lower Carnitor Injection Generic Name: levocarnitine Dosage Form: injection, solution Overview Side Effects Dosage Professional Interactions More Pregnancy Warnings Breastfeeding Warnings User Reviews Drug Images Support Group Q & A Pricing & Coupons Carnitor Injection Description 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 CARNITOR (levocarnitine) Injection is a sterile aqueous solution containing 1 g of levocarnitine per 5 mL vial. The pH is adjusted to 6.0 - 6.5 with hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. Slideshow Drug Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis - What Are Your Options? Carnitor Injection - Clinical Pharmacology CARNITOR (levocarnitine) is a naturally occurring substance required in mammalian energy metabolism. It has been shown to facilitate long-chain fatty acid entry into cellular mitochondria, thereby delivering substrate for oxidation and subsequent energy production. Fatty acids are utilized as an energy substrate in all tissues except the brain. In skeletal and cardiac muscle, fatty acids are the main substrate for energy production. Primary systemic carnitine deficiency is characterized by low concentrations of levocarnitine in plasma, RBC, and/or tissues. It has not been possible to determine which symptoms are due to carnitine deficiency and which are due to an underlying organic acidemia, as symptoms of both abnormalities may be expected to improve with CARNITOR . The literature reports that carnitine can promote the excretion of excess organic or fatty acids in patients with defects in fatty acid metabolism and/or specific organic acidopathies that bioaccumulate acylCoA esters. 1-6 Secondary carnitine deficiency can be a consequence of inborn errors of metabolism or iatrogenic factors such as hemodialysis. CARNITOR may alleviate the metabolic abnormalities of patients with inborn errors that result in accumulation of toxic organic acids. Conditions for which this effect has been demonstrated are: glutaric aciduria II, methyl malonic aciduria, propionic acidemia, and medium chain fatty acylCoA dehydrogenase deficiency. 7,8 Autointoxication occurs in these patients due to the accumulation of acylCoA compounds that disrupt intermediary metabolism. The subsequent hydrolysis of the acylCoA compound to its free acid results in acidosis which can be life-threatening. Levocarnitine clears the acylCoA compound by formation of acylcarnitine, which is quickly excreted. Carnitine deficiency is defined biochemically as abnormally low plasma concentrations of free carnitine, less than 20 µmol/L at one week post term and may be associated with low tissue and/or urine concentrations. Further, this condition may be associated with a plasma concentration ratio of acylcarnitine/levocarnitine greater than 0.4 or abnormally elevated concentrations of acylcarnitine in the urine. In premature infants and newborns, secondary deficiency is defined as plasma levocarnitine concentrations below age-related normal concentrations. End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients on maintenance hemodialysis may have low plasma carnitine concentrations and an increased ratio of acylcarnitine/carnitine because of reduced intake of meat and dairy products, reduced renal synthesis and dialytic losses. Certain clinical conditions common in hemodialysis patients such as malaise, muscle weakness, cardiomyopathy and cardiac arrhythmias may be related to abnormal carnitine metabolism. Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies with CARNITOR have shown that administration of levocarnitine to ESRD patients on hemodialysis results in increased plasma levocarnitine concentrations. PHARMACOKINETICS In a relative bioavailability study in 15 healthy adult male volunteers, CARNITOR Tablets were found to be bio-equivalent to CARNITOR Oral Solution. Following 4 days of dosing with 6 tablets of CARNITOR 330 mg b.i.d. or 2 g of CARNITOR oral solution b.i.d., the maximum plasma concentration (C max ) was about 80 µmol/L and the time to maximum plasma concentration (T max ) occurred at 3.3 hours. The plasma concentration profiles of levocarnitine after a slow 3 minute intravenous bolus dose of 20 mg/kg of CARNITOR were described by a two-compartment model. Following a single i.v. administration, approximately 76% of the levocarnitine dose was excreted in the urine during the 0-24h interval. Using plasma concentrations uncorrected for endogenous levocarnitine, the mean distribution half life was 0.585 hours and the mean apparent terminal elimination half life was 17.4 hours. The absolute bioavailability of levocarnitine from the two oral formulations of CARNITOR , calculated after correction for circulating endogenous plasma concentrations of levocarnitine, was 15.1 5.3% for CARNITOR Tablets and 15.9 4.9% for CARNITOR Oral Solution. Total body clearance of levocarnitine (Dose/AUC including endogenous baseline concentrations) was a mean of 4.00 L/h. Levocarnitine was not bound to plasma protein or albumin when tested at any concentration or with any species including the human. 9 In a 9-week study, 12 ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis for at least 6 months received CARNITOR 20 mg/kg three times per week after dialysis. Prior to initiation of CARNITOR therapy, mean plasma levocarnitine concentrations were approximately 20 µmol/L pre-dialysis and 6 µmol/L post-dialysis. The table summarizes the pharmacokinetic data (mean SD µmol/L) after the first dose of CARNITOR and after 8 weeks of CARNITOR therapy. N=12 Baseline Single dose 8 weeks C max - 1139 240 1190 270 Trough (pre-dialysis, pre-dose) 21.3 7.7 68.4 26.1 190 55 After one week of CARNITOR therapy (3 doses), all patients had trough concentrations between 54 and 180 µmol/L (normal 40-50 µmol/L) and concentrations remained relatively stable or increased over the course of the study. In a similar study in ESRD patients also receiving 20 mg/kg CARNITOR 3 times per week after hemodialysis, 12- and 24-week mean pre-dialysis (trough) levocarnitine concentrations were 189 (N=25) and 243 (N=23) µmol/L, respectively. In a dose-ranging study in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis, patients received 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg CARNITOR 3 times per week following dialysis (N~30 for each dose group). Mean SD trough levocarnitine concentrations (µmol/L) by dose after 12 and 24 weeks of therapy are summarized in the table. 12 weeks 24 weeks 10 mg/kg 116 69 148 50 20 mg/kg 210 58 240 60 40 mg/kg 371 111 456 162 While the efficacy of CARNITOR to increase carnitine concentrations in patients with ESRD undergoing dialysis has been demonstrated, the effects of supplemental carnitine on the signs and symptoms of carnitine deficiency and on clinical outcomes in this population have not been determined. METABOLISM AND EXCRETION In a pharmacokinetic study where five normal adult male volunteers received an oral dose of [ 3 H-methyl]-L-carnitine following 15 days of a high carnitine diet and additional carnitine supplement, 58 to 65% of the administered radioactive dose was recovered in the urine and feces in 5 to 11 days. Maximum concentration of [ 3 H-methyl]-L-carnitine in serum occurred from 2.0 to 4.5 hr after drug administration. Major metabolites found were trimethylamine N-oxide, primarily in urine (8% to 49% of the administered dose) and [ 3 H]-γ-butyrobetaine, primarily in feces (0.44% to 45% of the administered dose). Urinary excretion of levocarnitine was about 4 to 8% of the dose. Fecal excretion of total carnitine was less than 1% of the administered dose. 10 After attainment of steady state following 4 days of oral administration of CARNITOR Tablets (1980 mg q12h) or Oral Solution (2000 mg q12h) to 15 healthy male volunteers, the mean urinary excretion of levocarnitine during a single dosing interval (12h) was about 9% of the orally administered dose (uncorrected for endogenous urinary excretion). Indications and Usage for Carnitor Injection For the acute and chronic treatment of patients with an inborn error of metabolism which results in secondary carnitine deficiency. For the prevention and treatment of carnitine deficiency in patients with end stage renal disease who are undergoing dialysis. Contraindications None known. Warnings None. Precautions General The safety and efficacy of oral levocarnitine has not been evaluated in patients with renal insufficiency. Chronic administration of high doses of oral levocarnitine in patients with severely compromised renal function or in ESRD patients on dialysis may result in accumulation of the potentially toxic metabolites, trimethylamine (TMA) and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), since these metabolites are normally excreted in the urine. Drug 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. Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility Mutagenicity tests performed in Salmonella typhimurium , Saccharomyces cerevisiae , and Schizosaccharomyces pombe indicate that levocarnitine is not mutagenic. No long-term animal studies have been performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of levocarnitine. Pregnancy Pregnancy Category B. Reproductive studies have been performed in rats and rabbits at doses up to 3.8 times the human dose on the basis of surface area and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to CARNITOR . There are, however, no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Nursing Mothers Levocarnitine supplementation in nursing mothers has not been specifically studied. Studies in dairy cows indicate that the concentration of levocarnitine in milk is increased following exogenous administration of levocarnitine. In nursing mothers receiving levocarnitine, any risks to the child of excess carnitine intake need to be weighed against the benefits of levocarnitine supplementation to the mother. Consideration may be given to discontinuation of nursing or of levocarnitine treatment. Pediatric Use See Dosage and Administration. Adverse Reactions Transient nausea and vomiting have been observed. Less frequent adverse reactions are body odor, nausea, and gastritis. An incidence for these reactions is difficult to estimate due to the confounding effects of the underlying pathology. 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 activity, an increase in seizure frequency and/or severity has been reported. The table below lists the adverse events that have been reported in two double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in patients on chronic hemodialysis. Events occurring at 5% are reported without regard to causality. Adverse Events with a Frequency 5% Regardless of Causality by Body System Placebo (n=63) Levocarnitine 10 mg (n=34) Levocarnitine 20 mg (n=62) Levocarnitine 40 mg (n=34) Levocarnitine 10, 20 & 40 mg (n=130) Body as Whole Abdominal pain 17 21 5 6 9 Accidental injury 10 12 8 12 10 Allergic reaction 5 6 2 Asthenia 8 9 8 12 9 Back pain 10 9 8 6 8 Chest pain 14 6 15 12 12 Fever 5 6 5 12 7 Flu syndrome 40 15 27 29 25 Headache 16 12 37 3 22 Infection 17 15 10 24 15 Injection site reaction 59 38 27 38 33 Pain 49 21 32 35 30 Cardiovascular Arrhythmia 5 3 3 2 Atrial fibrillation 2 6 2 Cardiovascular disorder 6 3 5 6 5 Electrocardiogram abnormal 3 6 2 Hemorrhage 6 9 2 3 4 Hypertension 14 18 21 21 20 Hypotension 19 15 19 3 14 Palpitations 3 8 5 Tachycardia 5 6 5 9 6 Vascular disorder 2 2 6 2 Digestive Anorexia 3 3 5 6 5 Constipation 6 3 3 3 3 Diarrhea 19 9 10 35 16 Dyspepsia 10 9 6 5 Gastrointestinal disorder 2 3 6 2 Melena 3 6 2 Nausea 10 9 5 12 8 Stomach atony 5 Vomiting 16 9 16 21 15 Endocrine System Parathyroid disorder 2 6 2 6 4 Hemic/Lymphatic Anemia 3 3 5 12 6 Metabolic/Nutritional Hypercalcemia 