CARNITOR® (levocarnitine) Injection 1 g per 5 mL vial
FOR INTRAVENOUS USE ONLY.
Description
Clinical Pharmacology
Pharmacokinetics
Metabolism and Excretion
Indications and Usage
Contraindications
Warnings
Precautions
Adverse Reactions
Overdosage
Dosage and Administration
Compatibility and Stability
How Supplied
References
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: C7H15NO3
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.
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 (Cmax) was about
80 µmol/L and the time to maximum plasma concentration (Tmax)
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 |
| Cmax | - | 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
[3H-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 [3H-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 [3H]-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 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. (US Patent Nos. 6,335,369; 6,429,230; 6,696,493)
PRECAUTIONS
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.
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 LD50 of levocarnitine in rats is 5.4 g/kg and
the oral LD50 of levocarnitine in mice is 19.2 g/kg. Large doses of levocarnitine may cause
diarrhea.
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 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 or Chesapeake Biological Laboratories,
Inc. Baltimore, MD 21230-2591.
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.
CARNITOR® (levocarnitine) is also available in the following dosage forms:
CARNITOR® (levocarnitine) Tablets are supplied as 330 mg tablets embossed with "CARNITOR ST" in blister packages, in boxes of 90 tablets (NDC 54482-144-07). Made in Italy.
CARNITOR® (levocarnitine) Oral Solution is supplied in 118 mL (4 FL. OZ.) multiple-unit plastic containers. The multiple-unit containers are packaged 24 per case (NDC 54482-145-08). CARNITOR® (levocarnitine) Oral Solution is manufactured for Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co., Inc., Amityville, NY 11701.
Rx only.
- 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.
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