Carnitor 30% Paediatric Oral Solution

1. Name Of The Medicinal Product

Carnitor 30% Paediatric Oral Solution

2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition

L-Carnitine inner salt 30% w/v

3. Pharmaceutical Form

Colourless or slightly yellow solution

4. Clinical Particulars

4.1 Therapeutic Indications

Indicated for the treatment of primary and secondary carnitine deficiency in children of under 12 years, infants and newborns.

4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration

For oral administration only. The Paediatric Solution can be drunk directly or diluted further in water or fruit juices.

Children under 12 years, infants and newborns:

It is advisable to monitor therapy by measuring free and acyl carnitine levels in both plasma and urine.

The management of inborn errors of metabolism

The dosage required depends upon the specific inborn error of metabolism concerned and the severity of presentation at the time of treatment. However, the following can be considered as a general guide.

An oral dosage of up to 200mg/kg/day in divided doses (2 to 4) is recommended for chronic use in some disorders, with lower doses sufficing in other conditions. If clinical and biochemical symptoms do not improve, the dose may be increased on a short-term basis. Higher doses of up to 400mg/kg/day may be necessary in acute metabolic decompensation or the i.v. route may be required.

Haemodialysis - maintenance therapy

If significant clinical benefit has been gained by a first course of intravenous Carnitor then maintenance therapy can be considered using 1g per day of Carnitor orally. On the day of the dialysis oral Carnitor has to be administered at the end of the session.

4.3 Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to any of the constituents of the product.

4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use

While improving glucose utilisation, the administration of L-carnitine to diabetic patients receiving either insulin or hypoglycaemic oral treatment may result in hypoglycaemia. Plasma glucose levels in these subjects must be monitored regularly in order to adjust the hypoglycaemic treatment immediately, if required.

The 30% oral solution contains sucrose. This must be considered when treating diabetics or patients who are following diets to reduce calorie intake.

The safety and efficacy of oral L-carnitine has not been evaluated in patients with renal insufficiency. Chronic administration of high doses of oral L-carnitine in patients with severely compromised renal function or in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis may result in an accumulation of the potentially toxic metabolites, trimethylamine (TMA) and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), since these metabolites are usually excreted in the urine. This situation has not been observed following intravenous administration of L-carnitine.

4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction

There are no known interactions.

4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation

Reproductive studies were performed in rats and rabbits. There was no evidence of a teratogenic effect in either species. In the rabbit but not in the rat there was a statistically insignificant greater number of post implantation losses at the highest dose tested (600mg/kg daily) as compared with control animals. The significance of these findings in man is unknown. There is no experience of use in pregnant patients with primary systemic carnitine deficiency.

Taking into account the serious consequences in a pregnant woman who has primary systemic carnitine deficiency stopping treatment, the risk to the mother of discontinuing treatment seems greater than the theoretical risk to the foetus if treatment is continued.

Levocarnitine is a normal component of human milk. Use of levocarnitine supplementation in nursing mothers has not been studied.

4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines

None known.

4.8 Undesirable Effects

Various mild gastro-intestinal complaints have been reported during the long term administration of oral levocarnitine, these include transient nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea.

Decreasing the dosage often diminishes or eliminates drug related patient body odour or gastro-intestinal symptoms when present. Tolerance should be monitored very closely during the first week of administration and after any dosage increase.

4.9 Overdose

There have been no reports of toxicity from levocarnitine overdosage. Overdosage should be treated with supportive care.

5. Pharmacological Properties

5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties

ATC Code: A16AA01 (Amino acids and derivatives)

L-Carnitine is present as a natural constituent in animal tissues, micro-organisms and plants. In man the physiological metabolic requirements are met both by the consumption of food containing carnitine and the endogenous synthesis in the liver and kidneys from lysine with methionine serving as the methyl donor. Only the L-isomer is biologically active, playing an essential role in lipid metabolism as well as in the metabolism of ketone bodies as branched chain-amino-acids. L-Carnitine as a factor is necessary in the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria - facilitating the oxidation of fatty acids rather than their incorporation into triglycerides. By releasing CoA from its thioesters, through the action of CoA; carnitine acetyl transferase, L-carnitine also enhances the metabolic flux in the Kreb's cycle; with the same mechanism it stimulates the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase and in skeletal muscle, the oxidation of branched-chain amino acids. L-Carnitine is thus involved, directly or indirectly in several pathways so that its availability should be an important factor controlling not only the oxidative utilisation of fatty acids and ketone bodies but also that of glucose and some amino acids.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties

The absorbed L-carnitine is transported to various organ systems via the blood. The presence of membrane-bound proteins in several tissues including red blood cells that bind carnitine, suggest that a transport system in the blood and a cellular system for the collective uptake is present in several tissues. Tissue and serum carnitine concentration depend on several metabolic processes, carnitine bio-synthesis and dietary contributions, transport into and out of tissues, degradation and excretion may all affect tissue carnitine concentrations.

It has been demonstrated that pharmacokinetic parameters increase significantly with dosage. Apparent bioavailability in healthy volunteers is about 10-16%. The data suggests a relationship between maximal plasma concentration/dosage, dosage, plasma AUC, dosage/urinary accumulation. Maximum concentration is reached about four hours after ingestion.

5.3 Preclinical Safety Data

L-Carnitine is a naturally occurring body substance in human beings, plants and animals. Carnitor products are used to bring the level of L-carnitine in the body up to those found naturally. Appropriate pre-clinical studies have been undertaken and show no signs of toxicity at normal therapeutic doses.

6. Pharmaceutical Particulars

6.1 List Of Excipients

Sorbitol solution (70%) (E420), tartaric acid (E334), sodium propyl hydroxybenzoate (E217), sodium methyl hydroxybenzoate (E219), colourless cherry flavour, colourless sour black cherry flavour, saccharose and purified water.

6.2 Incompatibilities

None known.

6.3 Shelf Life

3 years.

6.4 Special Precautions For Storage

Store below 25°C.

Store in the original carton in order to protect from light and moisture.

6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container

20 ml amber glass bottles with a polyethylene lined, polypropylene child proof cap.

6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling

None

7. Marketing Authorisation Holder

Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite SpA,

Viale Shakespeare 47-00144,

Rome, Italy.

8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)

PL 08381/0005

9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation

20 November 1998

10. Date Of Revision Of The Text

November 2008