3 15 8 6 9 Hyperkalemia 6 6 6 6 6 Hypervolemia 17 3 3 12 5 Peripheral edema 3 6 5 3 5 Weight decrease 3 3 8 3 5 Weight increase 2 3 6 2 Musculo-Skeletal Leg cramps 13 8 4 Myalgia 6 Nervous Anxiety 5 2 1 Depression 3 6 5 6 5 Dizziness 11 18 10 15 13 Drug dependence 2 6 2 Hypertonia 5 3 1 Insomnia 6 3 6 4 Paresthesia 3 3 3 12 5 Vertigo 6 2 Respiratory Bronchitis 5 3 3 Cough increase 16 10 18 9 Dyspnea 19 3 11 3 7 Pharyngitis 33 24 27 15 23 Respiratory disorder 5 Rhinitis 10 6 11 6 9 Sinusitis 5 2 3 2 Skin And Appendages Pruritus 13 8 3 5 Rash 3 5 3 3 Special Senses Amblyopia 2 6 3 Eye disorder 3 6 3 3 Taste perversion 2 9 3 Urogenital Urinary tract infect 6 3 3 2 Kidney failure 5 6 6 6 6 Overdosage 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. Carnitor Injection Dosage and Administration CARNITOR Injection is administered intravenously. Metabolic Disorders The recommended dose is 50 mg/kg given as a slow 2-3 minute bolus injection or by infusion. Often a loading dose is given in patients with severe metabolic crisis, followed by an equivalent dose over the following 24 hours. It should be administered q3h or q4h, and never less than q6h either by infusion or by intravenous injection. All subsequent daily doses are recommended to be in the range of 50 mg/kg or as therapy may require. The highest dose administered has been 300 mg/kg. It is recommended that a plasma carnitine concentration be obtained prior to beginning this parenteral therapy. Weekly and monthly monitoring is recommended as well. This monitoring should include blood chemistries, vital signs, plasma carnitine concentrations (the plasma free carnitine concentration should be between 35 and 60 µmol/L) and overall clinical condition. ESRD Patients on Hemodialysis The recommended starting dose is 10-20 mg/kg dry body weight as a slow 2-3 minute bolus injection into the venous return line after each dialysis session. Initiation of therapy may be prompted by trough (pre-dialysis) plasma levocarnitine concentrations that are below normal (40-50 µmol/L). Dose adjustments should be guided by trough (pre-dialysis) levocarnitine concentrations, and downward dose adjustments (e.g. to 5 mg/kg after dialysis) may be made as early as the third or fourth week of therapy. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. COMPATIBILITY AND STABILITY CARNITOR Injection is compatible and stable when mixed in parenteral solutions of Sodium Chloride 0.9% or Lactated Ringer's in concentrations ranging from 250 mg/500 mL (0.5 mg/mL) to 4200 mg/500 mL (8.0 mg/mL) and stored at room temperature (25 C) for up to 24 hours in PVC plastic bags. How is Carnitor Injection Supplied CARNITOR (levocarnitine) Injection is available in 1 g per 5 mL single dose vials packaged 5 vials per carton (NDC 54482-147-01). CARNITOR (levocarnitine) Injection 5 mL vial is manufactured for Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by Sigma-Tau S.p.A., 00040 Pomezia (Rome), Italy. Store vials at controlled room temperature (25 C). See USP. Discard unused portion of an opened vial, as the formulation does not contain a preservative. US Patent Nos. 6,335,369; 6,429,230; 6,696,493 Rx only. REFERENCES Bohmer, T., Rydning, A. and Solberg, H.E. 1974. Carnitine levels in human serum in health and disease. Clin. Chim. Acta 57:55-61. Brooks, H., Goldberg, L., Holland, R. et al. 1977. Carnitine-induced effects on cardiac and peripheral hemodynamics. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 17:561-568. Christiansen, R., Bremer, J. 1976. Active transport of butyrobetaine and carnitine into isolated liver cells. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 448:562-577. Lindstedt, S. and Lindstedt, G. 1961. Distribution and excretion of carnitine in the rat. Acta Chem. Scand. 