L-Carnitine 600 mg vial
How much bacteriostatic water to add to a 600 mg vial of L-Carnitine, the syringe units for each common dose, and how many doses the vial holds.
- Water
- 3 mL
- Strength
- 200 mg/mL
- Common dose
- 500 mg
- Draw
- 2.50 mL
- Doses per vial
- 1
The short answer
Mixed with 3 mL of bacteriostatic water, a 600 mg vial of L-Carnitine holds 200 mg/mL. A 500 mg dose is then 2.50 mL on a U-100 insulin syringe, and the vial holds about 1 doses of that size. Taken 3× per week, it lasts about 3 days.
How much water
The water only sets the strength; the dose and the number of doses in the vial stay the same. Draws are on a U-100 insulin syringe, where 1 unit is 0.01 mL.
| Water added | Strength | Per syringe unit | Draw for 500 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 600 mg/mL | 6 mg | 83.3 units (0.83 mL) |
| 2 mL | 300 mg/mL | 3 mg | 1.67 mL |
| 3 mL | 200 mg/mL | 2 mg | 2.50 mL |
Dose chart
Syringe units for each common dose at each water volume. Select a cell to open it in the calculator.
| Dose | Water added | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 2 mL | 3 mL | |
| 50 mg | |||
| 75 mg | |||
| 150 mg | |||
| 250 mg | |||
| 400 mg | |||
| 500 mg | |||
| 600 mg | |||
| 1,000 mg | – | – | – |
Draws over 100 units show in mL. Faded values are under 2 units, which is hard to measure. Check that your vial holds the larger volumes.
Where the doses come from
- Label IV only and weight-based: 10–20 mg/kg after each dialysis session, or about 50 mg/kg a day for metabolic disorders.
- Community IM: 250–1,000 mg, commonly 500 mg, daily or 3× per week. SC doses are smaller, about 50–100 mg.
Doses are what labels, trials or community reports reference, not recommendations. L-Carnitine’s page has the cycle, side effects, cautions and sources.
Mixing and storage
- PrepareLet a refrigerated vial come to room temperature, and wipe both stoppers with an alcohol swab.
- Add 3 mLDraw 3 mL of bacteriostatic water and let it run slowly down the inside wall of the vial.
- Swirl, don’t shakeSwirl gently until the powder dissolves and the liquid is clear.
- Label itWrite the date and the strength, 200 mg/mL, on the vial.
Storage: Powder: −20 °C. Mixed: 2–8 °C.
The reconstitution guide covers each step, and the units page explains syringe markings.
Questions
How much water do I add to a 600 mg vial of L-carnitine?
There’s no single right amount: the water only sets the strength. With 3 mL of bacteriostatic water, a 600 mg vial holds 200 mg/mL. With 1 mL it’s 600 mg/mL; with 2 mL it’s 300 mg/mL. Less liquid makes each dose a smaller draw; more makes small doses easier to measure.
How many units is 500 mg of L-carnitine?
With 3 mL in a 600 mg vial, 500 mg is 2.50 mL on a U-100 insulin syringe. With 1 mL, 83.3 units (0.83 mL); with 2 mL, 1.67 mL.
How many doses are in a 600 mg vial of L-carnitine?
About 1 doses of 500 mg, or 1 of 600 mg or 0 of 1,000 mg. Taken 3× per week at 500 mg, it lasts about 3 days.
How long does a mixed vial of L-carnitine keep?
Powder: −20 °C. Mixed: 2–8 °C.
Sources
- Carnitor (levocarnitine) injection label (DailyMed)
The math on this page uses the doses and storage on L-Carnitine’s page.