Delayed release carnitine

Abstract

A sustained release, orally administered pharmaceutical composition comprising carnitine and an acceptable pharmaceutical excipient is described for the treatment of carnitine deficiency and other carnitine responsive conditions. The sustained release formulation avoids the characteristic problems of gastrointestinal invitation, dumping in the urine and bacterial degradation attendant previously known oral formulations of carnitine.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . A sustained release oral medicament for administration to a human being, the human being having gastrointestinal fluid, the medicament comprising: 
 (a) a unitary dosage amount of L-carnitine formed into granules;    (b) a coating of about 39% by weight of a copolymer synthesized from methacrylic acid esters with quaternary ammonium groups, wherein the molar ratio of the ammonium groups to the methacrylic acid esters is 1:40; and    (c) an acceptable pharmaceutical excipient.    
   
   
       16 . The sustained release oral medicament of  claim 15 , wherein the granules have a dimension of 20 mesh.  
   
   
       17 . The sustained release oral medicament of  claim 15 , wherein the granules have a dimension of 25-30 mesh.  
   
   
       18 . The sustained release oral medicament as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the carnitine is slowly released over a period of time greater than two hours upon exposure to gastrointestinal fluid.