Ingredient 4 of 6
L-Carnitine in Flow Nerves: Form, Evidence and Medicine Notes
L-carnitine is an amino-acid-like compound your body makes. It is the fourth name listed for Flow Nerves, with no milligram amount and no form printed. MSK links diabetic neuropathy to acetyl-L-carnitine, a different form. NIH says about 3 g a day can cause nausea, cramps, diarrhea and a fishy body odor.
- No mgprinted for this name
- Form unknownnot stated anywhere
- 3 g a daywhere stomach effects appear
- 2-4 ga day in a thyroid trial
Written by the Flow Nerves label deskUpdated
The basics
What is L-carnitine?
L-carnitine is an amino-acid-like compound that your body makes and also gets from food. It is the fourth name on the Flow Nerves list from the brief and the seller's page.
The seller says it supports "mitochondrial energy production". Mitochondria are the tiny parts of a cell that turn food into energy. We found no study of Flow Nerves that tests that wording.
The form is the catch. L-carnitine, L-carnitine tartrate and acetyl-L-carnitine are different compounds. MSK says L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine are not the same (MSK, Carnitine). The brief and the seller's page do not say which one Flow Nerves uses.
| Name on the list | L-Carnitine |
|---|---|
| What it is | An amino-acid-like compound the body makes; many forms are sold, and the sales page does not say which one this is |
| Form | L-carnitine, L-carnitine tartrate and acetyl-L-carnitine are different compounds; the form is not stated |
| Printed amount | Not printed in the material we have. No Supplement Facts image was supplied and the sales page prints no milligram for this name. |
| Amount used in research | About 3 g a day of carnitine supplements can cause nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea and a fishy body odor; a thyroid trial used 2 to 4 g a day |
| How the label compares | The label prints no amount, so it cannot be set next to 3 g |
| Strength of evidence | MSK lists diabetic neuropathy as a purported use of acetyl-L-carnitine, a different form; the NIH fact sheet does not mention nerve pain |
| Marketed or traditional use | Sold as supporting 'mitochondrial energy production' |
| Main caution | MSK says L-carnitine may add to the effect of warfarin and other blood thinners. A 2001 trial found it acts against thyroid hormone at 2 to 4 g a day. Seizure medicines such as valproic acid, and some antibiotics, can interact with carnitine. |
The picture at the top is the vendor's illustration of the ingredient. It is not a photo of what sits inside a capsule.
The evidence
Does L-carnitine help nerves?
No source we read says that plain L-carnitine helps nerves. MSK lists diabetic neuropathy as a purported use of acetyl-L-carnitine, which is the form discussed for it, not L-carnitine (MSK, Carnitine).
The NIH fact sheet on carnitine does not mention diabetic neuropathy or nerve pain at all (NIH ODS, Carnitine). So a reader who sees "acetyl L-carnitine nerves" in a search should know the research names a different compound than the one the brief lists.
| Form | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| L-carnitine | Named in the brief. NIH does not mention nerve pain. |
| Acetyl-L-carnitine | MSK lists diabetic neuropathy as a purported use. It can increase nerve pain from chemotherapy. |
| L-carnitine tartrate | Not discussed in the sources we read. |
| Flow Nerves | Form not stated. |
The numbers
How much L-carnitine is in Flow Nerves?
The material we have does not say how much L-carnitine is in one Flow Nerves capsule. No Supplement Facts image was supplied, and the seller calls the six names a "proprietary blend".
The bars show two reference points from the sources, next to the dashed "not printed" bar. NIH says about 3,000 mg a day of carnitine supplements can cause stomach effects. A 2001 trial used 2,000 to 4,000 mg a day (Benvenga 2001, Carnitine and thyroid hormone). These are amounts a source used or named. They are not amounts in a capsule.
A fair question for the seller is: which form, and how many milligrams, are in one capsule? See the formula page.
Side effects
What are the side effects of L-carnitine?
About 3 g a day of carnitine supplements can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and a fishy body odor, NIH says (NIH ODS, Carnitine). MSK adds heartburn, headache and high blood pressure (MSK, Carnitine).
