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When taken by mouth: L-carnitine is LIKELY SAFE when taken for up to 12 months. It can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, heartburn, diarrhea, and seizures. It can also cause the urine, breath, and sweat to have a "fishy" odor. Avoid using D-carnitine and DL-carnitine. These forms of carnitine might block the effects of L-carnitine and cause symptoms that resemble L-carnitine deficiency.
When given by IV: L-carnitine is LIKELY SAFE when used as an injection, with the approval of a healthcare provider.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if L-carnitine is safe to use when pregnant. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Taking L-carnitine is
POSSIBLY SAFE in breast-feeding women when taken by mouth in the amounts recommended by a healthcare provider. Small amounts of L-carnitine have been given to infants in breast milk and formula with no reported side effects. The effects of large amounts taken by a breast-feeding mother are unknown.
Children: L-carnitine is
POSSIBLY SAFE when used appropriately by mouth or intravenously (by IV), short-term. It has been used safely by mouth for up to 6 months.
Kidney failure: Using DL-carnitine has been reported to cause symptoms such as muscle weakness and eye drooping when administered intravenously (by IV) after dialysis. L-carnitine does not seem have this effect.
Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism): Taking L-carnitine might make symptoms of hypothyroidism worse.
Seizures: L-carnitine seems to make seizures more likely in people who have had seizures before. If you have had a seizure, do not use L-carnitine.
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