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chemo fatigue and l-carnitine deficiency

mariam_11_09
mariam_11_09 CSN Member Posts: 691 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have just finished 6 months of chemo, last one on Friday 8/27 so I am amoung the recent graduates. I was fairly active through out chemo with energy levels that were pretty normal until the last 4 weeks where my energy has plumeted and I haven't able to stay awake more than a couple of hours at a time. It is improving.

It was recommended I take L-Carnitine an amino acid as a suppliment as this will help with the fatigue. I asked my Onc. about it and he said there shouldn't be any harm in taking it although there isn't a guarrantee it will actually help with the fatigue. Of course, I couldn't help myself and dug up some information that pretty much indicates that L-Carnitine could help with chemo induced fatigue as well as chemo induced neuropathy. Some studies have shown that people have low levels of L-Carnitine or are deficient after going through chemo.

Sooo, I have my bottle L-Carnitine and started taking it this morning. I was told to give it a week so I shall report back with my own findings. As usual, please consult with your doctor or Onc. We all have unique situations and this may not be a one size fits all.

Anyway here are some URLS if you want to read up on it. I am sure there are more.

CA Cancer Journal for clinicians
http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/content/full/52/6/316

National Center for Biotechnology Information
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17696592
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19707160

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69164.cfm


As usual, please consult with your doctor or Onc. We all have unique situations and this may not be a one size fits all.
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Comments

  • alli_45242
    alli_45242 CSN Member Posts: 14
    #2
    L-Carnitine for chemo induced fatigue
    Can you tell me what brand, dosage, mg and how often you are taking of L-Carnitine? Blessings, Alli
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  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle CSN Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #3
    thank you for sharing this.
    thank you for sharing this. i'm getting ready to have chemo #5 out of 6 this thursday, and just in the past few weeks my energy level has gotten even lower than it had been! I will definately ask my onc about it.
    *hugs*
    Heather
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  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 CSN Member Posts: 2,631
    #4
    Thanks for
    sharing. I've never heard of it but do know that after 3 chemo treatments I feel like a zombie with no energy...... Let us know how you feel in a week.
    Char
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  • carkris
    carkris CSN Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #5
    cahjah75 said:

    Thanks for
    sharing. I've never heard of it but do know that after 3 chemo treatments I feel like a zombie with no energy...... Let us know how you feel in a week.
    Char

    it should be interesting , I
    it should be interesting , I am still pretty tired and have neuropathy, hate the neurontin I'm on. Its making me even more tired.!!!! good luck...
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