L-carnitine generic liquid and Twinlab OTC

[Guest guest]

We found out that Benny is deficient in l-carnitine in his bloodwork (and

selenium too, but

that's another story). I saw his pediatrician and she said she didn't know how

to treat

carnitine deficiency in a child and I should figure it out and give him

something. So I

looked at the prescribing details for the levocarnitine that is using

and also at

some other respectable OTC brands. I figured if I needed to I would twist my

primary care

physician's arm to give Ben an Rx.

For a couple of decades, I was under the care of a pioneer in environmental

medicine,

Sherry , MD. She often ordered nutrients from Twinlab, which is a very

reliable and

allergen-conscious brand of supplements. The prescription levocarnitine liquid

contains

artificial cherry flavoring and sucrose (and I think artificial color as well).

The web page for

the metabolic fatty acid disorders which stresses that OTC carnitine supplements

didn't

dissolve well is sponsored by the company that manufactures Carnitor...so I'm

not sure it

is exactly an unbiased source, plus this does not apply to a liquid preparation.

I compared this generic levocarnitine Rx, which I couldn't get anyway unless I

convinced a

doctor to order it, to Twinlab's Mega L-Carnitine Liquid. The latter has

glycerine for a

carbohydrate and sweetener, which is a component of phospolipid membranes and

probably better for our kids than sucrose. It is gluten-free (checked with the

manufacturer) and although it also has sorbitol, it's only 0.5 g/tbsp, and 500

mg of

carnitine/tbsp. It is mild-flavored, although as I'm sure you know that doesn't

mean any

particular picky kid will take it willingly.

Since it contains 500 mg/15 ml, and Ben weighs 54 lbs or 24.5 kg, at 35

mg/Kg/day he

would need 8 or 9 ml, three times a day. He generally takes meds squirted into

his mouth

with a measuring syringe pretty well so this might be a viable option.

I believe they have an orange-flavored version too, but this one is very mild

and probably

vanilla, I can't quite tell, but at least it's GF and free of a whole list of

other common

allergens.

Yesterday I saw my cardiologist and mentioned that I was caring for Ben (had a

picture)

and he was deficient in carnitine and selenium. She immediately asked me if we

were

supplementing...it's pretty important. Oh, one more thing. Mega L-Carnitine

also has

some pantothenic acid which is a B-vitamin only present in fresh fruits and

veggies (of

which Ben eats zero), and it helps metabolize carnitine. I think that is a

plus.

I have no commercial relationship to Twinlab, of course, but I do think they are

reliable.

You can order the Twinlab brand or pick it up at your local health food store. I

got mine in

just a few days from iHerb.com, but it is readily available. Also much less

expensive than

the prescription type.

Peace,

Kathy E.

[Guest guest]

I should add that the label on the Twinlab product explicitly states that it

contains no d,l-

carnitine or d-carnitine. It is solely l-carnitine.

Peace,

Kathy E.

>

> We found out that Benny is deficient in l-carnitine in his bloodwork (and

selenium too,

but

> that's another story). I saw his pediatrician and she said she didn't know

how to treat

> carnitine deficiency in a child and I should figure it out and give him

something. So I

> looked at the prescribing details for the levocarnitine that is using

and also at

> some other respectable OTC brands. I figured if I needed to I would twist my

primary

care

> physician's arm to give Ben an Rx.

>

> For a couple of decades, I was under the care of a pioneer in environmental

medicine,

> Sherry , MD. She often ordered nutrients from Twinlab, which is a very

reliable

and

> allergen-conscious brand of supplements. The prescription levocarnitine

liquid

contains

> artificial cherry flavoring and sucrose (and I think artificial color as

well). The web page

for

> the metabolic fatty acid disorders which stresses that OTC carnitine

supplements didn't

> dissolve well is sponsored by the company that manufactures Carnitor...so I'm

not sure

it

> is exactly an unbiased source, plus this does not apply to a liquid

preparation.

