Elkar

Why does weakness occur during illness?

The body has to spend a lot of energy fighting a viral infection.
Even with a slight increase in temperature by one degree, energy demand increases by 13%1. Among the physiological reasons that cause weakness of the body during and after an illness, an important role is played by drug load and viral intoxication, which lead to changes in metabolism, deterioration of appetite, and a decrease in the body’s defenses. Due to poor appetite, the body does not receive the necessary substances responsible for energy production and recovery.

Lack of energy leads to the fact that 1-2 weeks after the symptoms of the disease disappear, weakness and fatigue persist even with minor physical exertion. Some experience emotional instability, while others complain of poor tolerance to various stimuli - loud sounds, bright light and vestibular stress.

After suffering from viral pneumonia, muscle weakness, decreased general tone, increased fatigue, and sweating are observed in 78% of patients.2 Similar symptoms, sometimes in an erased form, can persist for 1–2 months, with periods of fluctuations in body temperature possible.1

To recover faster, the body requires additional energy resources. They can be provided by Elcar®, a source of L-carnitine.

Elkar (levocarnitine) is a drug that improves metabolism and helps provide tissues with energy. The normal course of metabolic processes in the human body is under constant threat. Stress, excessive physical and mental stress, pregnancy, breastfeeding, errors in diet, surgical interventions, side effects of certain medications - all these factors can have a negative impact on metabolism. Levocarnitine (L-carnitine) is a substance that can ensure normal metabolism and replenish energy deficiency. In some sources it is called vitamin B or B11, but this is not entirely true, because Unlike true vitamins, it can be synthesized in the body. Its biological role is to provide energy to tissues that experience the greatest physiological stress - skeletal muscles, brain, liver and especially the heart (lack of levocarnitine can provoke cardiomyopathy). L-carnitine acts as a carrier of fatty acids to the “energy furnaces” of the body - cellular mitochondria, where they are utilized and release a large amount of energy. The lack of this substance is manifested by rapidly developing fatigue, weakened immunity, dyspeptic disorders, and hypersensitivity reactions. In stressful situations, there is an increased elimination of L-carnitine from the body, as a result of which it is necessary to supply it from the outside. In 2000, domestic pharmaceutical technologists created the drug Elkar, the key active ingredient in which is the biological “passionary” - the active L-isomer of carnitine. Provided the recommended dosage regimen is followed, this drug is able to completely close the “carnitine window” created by a deficiency of this compound. Good tolerability and a favorable safety profile make the drug accessible even to newborns and elderly patients - the most vulnerable groups of the population in terms of susceptibility to metabolic disorders and side effects from the use of drugs.

Compliance with the standards of effectiveness and safety of the drug is confirmed by clinical studies and nearly twenty years of experience in its use for the treatment of diseases associated with metabolic and energy metabolism disorders in preschool and school-age children, pregnant and lactating women, athletes, mature and elderly patients, who most need levocarnitine. Elkar has a complex effect on the body, including:

• strengthens the immune status;

• increases endurance, psycho-emotional stability, physical performance due to the active utilization of fatty acids with the release of energy available for use by the body;

• eliminates increased fatigue, muscle weakness;

• normalizes energy exchange and metabolism;

• changes body composition: increases the proportion of muscle tissue by reducing the proportion of adipose tissue;

• helps fight stress;

• normalizes the functioning of internal organs - heart, liver, kidneys, as well as the central nervous system;

• stimulates mental and physical development in children;

• inhibits the processes of natural biological aging of the body.

Elkar is indispensable in spring, when with the first clear days saturated with solar ultraviolet light, hypovitaminosis comes and all kinds of chronic diseases worsen. At this time, it is especially important to tone the body and maintain it in this state, which Elkar will cope with with honor: in 1-2 months of regular use, it will compensate for the lack of levocarnitine, return working capacity to the previous level, and protect against diseases and stress. The fat-burning effect of Elkar is also in great demand: if you follow a diet and regular physical activity, the drug allows you to effectively get rid of extra pounds and make your figure slim and fit.

Elkar is intended for oral use. The specific dose and duration of the therapeutic course is determined by the doctor on an individual basis. Anabolic agents potentiate the effects of the drug. Glucocorticosteroids promote the accumulation of levocarnitine in tissues (with the exception of the liver).

How does L-carnitine work?

Fats are one of the main sources of energy.

When supplied with food, they are converted into ATP - a universal energy resource for all processes occurring in the body.

ATP is formed in special intracellular structures - mitochondria, the main energy generators of all cells.

In order for mitochondria to work at full capacity, they need not only “fuel” - fats, but also “transport” that delivers fats to cellular structures. This transport is L-carnitine.

Fat oxidation with the participation of L-carnitine provides up to 75% of intracellular energy. This is several times more than in the process of glucose oxidation.

The vitamin-like substance L -carnitine is involved in the transport of fatty acids into mitochondria, where they are used for energy production (ATP).

