L-carnitine is an amino acid similar in composition to vitamin B. It is synthesized naturally in the body. Its lack can provoke fatigue, overwork, depression, drowsiness, disruption of the cardiovascular system. To make up for the deficiency of this substance, you should purchase the drug "L-Carnitine" in a pharmacy and drink it in the course according to the instructions.
What is L-carnitine?
L-carnitine is an amino acid that athletes and nutritionists love to use. It not only helps to lose extra pounds, but also gain the missing weight. For similarity with the vitamins of group B, it is also called B 11 , or BT.
Amino acid is characterized by anabolic qualities. Improves the saturation of cells of the human body with oxygen. It affects the storage properties of iodine. Stimulates regeneration processes.
The body can produce levocarnitine itself from methionine and lysine. If there is a shortage of amino acids, then it can be eliminated by taking nutritional supplements. You can buy L-Carnitine in a pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription.
Athletes actively use L-carnitine during training. During physical exertion, it reduces the content of lactic acid, helps to normalize body weight, reduces fatigue and fatigue. Increases Stamina. This food supplement is considered harmless and practically does not cause side effects.
Scientific and clinical trials have confirmed the benefits of L-carnitine for humans, especially for the cardiovascular apparatus. The drug also normalizes metabolic processes, activates cell renewal, stimulates lipid metabolism, promotes the activity of fatty acids, improves oxygen supply to the body, and is used in the complex treatment of coronary heart disease, with obesity, strokes and chronic fatigue.
Pharmaceutical preparations “L-Carnitine” contain the active ingredient levocarnitine. In addition to amino acids, various vitamins, plant extracts, minerals and fatty acids can be included.
pharmachologic effect
The amino acid L-carnitine is a natural substance. It is similar in structure to vitamins B. It takes part in metabolic processes, where it acts as a transporter of fatty acids through cell membranes from the cytoplasm to mitochondria. Here, lipid acids undergo a β-oxidation process, where ATP and acetyl-CoA are created.
The supplement stimulates protein-fat metabolism, increases secretion, as well as the enzymatic activity of intestinal and gastric juice. Promotes better assimilation of food, reduces weight and body fat in muscles. Makes the human body more resilient, inhibits the formation of keto acids and anaerobic glycolysis. Reduces the severity of lactic acidosis, promotes a more economical distribution of glycogen and increases its reserves in muscle tissue, liver.
Amino acid is characterized by anabolic and lipolytic properties. It normalizes metabolism in hyperthyroidism. Here he acts as an indirect antagonist of thyroid hormones and is not a direct inhibitor of the processes taking place in the thyroid gland.
The drug is absorbed on the walls of the intestine. The maximum concentration of the active substance in the blood is observed after three hours. The medicinal effect lasts for nine hours. L-carnitine easily penetrates the liver, myocardium, and slightly slower into the muscles. The amino acid is excreted mainly by the kidneys in the form of acyl esters.
If there is a lack of levocarnitine in the body, then fat accumulates in the cells and is poorly excreted from there. The best solution in this situation is to buy L-carnitine in a pharmacy and take it at a dose prescribed by your doctor or as directed.
Indications for use
If necessary, the drug “L-Carnitine” in a pharmacy is not at all difficult to purchase, especially since it is dispensed without a doctor’s prescription. The tool is used in complex treatment for strong physical and psycho-emotional stress. In this case, it charges the body with energy, increases endurance, reduces fatigue, including in the elderly.
The supplement is used during the rehabilitation period when the patient has suffered serious illness or surgery, severe injuries. Here, L-Carnitine accelerates tissue regeneration.
Apply amino acid in the complex treatment of chronic gastritis, with reduced secretion. Used for pancreatitis, accompanied by external secretory insufficiency. Indications for use are skin diseases, these are: eczema of the seborrheic type, psoriasis, scleroderma, lupus erythematosus.
Prescribe an additive for mild hyperthyroidism, neurological diseases resulting from brain damage. Use with anorexia nervosa syndrome. Doctors prescribe L-carnitine for carnitine deficiency and diseases that have arisen due to a lack of amino acids.
The drug "L-Carnitine" under the supervision of a doctor can be used in the treatment of children whose age has not reached three years. This is the nursing of premature or surviving a birth injury, asphyxiation of infants. Prescribe the supplement to children who have a poor sucking reflex and low weight gain. Prescribe amino acid with low muscle tone, and when children are behind in mental, motor development. This substance is taken to prevent the above violations in babies, if they are at risk.
Use "L-Carnitine" for weight loss and growth retardation in children, adolescents under the age of sixteen.
Contraindications
Not all may sell L-Carnitine in a pharmacy, as it has certain contraindications. This is hypersensitivity to the components of the drug and the period of pregnancy, as well as breastfeeding. Do not use the amino acid in patients with hypertension, in patients with cirrhosis, with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and pathologies of the kidneys, peripheral vessels.
Treatment for babies up to three years should be under the constant supervision of a doctor.
Side effects, overdose
The drug is well tolerated and rarely causes side effects. In isolated cases, allergies, dyspeptic symptoms, pain in the stomach, nausea, myasthenia gravis, muscle weakness and body odor may appear. With prolonged use, gastralgia and dyspepsia may occur.
