Dextroamphetamine Sulfate and Levocarnitine Oral, Intravenous

• Generic Name: dextroamphetamine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Dexedrine Spansule, ProCentra, Zenzedi, Dexedrine, Dextrostat, Liquadd

Used as an adjunct to psychological, educational, social, and other remedial measures in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (hyperkinetic disorder, hyperkinetic syndrome of childhood, minimal brain dysfunction).

Can be used for ADHD in pediatric (children, adolescents) as well as adult patients.

Almost all studies comparing behavioral therapy versus stimulants alone have shown a much stronger therapeutic effect from stimulants than from behavioral therapy, and stimulants (e.g., amphetamines, methylphenidate) remain the drugs of choice for the management of ADHD.

Drug therapy is not indicated in all patients with ADHD, and such therapy should be considered only after a complete evaluation including medical history has been performed.

Use should depend on age, adequate diagnosis (based on medical, special psychological, educational, and social resources), and the clinician’s assessment of the severity and duration of symptoms and should not depend solely on one or more behavioral characteristics.

Not recommended for ADHD symptoms associated with acute stress reactions.

Used as a stimulant to reduce daytime sleepiness in the management of narcolepsy.

Amphetamines remain the mainstay of treatment for narcolepsy based on a long record of clinical experience.

Tolerance to the clinical effects may develop with long-term therapy, particularly at high dosages.

Has been used as an adjunct to caloric restriction and behavioral modification in the short-term treatment of exogenous obesity. However, because of the limited efficacy (short-lived) and risk of abuse, such use no longer is included in the FDA-approved labeling and is discouraged.

The anorexigenic effect appears to be temporary, seldom lasting more than a few weeks, and tolerance may occur.

Obesity usually is a chronic disease, and short-term or intermittent therapy with anorexigenic drugs is unlikely to maintain a long-term benefit.

• Generic Name: levocarnitine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Carnitor, L-Carnitine, Carnitor SF

Levocarnitine is used to prevent and treat a lack of carnitine. It is used to prevent and treat this condition in patients with kidney disease on dialysis. It is given to people whose body cannot properly use carnitine from their diet. Lack of carnitine can lead to liver, heart, and muscle problems. Your doctor may treat lack of carnitine by prescribing levocarnitine for you.

Carnitine comes in two forms. Levocarnitine (L-carnitine) should not be confused with the D,L-carnitine form (labeled as “vitamin B T”'). Only the L-form of carnitine is used by the body to treat serious carnitine deficiency. The D,L-form does not help the body use fat and can actually interfere with and cause a lack of levocarnitine.

Certain levocarnitine products have been specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for medical use and are available only with your doctor's prescription.