L-carnitine, in addition to energy, performs a number of important metabolic functions:

enhances the detoxification process, removing excess organic acids and compounds foreign to the body from cells, preventing their death;
has an antioxidant effect: removes oxygen radicals from the cell, helps neutralize them;
suppresses the accumulation of lactate in cells, increasing performance

Nosological classification (ICD-10)

E05.9 Thyrotoxicosis, unspecified
E34.3 Short stature [dwarfism], not elsewhere classified
E61.8 Insufficiency of other specified nutrients
E63 Physical and mental overload
F50.0 Anorexia nervosa
G24.8.1* Muscular hypotonia
G71.3 Mitochondrial myopathy, not elsewhere classified
G72.9 Myopathy, unspecified
G92 Toxic encephalopathy
I42 Cardiomyopathy
I67.9 Cerebrovascular disease, unspecified
K29.5 Chronic gastritis, unspecified
K29.6.0* Gastritis anacid
K86.1 Other chronic pancreatitis
L21 Seborrheic dermatitis
L40.9 Psoriasis, unspecified
L93.0 Discoid lupus erythematosus
L94.0 Localized scleroderma [morphea]
P07.0 Extremely low birth weight
P15.9 Birth injury, unspecified
P21 Birth asphyxia
P92.2 Sluggish sucking of the newborn
P94 Muscle tone disorders in the newborn
R41.8.0* Intellectual-mnestic disorders
R53 Malaise and fatigue
R54 Old age
R63.0 Anorexia
R63.4 Abnormal weight loss
T90 Consequences of head injuries
Z54.0 Convalescent period after surgery
Z54.4 Convalescence period after treatment of a fracture
Z54.8 Convalescent period after other treatment
Z73.0 Overfatigue
Z73.2 Lack of rest and relaxation
Z73.6 Restrictions in activity caused by decreased ability to work

How to use

To recover from illness, Elkar® is recommended to be taken orally 2 times a day 30 minutes before meals for a course of at least 1 month.

Elkar® is available in several forms:

Solution in 100 ml bottles : equipped with a measuring cup, providing convenient dosing of the drug for adults and adolescents.

The recommended single dose is 5 ml.

Elkar® effervescent granules in bags for preparing a solution - for those who value every minute!

It is convenient to use at home and take with you to work, school or the gym.

Each sachet contains 1000 mg of L-carnitine - the optimal dose for a single dose.

To achieve optimal results, take 2 sachets per day.

In the morning before breakfast

During the day, 30 minutes before meals

Contraindications, indications for Elkar therapy

The instructions for the medication contain the following recommendations for the use of the drug as part of systemic treatment:

to increase performance indicators, reduce fatigue in stressful situations and heavy physical activity;
activation of regeneration processes after medical procedures, injuries, illnesses;
chronic forms of gastroduodenitis, pancreatitis - with decreased secretion production;
dermatological pathologies, including psoriasis, disseborrheic dermatitis, chronic connective tissue lesions, DLE;
mild forms of hyperthyroidism, eating disorders;
suppression of symptoms of neurological pathologies associated with intoxication, trauma, vascular diseases;
replenishment of carnitine deficiency.

For children under 3 years of age, Elkar is prescribed:

after oxygen starvation or fetal injury during labor;
with slow weight gain, weakness of the sucking reflex;
decreased muscle tone;
delayed development and growth up to the age of sixteen.

During intense training, the medication improves speed, strength, and coordination of movements. Can be used to accelerate recovery after heavy physical activity.

Effervescent granules of Elkar are prescribed for similar indicators. The medicine is contraindicated for use in patients with individual intolerance to the component composition. For the granular form, the limitation is the patient’s minor age.

Take note

Peak performance occurs within 2-6 hours after taking Elkar®.
L-carnitine is poorly absorbed when taken together with food, so Elkar ® should be taken 30 minutes before meals
L-carnitine accumulates in the body, so the effectiveness of Elkar ® will be higher with long-term and regular use.

Nemkova S.A. Modern approaches to the treatment of post-infectious asthenia in children and adolescents. Pediatrics/2016/Vol. 95/No. 6. – P. 199-203.
Romanova E.N. et al. The state of convalescents after influenza A/P1/T1 complicated by pneumonia. Siberian Medical Journal, 2011, No. 4, 73-75 p.

Adverse reactions

Non-standard clinical symptoms during Elkar therapy occur in rare cases. The instructions indicate the following manifestations:

in patients with uremia – weakness and fatigue of muscle tissue;
dyspepsia, pain in the pelvis and abdomen;
allergic dermatitis, skin rashes.

The appearance of side effects of Elkar requires consultation with a doctor and a change in the initial treatment regimen. Excessive use of the medication can cause dyspepsia and myasthenia gravis. Symptomatic therapy consists of gastric lavage and the use of activated carbon - 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight.