Brain Dev. 1994 Mar-Apr.
L-carnitine as a treatment of lethargy in children with chronic neurologic handicaps.
Plioplys AV, Bagherpour S, Kasnicka I.
Little Angels Nursing Home, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
[ PubMed ]

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.