L-Carnitine (LC600): reference dosing schedule
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Calculate the L-Carnitine dose
Enter your dose and diluent volume for L-Carnitine — the calculator will do the rest.
Human dosing
LC600 (L-carnitine) dosing in research protocols depends on the route of administration: the table below lists the intramuscular regimen from a clinical study separately from the intravenous doses in the FDA label.
| Period / condition | Dose | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IM, course | 500 mg intramuscular twice daily for 7 days; second course after 10 days | Chichanovskaya et al., 2017 (post-stroke rehabilitation) |
| IV, hemodialysis | 10–20 mg/kg dry body weight after each dialysis session, starting dose | FDA label (Carnitor) |
| IV, metabolic disorders | 50 mg/kg/day; highest dose given 300 mg/kg | FDA label (Carnitor) |
Background on the molecule, its mechanism and primary sources is covered in the monograph.
Practical dosing and effect details
L-carnitine (levocarnitine) is one of the few compounds on this site with an established clinical history: Flanagan and colleagues (Nutrition & Metabolism, 2010) reviewed the literature on carnitine's role in deficiency states, from uremia to metabolic disorders. The route of administration affects the dose needed: the FDA label puts the absolute bioavailability of oral levocarnitine at only about 15%, so oral regimens (typically 1–3 g/day in studies, see the monograph) do not carry over to injections, or the other way round.
The roughly 50 mg/kg per day figure for IV use in the table above applies specifically to the intravenous route; that does not mean the same dose fits a research protocol built around a different route. The 600 in the LC600 name is the vial content, 600 mg of lyophilized L-carnitine, not a solution concentration. The concentration depends on the volume of diluent used to reconstitute the vial.
This is reference information for planning a research protocol, not a medical recommendation and not instructions for self-administration.
How to reconstitute
An example reconstitution for convenient dosing. The exact ratios depend on your vial. For research reference only — not medical guidance.
- 1Add the diluentUse bacteriostatic water. Example: 6 ml into a 600 mg vial.L-Carnitine600 mg+ 6 mlDiluent
- 2Get the concentrationExample: 600 mg in 6 ml =L-Carnitine100 mg/ml(100,000 mcg/ml)
- 3Work out the volume per doseFor example, for a 150 mg dose:150 mg = 1.5 ml= 150 u. (U-100)
This is only an example calculation. You can use a different diluent volume — plug your own numbers into the calculator. Open calculator →
Research protocols
L-Carnitine: reference regimens
L-carnitine (LC600) comes as a lyophilized powder, 600 mg per vial.
More scientific background in the L-Carnitine monograph
Notes and safety
- • L-Carnitine is a research peptide. Human safety and efficacy data are limited.
- • The regimens shown are based on publications and research protocols, not clinical recommendations.
- • Individual reactions may vary. Published protocols typically start dosing at the lower end of the reported range.
- • Not recommended for use with chronic illness, pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
- • This information is for educational purposes and is not medical advice.
L-Carnitine