NIH also notes that gut bacteria turn unabsorbed carnitine into a compound called TMAO. NIH says the meaning of that is not well understood. We mention it only so you are not surprised if you read about it elsewhere.
MSK says acetyl-L-carnitine can increase nerve pain caused by chemotherapy. If you are in cancer treatment, ask your oncology team before any carnitine product.
Medicine check
Does L-carnitine interact with medicines?
Yes. MSK says L-carnitine may add to the effect of warfarin, and to other blood thinners such as clopidogrel, apixaban and rivaroxaban. Ask your provider if you take one (MSK, Carnitine).
NIH lists the seizure medicines valproic acid, phenobarbital, phenytoin and carbamazepine, and pivalate-conjugated antibiotics such as pivampicillin, as interacting with carnitine (NIH ODS, Carnitine). In a 2001 randomized trial of 50 women taking levothyroxine, 2 to 4 g a day of L-carnitine acted against thyroid hormone (Benvenga 2001, Carnitine and thyroid hormone).
| If you take | What a source says |
|---|---|
| Warfarin or another blood thinner | L-carnitine may add to the effect (MSK). |
| Seizure medicine | Listed as interacting (NIH). |
| Pivampicillin-type antibiotics | Listed as interacting (NIH). |
| Thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) | Acted against it at 2 to 4 g a day in one trial. |
The label prints no carnitine amount, so we cannot say if a capsule comes close to a trial dose. Ask your pharmacist. The Medicine Switchboard maps all six names to the medicines they touch.
Who should ask first
Who should ask a doctor first?
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before L-carnitine if you take a blood thinner, thyroid medicine or seizure medicine, are in cancer treatment, are pregnant or nursing, or are under 18.
Keep taking prescribed medicine, and never stop it because of a supplement. If you have new numbness or tingling, see a doctor before any supplement. Mayo Clinic says to seek medical care right away (Mayo Clinic, Peripheral neuropathy). Our guide on when to see a doctor lists the warning signs.
FAQ
Flow Nerves questions people ask
What is L-carnitine?
L-carnitine is an amino-acid-like compound your body makes. It is the fourth of six names listed for Flow Nerves. No amount and no form are printed in the material we have.
Is Flow Nerves acetyl-L-carnitine?
Not as far as we know. The brief says L-carnitine and the form is not stated. MSK says L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine are different compounds, and links nerve research to the acetyl form (MSK, Carnitine).
How much L-carnitine is in Flow Nerves?
No amount is printed in the material we have. No Supplement Facts image was supplied. Ask the order desk at +1 (302) 200-3480 for the form and the milligrams per capsule.
What are L-carnitine side effects?
NIH says about 3 g a day can cause nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea and a fishy body odor. MSK adds heartburn, headache and high blood pressure (NIH ODS, Carnitine).
Can I take L-carnitine with warfarin?
Ask your provider first. MSK says L-carnitine may add to the effect of warfarin and other blood thinners, which could raise bleeding risk (MSK, Carnitine).
Does L-carnitine affect thyroid medicine?
In one 2001 trial, 2 to 4 g a day acted against thyroid hormone in women on levothyroxine. The label prints no amount, so ask your pharmacist if you take thyroid medicine (Benvenga 2001, Carnitine and thyroid hormone).
Does L-carnitine help diabetic neuropathy?
The research MSK cites is on acetyl-L-carnitine, a different form. The NIH fact sheet on carnitine does not mention nerve pain, so no source links plain L-carnitine to it (NIH ODS, Carnitine).
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the brand panels and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a U.S. stocking partner for Flow Nerves. It is not the manufacturer or a distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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Ready to try Flow Nerves?
Check your medicines first with the Switchboard, especially diabetes medicine, blood thinners and blood pressure medicine, and see a doctor about new numbness or tingling, then pick a pack. On the seller's count one bottle is 30 days; 3 bottles cover 90 days and 6 cover 180.
- Pay at the seller checkout
- 60-day guarantee
- Ships from the U.S. with tracking
