LEVOCARNITINE

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: Levocarnitine injection, USP is a sterile aqueous solution containing 1 g of levocarnitine per 5 mL vial, and 4 g of levocarnitine per 20 mL vial, and water for injection q.s. The pH is adjusted to 6 to 6.5 with hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide. Chemical Structure

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.

Levocarnitine Injection, USP is administered intravenously. Metabolic Disorders The recommended dose is 50 mg/kg given as a slow 2 to 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 every 3 hours or every 4 hours, and never less than every 6 hours 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 to 20 mg/kg dry body weight as a slow 2 to 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 to 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.

None known.

Clinical Trials Experience 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. 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 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been reported: 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. Hypersensitivity reactions : Anaphylaxis, laryngeal edema and bronchospasm (see WARNINGS ).

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.