Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
ADVERSE REACTIONS 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 levocarnitine 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 activity, an increase in seizure frequency and/or severity has been reported.
WARNINGS Hypersensitivity Reactions Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including rash, urticaria, and facial edema have been reported with oral levocarnitine.
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 levocarnitine and instruct patients to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms suggestive of a hypersensitivity reaction.
Like all medications, Levocarnitine can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: