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Acetyl-L-carnitine is made from L-carnitine in the body. L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine are used to help the body turn fat into energy.
Acetyl-L-carnitine is important for many body processes. L-carnitine is made in the human brain, liver, and kidneys. The body can convert L-carnitine to acetyl-L-carnitine and vice versa. It's not clear if the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine are from the chemical itself, from the L-carnitine it can make, or from some other chemical.
Acetyl-L-carnitine is sometimes used for Alzheimer disease, improving memory and thinking skills, treating symptoms of depression, and reducing nerve pain in people with diabetes. It is used for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.
- Age-related cognitive decline. Oral acetyl-L-carnitine may improve age-related cognitive decline.
Login for details - Age-related fatigue. Oral acetyl-L-carnitine may improve age-related physical and mental fatigue .
Login for details - Alcohol use disorder. Intravenous acetyl-L-carnitine may reduce cravings and other symptoms of withdrawal during alcohol detoxification. It is unclear if oral acetyl-L-carnitine is beneficial for managing withdrawal or complications of alcohol use disorder.
Login for details - Alzheimer disease. Oral acetyl-L-carnitine may slow the progression of Alzheimer disease and improve some measures of cognitive function.
Login for details - Depression. Oral acetyl-L-carnitine may reduce symptoms of depression, with comparable effects to conventional antidepressants, in patients with dysthymia and depression. It may be most effective in elderly patients and at higher doses.
Login for details - Diabetic neuropathy. Oral acetyl-L-carnitine may reduce pain in patients with diabetic neuropathy when taken at doses of at least 2-3 grams daily. It is unclear if oral acetyl-L-carnitine can improve nerve conduction velocity in these patients.
Login for details - Male infertility. Oral acetyl-L-carnitine, taken in combination with L-carnitine, may increase sperm motility in males with infertility, leading to greater likelihood of pregnancy in female partners. It is unclear if oral acetyl-L-carnitine alone can improve sperm function or pregnancy outcomes.
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- Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Oral acetyl-L-carnitine does not seem to improve symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and may actually worsen symptoms.
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- Age-related testosterone deficiency. Oral acetyl-L-carnitine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
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- Amenorrhea. Login for details
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease). It is unclear if oral acetyl-L-carnitine is beneficial in patients with ALS.
Login for details - Antiretroviral toxic neuropathy. Small clinical studies suggest that oral acetyl-L-carnitine may modestly improve symptoms in patients with antiretroviral toxic neuropathy. It is unclear if intramuscular or intravenous acetyl-L-carnitine is beneficial in patients with this condition.
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- Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is unclear if oral acetyl-L-carnitine is beneficial in patients with ADHD.
Login for details - Bell palsy. Login for details
- Bipolar disorder. Oral acetyl-L-carnitine has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Carpal tunnel syndrome. It is unclear if oral acetyl-L-carnitine is beneficial in patients undergoing surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.
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- Diabetes. It is unclear if oral acetyl-L-carnitine improves glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes.
Login for details - Down syndrome. Login for details
- Dyslipidemia. It is unclear if oral acetyl-L-carnitine reduces lipid levels in adults with dyslipidemia.
Login for details - Fibromyalgia. It is unclear if oral and/or intramuscular acetyl-L-carnitine can improve symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Login for details - Fragile X syndrome. Small clinical studies suggest that oral acetyl-L-carnitine is not beneficial in children with fragile X syndrome.
Login for details - Hepatic encephalopathy. Small clinical studies suggest that oral acetyl-L-carnitine may not improve quality of life or fatigue in patients with hepatic encephalopathy due to cirrhosis.
Login for details - Hypertension. It is unclear if oral acetyl-L-carnitine lowers blood pressure in adults with hypertension.
Login for details - Infertility. Login for details
- Lyme disease. Login for details
- Multiple sclerosis-related fatigue. It is unclear if oral acetyl-L-carnitine is beneficial in patients with multiple sclerosis-related fatigue.
Login for details - Obesity. Login for details
- Peripheral neuropathy. Login for details
- Peyronie disease. A small clinical study suggests that oral acetyl-L-carnitine may modestly improve symptoms of Peyronie disease.
Login for details - Schizophrenia. It is unclear if oral acetyl-L-carnitine is beneficial in patients with schizophrenia.
Login for details - Sciatica. It is unclear if oral acetyl-L-carnitine is beneficial in patients with sciatica.
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When taken by mouth: Acetyl-L-carnitine is likely safe for most people. It can cause some side effects including stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, headache, and restlessness. It can also cause a "fishy" odor of the urine, breath, and sweat.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if acetyl-L-carnitine is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.Children: Acetyl-L-carnitine is possibly safe for most children when taken by mouth.
Bipolar disorder: Acetyl-L-carnitine might worsen symptoms in people with bipolar disorder who are currently in remission.
Nerve damage in the hands and feet caused by cancer drug treatment: Acetyl-L-carnitine might worsen symptoms in some people with nerve pain caused by a class of chemotherapy drugs known as taxanes.
Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism): There is some concern that acetyl-L-carnitine might interfere with thyroid hormone. Don't use acetyl-L-carnitine if you have an under-active thyroid.
Seizures: L-carnitine seems to make seizures more likely in people who have had seizures before. Since L-carnitine is related to acetyl-L-carnitine, there is a concern that this might also occur with acetyl-L-carnitine. If you have ever had a seizure, don't take acetyl-L-carnitine.
Acenocoumarol (Sintrom)
Interaction Rating=Major Do not take this combination.
Acenocoumarol (Sintrom) is used to slow blood clotting. Acetyl-L-carnitine might increase the effectiveness of acenocoumarol (Sintrom). Increasing the effectiveness of acenocoumarol (Sintrom) might slow blood clotting too much. The dose of your acenocoumarol (Sintrom) might need to be changed.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. Acetyl-L-carnitine might increase the effects of warfarin (Coumadin) and increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.
D-carnitine: D-carnitine might interfere with the way the body uses L-carnitine. Taking D-carnitine might cause L-carnitine levels to drop too low (L-carnitine deficiency. Since L-carnitine is needed to make acetyl-L-carnitine, this might also lead to acetyl-L-carnitine deficiency. Don't take D-carnitine with acetyl-L-carnitine.
Herbs and supplements with serotonergic properties: Acetyl-L-carnitine increases a brain chemical called serotonin. Taking it along with other supplements that have this effect might cause serious side effects, including heart problems, seizures, and vomiting. Examples of supplements with this effect include 5-HTP, black seed, L-tryptophan, SAMe, and St. John's wort.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Acetyl-L-carnitine has most often been used by adults in doses of 1.5-3 grams by mouth daily, for up to 33 months. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.
Acetil-L-Carnitina, Acetyl Carnitine, Acétyl Carnitine, Acetyl L-Carnitine, Acétyl-L-Carnitine, Acetyl-L-Carnitine Arginate Dihydrochloride, Acetyl-L-Carnitine Arginate HCl, Acétyl-L-Carnitine Arginate HCl, Acetyl-L-Carnitine HCl, Acétyl-L-Carnitine HCl, Acetyl L-Carnitine Hydrochloride, Acetyl Carnitine, Acétyl-Carnitine, Acetyl-Levocarnitine, Acétyl-Lévocarnitine, ALC, ALCAR, Aminocarnitine, Carnitine Acetyl Ester, Dihydrochlorure dAcétyl-L-Carnitine Arginate, Gamma-Trimethyl-Beta-Acetylbutyrobetaine, L-Acetylcarnitine, L-Acétylcarnitine, Levacecarnine, N-Acetyl-Carnitine, N-Acétyl-Carnitine, N-Acetyl-Carnitine Hydrochloride, N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine, N-Acétyl-L-Carnitine, ST-200, Vitamin B(t) Acetate, 2-(acetyloxy)-3-carboxy-N,N,N-trimethyl-1-propanaminium inner salt; (3-carboxy-2-hydroxy-propyl)trimethylammonium hydroxide inner salt acetate.
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