15:701-702. Rebouche, C.J. and Engel, A.G. 1983. Carnitine metabolism and deficiency syndromes. Mayo Clin. Proc. 58:533-540. Rebouche, C.J. and Paulson, D.J. 1986. Carnitine metabolism and function in humans. Ann. Rev. Nutr. 6:41-66. Scriver, C.R., Beaudet, A.L., Sly, W.S. and Valle, D. 1989. The Metabolic Basis of Inherited Disease. New York: McGraw-Hill. Schaub, J., Van Hoof, F. and Vis, H.L. 1991. Inborn Errors of Metabolism. New York: Raven Press. Marzo, A., Arrigoni Martelli, E., Mancinelli, A., Cardace, G., Corbelletta, C., Bassani, E. and Solbiati, M. 1991. Protein binding of L-carnitine family components. Eur. J. Drug Met. Pharmacokin. , Special Issue III: 364-368. Rebouche, C.J. 1991. Quantitative estimation of absorption and degradation of a carnitine supplement by human adults. Metabolism 40:1305-1310. PREVIOUS EDITION IS OBSOLETE Date of Issue: 04/15 VPI-12 PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - CARTON LABEL Carnitor (levocarnitine) Injection 1g/5mL [200 mg/mL] FOR INTRAVENOUS USE ONLY Each 5mL vial contains: 1g of Levocarnitine as an aqueous solution 1g/5mL [200mg/mL]. May contain HCl or NaOH for pH adjustment. Dosage: See package insert. Store at controlled room temperature (25 C). See USP. Avoid excessive heat. Protect from freezing. Discard any unused portion as the formulation does not contain preservative. Rx only. VC(l)-4 0108 Distributed by sigma-tau PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. GAITHERSBURG, MD 20878 Manufactured by: sigma-tau S.p.A. Via Pontina Km 30 , 400 00040 Pomezia - (Rome), Italy for sigma-tau PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. Carton Label CARNITOR levocarnitine injection, solution Product Information Product Type HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG LABEL Item Code (Source) NDC:54482-147 Route of Administration INTRAVENOUS DEA Schedule Active Ingredient/Active Moiety Ingredient Name Basis of Strength Strength LEVOCARNITINE (LEVOCARNITINE) LEVOCARNITINE 1 g in 5 mL Inactive Ingredients Ingredient Name Strength WATER HYDROCHLORIC ACID SODIUM HYDROXIDE Packaging # Item Code Package Description 1 NDC:54482-147-01 5 VIAL in 1 CARTON 1 5 mL in 1 VIAL Marketing Information Marketing Category Application Number or Monograph Citation Marketing Start Date Marketing End Date NDA NDA020182 12/16/1992 Labeler - Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (068301431) Establishment Name Address ID/FEI Operations Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A. 428869028 MANUFACTURE(54482-147) Establishment Name Address ID/FEI Operations Biosint S.p.A. 428954135 API MANUFACTURE(54482-147) Revised: 12/2016 Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Next Interactions Print this page Add to My Med List More about Carnitor (levocarnitine) Side Effects During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding Dosage Information Drug Images Drug Interactions Support Group Pricing & Coupons En Español 0 Reviews Add your own review/rating Generic Availability Drug class: nutraceutical products Consumer resources Carnitor ... +4 more Professional resources Carnitor (AHFS Monograph) Carnitor Oral Solution (FDA) Carnitor Tablets (FDA) Other brands: Carnitor SF Related treatment guides Carnitine Deficiency Peripheral Neuropathy} FEATURED: CAR-T Cell Therapy Overview Mechanism of Action KTE-C19 Studies KTE-C19 Cancer Targets Adverse Events Manufacturing Drug Status Rx Availability Prescription only B Pregnancy Category No proven risk in humans N/A CSA Schedule Not a controlled drug Approval History Drug history at FDA Manufacturer Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Drug Class Nutraceutical products Related Drugs nutraceutical products glucosamine , melatonin , Fish Oil , Coenzyme Q10 , Lovaza Carnitine Deficiency levocarnitine , L-Carnitine , More... Carnitor Rating No Reviews - Be the first! No Reviews - Be the first! Not Rated - Be the first! Carnitor Images Carnitor 330 mg (CARNITOR ST ) View larger images} } differ size-wise
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