>

> I compared this generic levocarnitine Rx, which I couldn't get anyway unless I

convinced

a

> doctor to order it, to Twinlab's Mega L-Carnitine Liquid. The latter has

glycerine for a

> carbohydrate and sweetener, which is a component of phospolipid membranes and

> probably better for our kids than sucrose. It is gluten-free (checked with

the

> manufacturer) and although it also has sorbitol, it's only 0.5 g/tbsp, and 500

mg of

> carnitine/tbsp. It is mild-flavored, although as I'm sure you know that

doesn't mean any

> particular picky kid will take it willingly.

>

> Since it contains 500 mg/15 ml, and Ben weighs 54 lbs or 24.5 kg, at 35

mg/Kg/day he

> would need 8 or 9 ml, three times a day. He generally takes meds squirted

into his

mouth

> with a measuring syringe pretty well so this might be a viable option.

>

> I believe they have an orange-flavored version too, but this one is very mild

and

probably

> vanilla, I can't quite tell, but at least it's GF and free of a whole list of

other common

> allergens.

>

> Yesterday I saw my cardiologist and mentioned that I was caring for Ben (had a

picture)

> and he was deficient in carnitine and selenium. She immediately asked me if we

were

> supplementing...it's pretty important. Oh, one more thing. Mega L-Carnitine

also has

> some pantothenic acid which is a B-vitamin only present in fresh fruits and

veggies (of

> which Ben eats zero), and it helps metabolize carnitine. I think that is a

plus.

>

> I have no commercial relationship to Twinlab, of course, but I do think they

are reliable.

> You can order the Twinlab brand or pick it up at your local health food store.

I got mine

in

> just a few days from iHerb.com, but it is readily available. Also much less

expensive

than

> the prescription type.

>

> Peace,

> Kathy E.

>

[Guest guest]

I should add that the label on the Twinlab product explicitly states that it

contains no d,l-

carnitine or d-carnitine. It is solely l-carnitine.

Peace,

Kathy E.

>

> We found out that Benny is deficient in l-carnitine in his bloodwork (and

selenium too,

but

> that's another story). I saw his pediatrician and she said she didn't know

how to treat

> carnitine deficiency in a child and I should figure it out and give him

something. So I

> looked at the prescribing details for the levocarnitine that is using

and also at

> some other respectable OTC brands. I figured if I needed to I would twist my

primary

care

> physician's arm to give Ben an Rx.

>

> For a couple of decades, I was under the care of a pioneer in environmental

medicine,

> Sherry , MD. She often ordered nutrients from Twinlab, which is a very

reliable

and

> allergen-conscious brand of supplements. The prescription levocarnitine

liquid

contains

> artificial cherry flavoring and sucrose (and I think artificial color as

well). The web page

for

> the metabolic fatty acid disorders which stresses that OTC carnitine

supplements didn't

> dissolve well is sponsored by the company that manufactures Carnitor...so I'm

not sure

it

> is exactly an unbiased source, plus this does not apply to a liquid

preparation.

>

> I compared this generic levocarnitine Rx, which I couldn't get anyway unless I

convinced

a

> doctor to order it, to Twinlab's Mega L-Carnitine Liquid. The latter has

glycerine for a

> carbohydrate and sweetener, which is a component of phospolipid membranes and

> probably better for our kids than sucrose. It is gluten-free (checked with

the

> manufacturer) and although it also has sorbitol, it's only 0.5 g/tbsp, and 500

mg of

> carnitine/tbsp. It is mild-flavored, although as I'm sure you know that

doesn't mean any

> particular picky kid will take it willingly.

>

> Since it contains 500 mg/15 ml, and Ben weighs 54 lbs or 24.5 kg, at 35

mg/Kg/day he

> would need 8 or 9 ml, three times a day. He generally takes meds squirted

into his

mouth

> with a measuring syringe pretty well so this might be a viable option.

>

> I believe they have an orange-flavored version too, but this one is very mild

and

probably

> vanilla, I can't quite tell, but at least it's GF and free of a whole list of

other common

> allergens.

>

> Yesterday I saw my cardiologist and mentioned that I was caring for Ben (had a

picture)

> and he was deficient in carnitine and selenium. She immediately asked me if we

were

> supplementing...it's pretty important. Oh, one more thing. Mega L-Carnitine

also has

> some pantothenic acid which is a B-vitamin only present in fresh fruits and

veggies (of

> which Ben eats zero), and it helps metabolize carnitine. I think that is a

plus.

>

> I have no commercial relationship to Twinlab, of course, but I do think they

are reliable.

> You can order the Twinlab brand or pick it up at your local health food store.

I got mine

in

> just a few days from iHerb.com, but it is readily available. Also much less

expensive

than

> the prescription type.

>

> Peace,

> Kathy E.

>

[Guest guest]

> >

> > We found out that Benny is deficient in l-carnitine in his

bloodwork (and selenium too,

> but

> > that's another story). I saw his pediatrician and she said she

didn't know how to treat

> > carnitine deficiency in a child and I should figure it out and

give him something. So I

> > looked at the prescribing details for the levocarnitine that

is using and also at

> > some other respectable OTC brands. I figured if I needed to I

would twist my primary

> care

> > physician's arm to give Ben an Rx.

> >

> > For a couple of decades, I was under the care of a pioneer in

environmental medicine,

> > Sherry , MD. She often ordered nutrients from Twinlab,

which is a very reliable

> and

> > allergen-conscious brand of supplements. The prescription

levocarnitine liquid

> contains

> > artificial cherry flavoring and sucrose (and I think artificial

color as well). The web page

> for

> > the metabolic fatty acid disorders which stresses that OTC

carnitine supplements didn't

> > dissolve well is sponsored by the company that manufactures

Carnitor...so I'm not sure

> it

> > is exactly an unbiased source, plus this does not apply to a

liquid preparation.

> >

> > I compared this generic levocarnitine Rx, which I couldn't get

anyway unless I convinced

> a

> > doctor to order it, to Twinlab's Mega L-Carnitine Liquid. The

latter has glycerine for a

> > carbohydrate and sweetener, which is a component of phospolipid

membranes and

> > probably better for our kids than sucrose. It is gluten-free

(checked with the

> > manufacturer) and although it also has sorbitol, it's only 0.5

g/tbsp, and 500 mg of

> > carnitine/tbsp. It is mild-flavored, although as I'm sure you

know that doesn't mean any

> > particular picky kid will take it willingly.

> >

> > Since it contains 500 mg/15 ml, and Ben weighs 54 lbs or 24.5

kg, at 35 mg/Kg/day he

> > would need 8 or 9 ml, three times a day. He generally takes

meds squirted into his

> mouth

> > with a measuring syringe pretty well so this might be a viable

option.

> >

> > I believe they have an orange-flavored version too, but this one

is very mild and

> probably

> > vanilla, I can't quite tell, but at least it's GF and free of a

whole list of other common

> > allergens.

> >

> > Yesterday I saw my cardiologist and mentioned that I was caring

for Ben (had a picture)

> > and he was deficient in carnitine and selenium. She immediately

asked me if we were

> > supplementing...it's pretty important. Oh, one more thing.

Mega L-Carnitine also has

> > some pantothenic acid which is a B-vitamin only present in fresh

fruits and veggies (of

> > which Ben eats zero), and it helps metabolize carnitine. I

think that is a plus.

> >

> > I have no commercial relationship to Twinlab, of course, but I

do think they are reliable.

> > You can order the Twinlab brand or pick it up at your local

health food store. I got mine

> in

> > just a few days from iHerb.com, but it is readily available.

Also much less expensive

> than

> > the prescription type.

> >

> > Peace,

> > Kathy E.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

> >

> > We found out that Benny is deficient in l-carnitine in his

bloodwork (and selenium too,

> but

> > that's another story). I saw his pediatrician and she said she

didn't know how to treat

> > carnitine deficiency in a child and I should figure it out and

give him something. So I

> > looked at the prescribing details for the levocarnitine that

is using and also at

> > some other respectable OTC brands. I figured if I needed to I

would twist my primary

> care

> > physician's arm to give Ben an Rx.

> >

> > For a couple of decades, I was under the care of a pioneer in

environmental medicine,

> > Sherry , MD. She often ordered nutrients from Twinlab,

which is a very reliable

> and

> > allergen-conscious brand of supplements. The prescription

levocarnitine liquid

> contains

> > artificial cherry flavoring and sucrose (and I think artificial

color as well). The web page

> for

> > the metabolic fatty acid disorders which stresses that OTC

carnitine supplements didn't

> > dissolve well is sponsored by the company that manufactures

Carnitor...so I'm not sure

> it

> > is exactly an unbiased source, plus this does not apply to a

liquid preparation.

