,L-carnitine; these include transient nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Gastrointestinal adverse reactions with CARNITOR ® (levocarnitine) Oral Solution or CARNITOR ® SF (levocarnitine) Sugar-Free Oral Solution dissolved in liquids might be avoided by a slow consumption of the solution or by a greater dilution. Decreasing the dosage often diminishes or eliminates drug-related patient body odor or gastrointestinal symptoms when present. Tolerance should be monitored very closely during the first week of administration, and after any dosage increases. Musculoskeletal Reactions : Mild myasthenia has been described only in uremic patients receiving D,L-carnitine. Neurologic Reactions : Seizures have been reported to occur in patients with or without pre-existing seizure activity receiving either oral or intravenous levocarnitine. In patients with pre-existing seizure…
Warnings
Important safety information
Hypersensitivity Reactions Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including rash, urticaria, and facial edema have been reported with oral CARNITOR ® . Other serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, laryngeal edema, and bronchospasm have been reported following intravenous levocarnitine administration, mostly in patients with end stage renal disease undergoing dialysis. Discontinue use of CARNITOR ® and instruct patients to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms suggestive of a hypersensitivity reaction.
Who should not take Carnitor
None known.
Overdose — what happens if you take too much
There have been no reports of toxicity from levocarnitine overdosage. Levocarnitine is easily removed from plasma by dialysis. The intravenous LD 50 of levocarnitine in rats is 5.4 g/kg and the oral LD 50 of levocarnitine in mice is 19.2 g/kg. Large doses of levocarnitine may cause diarrhea.
U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.
Interactions
Reports of INR increase with the use of warfarin have been observed. It is recommended that INR levels be monitored in patients on warfarin therapy after the initiation of treatment with levocarnitine or after dose adjustments.
Drug class
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
See how Carnitor ranks — best-rated carnitine analog for:
Dosage forms
Tablet
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
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Frequently asked questions
- What does Carnitor treat?
- Carnitor (Levocarnitine) may be used to treat deficiency diseases, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How much does Carnitor cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.15 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Carnitor?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Carnitor. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Carnitor?
- Carnitor is marketed by Leadiant Biosci Inc. You can see Leadiant Biosci Inc's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Carnitor a brand-name or generic drug?
- Carnitor is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Levocarnitine. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Levocarnitine are available — ask your pharmacist.
- Is Carnitor available over the counter?
- No. Carnitor is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Carnitor come in?
- Carnitor is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Carnitor?
- Carnitor is classified as carnitine analog, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Carnitor FDA-registered?
- Carnitor is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA018948. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Is Carnitor safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict, and we don't yet have a composite recall-safety score for Carnitor. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings below, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Carnitor?
- Carnitor's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The following adverse reactions associated with the use of oral formulations of levocarnitine were identified in clinical trials or postmarketing reports. Because these reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate their frequency,… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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