PEDIATRICS Vol. 93 No. 6 June 1994, pp. 893-895
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Freeman, J. M.
Right arrow Articles by Singhi, P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Freeman, J. M.
Right arrow Articles by Singhi, P.

Does Carnitine Administration Improve the Symptoms Attributed to Anticonvulsant Medications?: A Double-Blinded, Crossover Study

John M. Freeman MD1, Eileen P. G. Vining MD1, Scott Cost MSE1, and Pratibha Singhi MD1

1 Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD

Objective. This study was designed to assess the reported improvement in "well-being" perceived by parents when children who are taking anticonvulsant medications are administered carnitine.

Methodology. Forty-seven children with seizures who were taking either valproic acid or carbamazepine were enrolled in a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, crossover study of the effects of oral carnitine administration (100 mg/kilo) on their well-being as perceived by their parents. The well-being scores were assessed weekly by phone and in person at the start and end of each 4-week phase.

Results. The children's well-being scores improved weekly when either placebo or carnitine were administered. None of the analyses of improved well-being achieved statistical significance.

Conclusion. We believe this study documents the necessity for controlled trials when assessing the subjective, beneficial effects of medications. Carnitine is expensive, costing approximately $.30/kilogram of body weight per day ($6 per day for a 20 kilo child). It would not appear warranted to administer carnitine prophylactically to children on anticonvulsant medications for alleviating common, nonspecific symptoms. Because there are no reliable clinical or laboratory tests of symptomatic carnitine deficiency caused by anticonvulsant administration, how to identify children in need of carnitine, and when to administer carnitine therapeutically to children receiving valproate or other anticonvulsants is unclear.

Submitted on October 5, 1993
Accepted on March 7, 1994




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 NeurologyHome page
W. D. Graf, A. S. Unis, C. M. Yates, S. Sulzbacher, M. B. Dinulos, R. M. Jack, K. A. Dugaw, M. N. Paddock, and W. W. Parson
Catecholamines in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and the low-activity COMT polymorphism
Neurology, August 14, 2001; 57(3): 410 - 416.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Child NeurolHome page
C. Ellaway, K. Williams, H. Leonard, G. Higgins, and J. Christodoulou
Rett Syndrome: Randomized Controlled Trial of L-Carnitine
J Child Neurol, March 1, 1999; 14(3): 162 - 167.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
S. Hirose, A. Mitsudome, S. Yasumoto, A. Ogawa, Y. Muta, and Y. Tomoda
Valproate Therapy Does Not Deplete Carnitine Levels in Otherwise Healthy Children
Pediatrics, May 1, 1998; 101 (5): e9 - e9.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Child NeurolHome page
S.B. Legarda, M.P. Booth, E.B. Fennell, and B.L. Maria
Altered Cognitive Functioning in Children With Idiopathic Epilepsy Receiving Valproate Monotherapy
J Child Neurol, July 1, 1996; 11(4): 321 - 330.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J Child NeurolHome page
D. L. Coulter
Carnitine Deficiency in Epilepsy: Risk Factors and Treatment
J Child Neurol, November 1, 1995; 10(2_suppl): 2S32 - 2S39.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 JWatch GeneralHome page
THE CARNITINE MYTH
Journal Watch (General), June 21, 1994; 1994(621): 3 - 3.
[Full Text]