In cases of drug overdose, dyspeptic and myasthenic disorders may occur, especially in patients with uremia. If these symptoms occur, you should rinse your stomach and drink activated charcoal.
Types of L-Carnitine
An amino acid supplement can have different forms of release, these are:
- tablets;
- capsules;
- powder;
- L-Carnitine is liquid.
In the pharmacy you can buy the drug in any of these forms of release. Doses of pharmacy products are very different from those sold in a sports store. The latter are aimed at athletes and are intensively used for losing weight, increasing working capacity, energy and stamina.
Dose and method of application
They dispense L-Carnitine in pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription. The instructions before using this supplement should be carefully studied to avoid negative reactions.
The amino acid is taken orally, half an hour before the main meal. This substance has different forms of release (tablets, capsules, syrup, drops and powder), and the use of the drug in each case will be different.
Liquid “L-Carnitine”, if it is in syrup and ampoules, does not need to be diluted with water. This form of the drug can be taken regardless of the meal. The adult population uses a liquid preparation of 5 ml, and for athletes a single dose is 15 ml. The supplement should be drunk immediately before the workout. The course lasts from 4 to 6 weeks. If the result did not live up to expectations, then it is recommended to take a break for 7 days, and then undergo a second dose of the drug.
Usually, for children under one year old, the doctor prescribes syrup. This tool is used in a dose of 10-20 drops at a time. At the age of 1 to 6 years, the drug is drunk in an amount of 20-27 drops. In the children's category from 6 to 12 years, L-Carnitine is used in 2.4-2.5 ml. Duration of use - a month 2-3 times a day. Before the second course, you should take a week break.
If the drug is in tablets, then they are swallowed without chewing or crumbling, drinking plenty of water. For adults, the drug is prescribed 200-500 mg 2-3 times a day. Athletes can drink the supplement just before the start of training, 500-2500 mg each. Levocarnitine is used in courses.
It can be produced in capsules L-Carnitine. Instructions for use do not recommend opening and sharing the capsule during use. It is swallowed whole and washed down with water. For adults, the daily dose is 200-500 mg with a frequency of 2-3 times a day. Athletes can take the drug once in an amount of 500-2500 mg. This tool is drunk in courses of 4-6 weeks with a week break. It is forbidden to take capsules continuously for more than six months.
Injection administration of L-Carnitine should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist.
Drug interaction
Anabolic drugs and lipoic acid several times enhance the effect of the drug "L-Carnitine" (tablets). In the pharmacy with an amino acid, you can buy many drugs. They should not be used together with glucocorticosteroids, since this leads to the accumulation of carnitine in the tissues.
L-Carnitine is sold in pharmacies
L-Carnitine, like many other drugs, can be purchased at the pharmacy. According to users, the amino acid in pharmacy products contains a lower dosage than in the supplements that are sold in sports nutrition stores. Instead of the usual “Levocarnitine”, you can choose “Acetyl L-Carnitine” in pharmacies. This drug combines carnitine and an acetyl group, which improves the penetration of the active substance into the brain. It affects the work of the neurological system much better. It is a new tool on the market, and therefore its properties are not fully understood, unlike L-Carnitine. In pharmacies, it costs much more than its counterpart.
Pharmacy analogues of L-Carnitine
Analogues of “L-Carnitine" in pharmacies is not difficult to find. They have the same active substance, but are produced by different companies. May contain not only L-carnitine, but also other components that positively affect human health. Improve his physical and psycho-emotional state.
Carnitine-based pharmaceuticals
It contributes not only to rapid weight loss, but also helps to cure a number of diseases means "L-Carnitine." Drugs in the pharmacy containing the amino acid carnitine are presented in a wide range, these are:
- "Karniten", 1200 rubles.
- "Elkar", 200-300 rubles.
- "Carnitine", 200 rubles.
- "Carnitine chloride", 260 rubles.
- "Carniton", 300-400 rubles.
- "L-Carnitine" from "Solgar", 2000 rubles;
- “Turboslim Alpha Lipoic Acid and L-Carnitine”, 300 rubles.
- "SportExpert L-carnitine", 200 rubles.
All of the above funds contain L-carnitine. Drugs in the pharmacy with this amino acid are sold freely, and the dietitian or doctor will advise which one is better to choose.
Reviews about the drug
It can be sold not only in the sporting goods store and on the Internet, L-Carnitine. In pharmacies, reviews say that you can easily find the specified drug.
Most often use this tool to reduce weight. It is noted that without sports, taking the drug “L-Carnitine” will not give the desired result. In a pharmacy for weight loss (reviews often say just that), Carniton, products from Evalar and Solgar companies are often chosen. Many praise the Doppelherz Asset supplement with levocarnitine and magnesium. There are other drugs that have been shown to be highly effective in losing weight, have strengthened the cardiovascular and neurological systems, have improved performance, endurance and have a positive effect on metabolism.
There are reviews according to which, supplements with levocarnitine did not help to achieve the desired results. The people who left them call the tool "dummy" and do not see the point of spending money. Some note that foreign drugs are more effective than domestic ones, and the result is immediately visible from them. Some opponents advise buying funds in sports nutrition stores, according to them, they are much more effective and contain more levocarnitine.