Levocarnitine

Pharmacological properties

Levocarnitine (l-carnitine) is a vitamin-like substance that is naturally synthesized in the liver, kidneys and brain tissue from the amino acids lysine and methionine with the participation of iron and ascorbic acid, in the blood plasma it is in free form and in the form of acyl carnitine esters. Levocarnitine, the main cofactor of the exchange of fatty acids in the tissues of the heart, liver and skeletal muscles, plays the role of the main carrier of long chain fatty acids in the mitochondria, where they are beta-oxidized to acetyl-coa with the subsequent formation of atph. It helps to eliminate metabolites and toxic substances from the cytoplasm, improves metabolic processes, increases efficiency, accelerates growth, leads to an increase in muscle mass and a decrease in the amount of fat in adipocytes, and helps to normalize the main metabolism in hyperthyroidism. it reduces the severity of symptoms of physical and mental overstrain, has a neuro-, hepato- and cardioprotective effect, helps to reduce the severity of myocardial ischemia and limit the infarction zone, reduces the level of blood pressure in the blood, stimulates cellular immunity, and increases concentration. levocarnitine eliminates functional disorders of the nervous system in patients with chronic alcoholism with withdrawal syndrome. with intense physical activity and sports, carnitine increases endurance, the threshold of muscle pain sensitivity, optimizes the work of skeletal muscles and heart muscle. after oral administration, the drug is rapidly absorbed in the digestive tract. cmax in blood plasma is reached 3 hours after administration, the therapeutic concentration is maintained for 9 hours. The drug is metabolized with the formation of acyl esters, which are excreted by the kidneys. t½ when taken orally, depending on the dose, is 3–6 hours.

Indications

Primary (congenital) carnitine deficiency; secondary carnitine deficiency; cardiomyopathy

Application

Doses and duration of treatment are set individually depending on the age and nosological form of the disease. agvantar is taken orally 30 minutes before a meal. For dosing, use a dosing syringe or measuring cup. for adults, the drug is prescribed in an initial dose of 1 g / day (5 ml), gradually increasing the dose depending on the patients condition and tolerance. the usual dose of agvantar for adults is 1-3 g (5-15 ml) per day, divided into 1-3 doses. the maximum daily dose for adults is 6 g (30 ml).

Agvantar children are prescribed starting with a dose of 50 mg / kg body weight per day. The usual doses for children are 50–100 mg / kg / day (table).

Table

The maximum daily dose is 3 g. The average course of treatment for adults and children is 1-3 months. If necessary, the course of treatment can be repeated. In the case of primary and secondary carnitine deficiency, the drug is taken continuously or until the cause of the latter is eliminated.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.

Side effects

Sometimes, with individual intolerance, allergic reactions, dyspeptic disorders, pain in the epigastric region, nausea are possible. cases of convulsive seizures in patients with a history of seizure activity and without it are described. in patients with a history of seizure activity, the frequency and / or severity of seizures increased.

special instructions

Do not exceed recommended doses of the drug. if side effects occur, the drug must be discontinued. when prescribing r-ra agvantar to patients with diabetes mellitus, it is necessary to take into account that sucrose is part of the drug.

Use during pregnancy and lactation. The drug has no teratogenic and embryotoxic effects, but due to the lack of adequate controlled clinical trials, the use of the drug in pregnant women is possible only when the expected benefit to the mother outweighs the possible risk to the fetus. If it is necessary to use the drug Avantar, breast-feeding should be stopped for the period of taking the drug.

Children. Agvantar is used in children (full-term and premature newborns) from the first day of life.

The ability to influence the reaction rate when driving vehicles or other mechanisms. Does not affect.

Interactions

The simultaneous use of corticosteroids leads to the accumulation of levocarnitine in the tissues of the body (except for the liver). other anabolic agents enhance the effect of the drug.

Overdose

There is no evidence of an overdose of the drug.

Storage conditions

At a temperature not exceeding 25 ° C.