L-Carnitine
Also known as · Levocarnitine · Carnitor · ALC (acetyl form)
- EvidenceApproved
- CategoryMetabolic
- RouteIV / IM / oral
- Half-life~17.4 h (IV terminal)
01 / Dosing schedule
Cited dosing
The FDA-approved Carnitor injection is for IV use only, dosed for acute or chronic treatment of primary and secondary carnitine deficiency. Oral Carnitor is dosed at 990 mg two to three times daily.
Carnitor injection — IV use, deficiency
| Phase | Dose & frequency |
|---|---|
| Adult dose | 50 mg/kg IV as a loading dose, followed by 50 mg/kg/day (max ~5 g/day) infused |
| Route | Intravenous only — label is explicit |
| Vial | 1 g levocarnitine per 5 mL |
| Half-life | Terminal ~17.4 h; distribution ~35 min |
Carnitor oral — adult deficiency
| Phase | Dose & frequency |
|---|---|
| Standard oral dose | 990 mg (three 330 mg tablets) two to three times daily |
| Alternative oral solution | 1–3 g/day (10–30 mL/day) for a 50 kg subject |
| Route | Oral only — not parenteral |
Source · FDA label — Carnitor oral (2002) ↗
Source indication · Primary systemic carnitine deficiency and secondary deficiency in patients on hemodialysis (Carnitor label).
- Injection frequency
- IV: daily infusion. Oral: two to three times daily.
- Injection sites
- IV: central or peripheral line per protocol.
02 / Reconstitution
Reconstitution reference
Carnitor injection ships pre-formulated as 1 g per 5 mL (200 mg/mL) — no reconstitution required. For research-grade L-carnitine powder, a typical prep is 1 g in 4 mL bacteriostatic water = 250 mg/mL. The FDA label restricts injection to IV use; other parenteral routes are outside the label.
03 / Overview
Protocol overview
L-Carnitine (levocarnitine) is an endogenous carrier that shuttles long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane for beta-oxidation.
The FDA-approved indications are primary systemic carnitine deficiency and secondary carnitine deficiency in patients on chronic hemodialysis. The label is explicit that the injection is for IV use only.
The terminal plasma half-life after IV administration is ~17.4 hours. Roughly 76% of an IV dose is excreted in the urine within 24 hours in patients with normal renal function.
Bodybuilding and metabolic-research protocols using intramuscular or subcutaneous injection are outside the FDA label. The label limits parenteral use to intravenous administration.
04 / References