title: L-carnitine as a treatment of lethargy in children with chronic neurologic handicaps.
abstract: We present five cases of children with severe neurologic handicaps whose management was complicated by excessive lethargy. Treatment with L-carnitine in a dosage range of 35-50 mg/kg/day resulted in a marked improvement in alertness and arousability. In four cases, when L-carnitine was discontinued for a month, they all promptly became lethargic. When L-carnitine was re-started, the lethargy resolved and the improvement has been maintained for up to 14 months. In three children who were tested, serum carnitine levels (total and free) were normal before starting L-carnitine treatment.
authors.affiliation: Little Angels Nursing Home, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Plioplys
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bagherpour
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kasnicka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002331:Carnitine