Carnitine
Carnitine supplements are used for L-carnitine deficiency and athletic performance. Meat, fish, and milk are the best food sources of carnitine.
Carnitine Overview
Carnitine is derived from an amino acid, building blocks for protein. Carnitine plays a critical role in energy production in cells of the body.
Carnitine is the broad term for group of compounds that include L-carnitine and propionyl-L-carnitine.
Carnitine supplements are used for L-carnitine deficiency, athletic performance, heart disease, aging process, cancer, diabetes, diseases of the blood vessels (peripheral artery disease), and many other uses.
Carnitine Cautionary Labels
Uses
Carnitine supplements are used for L-carnitine deficiency, athletic performance, heart disease, aging process, cancer, diabetes, diseases of the blood vessels (peripheral artery disease), and many other uses.
Carnitine has not been proven effective for all of the uses listed above. Carnitine may be used for other conditions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Side Effects of Carnitine
Carnitine supplements at doses of approximately 3 grams/day can cause:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea
- “Fishy” body order
This is not a complete list of carnitine side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
Carnitine Interactions
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:
- Anticoagulants: warfarin (Coumadin) and acenocoumarol (Sintrom)
- Thyroid hormone: levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levothroid, Levoxyl)
This is not a complete list of carnitine drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Carnitine Precautions
Special precautions & warnings:
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using carnitine if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or trying to become pregnant.