> >

> > I compared this generic levocarnitine Rx, which I couldn't get

anyway unless I convinced

> a

> > doctor to order it, to Twinlab's Mega L-Carnitine Liquid. The

latter has glycerine for a

> > carbohydrate and sweetener, which is a component of phospolipid

membranes and

> > probably better for our kids than sucrose. It is gluten-free

(checked with the

> > manufacturer) and although it also has sorbitol, it's only 0.5

g/tbsp, and 500 mg of

> > carnitine/tbsp. It is mild-flavored, although as I'm sure you

know that doesn't mean any

> > particular picky kid will take it willingly.

> >

> > Since it contains 500 mg/15 ml, and Ben weighs 54 lbs or 24.5

kg, at 35 mg/Kg/day he

> > would need 8 or 9 ml, three times a day. He generally takes

meds squirted into his

> mouth

> > with a measuring syringe pretty well so this might be a viable

option.

> >

> > I believe they have an orange-flavored version too, but this one

is very mild and

> probably

> > vanilla, I can't quite tell, but at least it's GF and free of a

whole list of other common

> > allergens.

> >

> > Yesterday I saw my cardiologist and mentioned that I was caring

for Ben (had a picture)

> > and he was deficient in carnitine and selenium. She immediately

asked me if we were

> > supplementing...it's pretty important. Oh, one more thing.

Mega L-Carnitine also has

> > some pantothenic acid which is a B-vitamin only present in fresh

fruits and veggies (of

> > which Ben eats zero), and it helps metabolize carnitine. I

think that is a plus.

> >

> > I have no commercial relationship to Twinlab, of course, but I

do think they are reliable.

> > You can order the Twinlab brand or pick it up at your local

health food store. I got mine

> in

> > just a few days from iHerb.com, but it is readily available.

Also much less expensive

> than

> > the prescription type.

> >

> > Peace,

> > Kathy E.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Well, the other advantage of the prescription levocarnitine is that it might be

easier to

administer, because the volume given would be lower for the same dose and most

kids do

prefer sucrose to glycerine ;-). The OTC supplement costs $11/bottle, not sure

about the

co-pay, we'll see if I can get anybody to give me a prescription. You would

think that the risk

of not giving it when a child has a proven deficiency would be sufficient to be

a medical

necessity.

Peace,

Kathy E.

[Guest guest]

Well, the other advantage of the prescription levocarnitine is that it might be

easier to

administer, because the volume given would be lower for the same dose and most

kids do

prefer sucrose to glycerine ;-). The OTC supplement costs $11/bottle, not sure

about the

co-pay, we'll see if I can get anybody to give me a prescription. You would

think that the risk

of not giving it when a child has a proven deficiency would be sufficient to be

a medical

necessity.

Peace,

Kathy E.

[Guest guest]

>

Dear Kathy,

You mean your pediatrician will not give a perscription for

carnitine in a child with a proven carnitine deficiency on blood

test???? Thats like not giving insulin to the diabetic...or

albuterol to the kid with an asthma attack. Not acceptable. Doctors

may not feel comfortable (appropriatedly) writing a perscription

without a low carnitine level documented, but once its there - its a

no-brainer. This is a child with a carnitine deficiency. It is a

medical condition with potentially serious consequences, that has a

treatment. If your pediatrician won't write a perscription...or

take the time to contact someone who might know more about carnitine

deficiency...or cruise the medical information on-line available to

them...then I would consider another pediatrician. Have you asked

for a perscription and had it denied? And if you really make it

easy and give him/her the brand and dose (ie 25-50 mg/kg/day divided

into 3 doses) - you should leave with the perscription in hand.

-

> Well, the other advantage of the prescription levocarnitine is

that it might be easier to

> administer, because the volume given would be lower for the same

dose and most kids do

> prefer sucrose to glycerine ;-). The OTC supplement costs

$11/bottle, not sure about the

> co-pay, we'll see if I can get anybody to give me a prescription.

You would think that the risk

> of not giving it when a child has a proven deficiency would be

sufficient to be a medical

> necessity.

>

> Peace,

> Kathy E.

>