Levocarnitine

Description

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. chemical structure

What Is Levocarnitine Used For?

INDICATIONS AND USAGE 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.

Dosage and Administration

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.

Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)

ADVERSE REACTIONS 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 ).

Drug Interactions

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.

Contraindications

CONTRAINDICATIONS None known.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Pregnancy 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.

Overdosage

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.

How Supplied

HOW 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 distributed by Leadiant Biosciences, Inc. 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.