Instructions for use of Elkar for infants, why it is prescribed and how to give it correctly

Description and features of the drug

Elkar is similar to the substance levocarnitine, which is produced by the body and is involved in metabolism. In structure and properties, it is similar to B vitamins and is an amino acid. The task of L-carnitine in the body is to deliver fatty acids inside cells, remove fat metabolism products, and provide neuroprotection of cells.

Elkar, due to its similarity to the body’s own L-carnitine, helps:

• digestion of food;
• stimulate the production of digestive enzymes;
• normalize fat and protein metabolism;
• convert the resulting nutrients into energy, stimulate physical activity;
• slow down the breakdown of glucose.

Elkar improves the restorative functions of the body; it is recommended for long-term illnesses, for recovery after operations and for improving brain function. The drug is prescribed to newborns who are not gaining weight well, who suffer from lack of appetite, and also to premature babies. Many parents note that after taking the drug, the baby began to grow better, vital activity and mood improved.

Information: Elkar belongs to the group of dietary supplements that improve digestive processes, help extract the maximum nutrients from foods, and improve the absorption of fats and proteins.

Elkar is quickly absorbed from the digestive tract. The maximum amount of levocarnitine is achieved 3 hours after administration. The substance remains active, and the therapeutic effect lasts for another 8-9 hours. Excreted by the kidneys.

How the drug works

Elkar is rightfully classified as one of those medicines that have a huge impact on the infant’s digestive system. Along with this type of activity, it also ensures the active course of metabolic processes.

In fact, it is a synthetic analogue of L-carnitine, referred to as levocarnitine. This is an amino acid that is normally produced by itself in the body of a newborn, and an adult too. It is a universal corrector and stimulator of energy metabolic processes in cells, tissues and organs. Due to this, the drug improves the activity of the nervous system, its ability to create and conduct impulses necessary for the correct functioning of all systems and organs. Along with this, the drug significantly improves the structure and activity of the cerebral cortex.

In general, the effect of this stimulant is aimed at:

• normalization of fat and protein metabolic processes;
• increased secretion and enzymatic composition of digestive juices;
• improving the quality of absorption of nutrients obtained from food (in the case of infants, from milk or formula);
• reduction of excess weight;
• reduction in the number of fat cells in muscle tissue;
• increasing overall tone and physical endurance;
• inhibition of destructive metabolic processes in cells;
• providing tissues with energy for growth and development.

Composition and release form

Elcar is a colorless, transparent solution; some odor is allowed. Available in two types:

• solution for oral (inside) administration;
• solution for injection (intramuscular and intravenous) - in ampoules.

Elcar drops for oral administration are produced in two versions - 20 and 30 percent of the active substance. The dark glass bottle is equipped with a dropper. In addition to the active ingredient levocarnitine (20% solution - 1 gram in 5 milliliters), the drug contains auxiliary components:

• water;
• citric acid;
• methyl and propyl parahydroxybenzoates.

For the treatment of newborns, only a solution of 20% concentration is used.

Indications for use

Elkar is used for infants only as prescribed by a pediatrician. The indications are:

• slow weight gain – poor weight gain;
• prematurity - early birth;
• developmental delays;
• recovery after surgical procedures or serious illnesses;
• development of jaundice;
• dysbiosis, other digestive disorders;
• poor appetite, poorly developed sucking reflex;
• tone disturbances;
• birth injuries.

According to clinical studies, in the first 2 weeks after the baby begins to take Elkar, a stable increase in body weight is recorded. The drug is indicated for infants who have suffered a difficult birth, asphyxia, or those born with insufficient body weight. Elkar is prescribed to infants after completion of parenteral nutrition, so that they can more easily absorb naturally occurring food.

Premature and weakened newborns are given Elkar by injection in the maternity hospital and children's hospital, then they switch to taking drops at home. After completion of the neonatal period, the drug is prescribed to infants and children under 3 years of age if the following problems exist:

• gastrointestinal pathologies – in complex therapy;
• nervous system disorders;
• skin pathologies;
• severe illnesses accompanied by weight loss and slow development - psycho-emotional, physical.

Elkar helps infants to more easily endure the postoperative period and recover from infectious and other diseases. It has a positive effect on the state of the nervous system, helps cope with fatigue and loss of strength due to better absorption of nutrients, converting them into energy, and accelerates the growth of muscle mass.

Main indications

Elkar for infants is most often used for liver pathologies such as neonatal jaundice, hepatitis and cirrhosis as a stimulating therapy. It is also prescribed to weak children who, for one reason or another, consistently gain weight poorly. The medicine is especially popular among neurologists when there is damage to the brain in infants, accompanied by nervous phenomena.

Elkar is prescribed for a deficiency of growth vitamin in the body of a newborn, for disorders in the myocardium, electrical or mechanical dysfunction of the heart. Also, indications for its use may be acute hypoxic conditions, hemodynamic disorders in the brain, and in cases of complex surgical interventions.

In addition, the medicine will have the necessary effect on children in whose lives the following have occurred:

• birth injuries;
• asphyxia;
• poor development or absence of the sucking reflex;
• malnutrition;
• decreased muscle tone;
• low immune status;
• complex diseases, injuries and long periods of rehabilitation.

Contraindications

The drug is not prescribed to children with known intolerance to any component of Elkar. Let us remind you that infants are recommended to take 20% of the product. The medicine is not given to infants with acute pathologies of the digestive tract, including gastritis, as well as sleep disorders.

Despite the fact that Elkar is classified as a dietary supplement and is sold without a prescription, you should not give the drug to an infant yourself. Before taking Elkar, you need to identify the indications and determine the dosage. Only a pediatrician can do this after examining the baby’s condition.

Elkar: contraindications and side effects

If you carefully read the instructions for Elkar before giving it to a newborn, you will notice that the drug has no contraindications. Of course, except for individual intolerance, which can occur in absolutely any person to the most harmless foods and medications.

However, this does not mean that if there is no allergy during the first day of taking the medicine, you can relax. Not at all! It is necessary to carefully look at the baby’s behavior and “listen” to his feelings. You need to look for the following:

• A sharp increase in tone.
• Increased nervous excitability.
• Disorders of the digestive tract.
• Stomach ache.
• Depressed mood, apathy.
• Lack of appetite.

If you discover anything from the above list, then know that you need to run to the doctor! And the sooner the better. After all, the manifestation of side effects of Elkar for newborns means that the drug needs to be discontinued or the dosage adjusted. And only a doctor should do this.

But, in fairness, it should be noted that Elkar has established itself as an effective medicine, and side effects from its use occur very rarely. So if your pediatrician recommends taking it, don't argue with your doctor. May your child be healthy!

How to give to a child and dosage

The drug is prescribed to newborns from the first days of life. In hospital settings it is administered by muscle or intravenous injection. At home they use drops inside. Elkar is given to infants 30 minutes before feeding, after mixing it in a sweet drink - compote, jelly, slightly sweetened water (5% glucose solution). The dosage is calculated based on the condition, weight and age of the baby. The total volume of a 20% drug received by a child under one year of age should not exceed 30 drops per day, which are divided into 3 doses.

The course usually lasts 2 weeks. If there is improvement, treatment can be re-prescribed after 2-3 weeks, adjusting the dose if necessary.

Starting from 3 years, the doctor can prescribe Elkar in 20 or 30% concentration, calculating the amount of levocarnitine per day and per dose. Use of Elkar for children of other ages:

• 3-6 years – 0.2-0.3 grams of L-carnitine per day for a monthly course;
• 6-12 years – 0.2-0.3 grams of levocarnitine for a month;
• older – 0.4-0.9 grams per day for at least a month.

With slow physical development, Elkar is given to children according to different schemes with a daily dose of 0.5-0.75 grams of levocarnitine per day.

Interaction with other drugs

Elkar does not conflict with most drugs that can be prescribed to infants and does not interact. Parents can safely treat their babies with antipyretic, anti-inflammatory drugs and continue to give levocarnitine to improve digestion.

Experts note only one type of mutual action - when taking glucocorticosteroids, L-carnitine cumulates (accumulates) in most tissues (with the exception of the liver). When prescribing hormones to a baby, you should consult your doctor about the advisability of taking Elkar.

Indications for use

The main indications for taking Elkar are:

• underdeveloped sucking reflex;
• birth injuries;
• insufficient weight gain;
• weakened immune system;
• dermatological problems;
• to prevent blood clots;
• in preparation for surgery.

This drug is also prescribed to older children - schoolchildren who have problems with concentration and concentration.

Side effects and consequences of overdose

When purchasing Elkar for infants, you need to pay attention to the dosage - it is recommended to use a drug with a 20% concentration of levocarnitine. Otherwise, it is easy to encounter an overdose of the drug. Its symptoms are dyspeptic disorders:

• nausea;
• abdominal distension, colic, heaviness in the stomach;
• pain in the epigastric region.

In infants this is expressed in crying, loss of appetite, anxiety, and poor sleep. You need to see a doctor quickly.

Help: in case of overdose, wash out the stomach and prescribe enterosorbents. Subsequently, the dose is adjusted or the drug is discontinued.

When using Elkar for infants strictly according to the proposed scheme, side effects are rarely observed. The drug is considered safe and is prescribed from birth, including for neonatal jaundice. The most common negative effects from taking include:

• development of allergies;
• signs of dyspepsia, mainly associated with overdose;
• mild pain in the epigastric region.

Any symptoms that occur should be reported to your doctor immediately. Elkar is usually used in complex therapy, so a specialist must find out what causes the negative reactions.

When is Elkar necessary for newborns?

Elkar drops are prescribed to newborns in the following situations:

• In the presence of a birth injury, including asphyxia resulting from the tight entanglement of the umbilical cord.
• In the absence or weak expression of the sucking reflex.
• For hypotonicity and low blood pressure.
• At birth with low body weight or earlier than scheduled.
• For metabolic disorders.

Older children are also prescribed this drug. Most often, children have to take levocarnitine to strengthen the immune system, reduce fatigue, after surgery, as well as in the complex treatment of any systemic disease.

Analogs

Many parents are faced with the need to support digestion in infants with slow development. There are different ways and means for this, depending on the characteristics of the baby’s condition. The closest analogues of Elkar include:

1. L-carnitine. Contains tartaric acid and carnitine salts. The drug is indicated for infants with weakened sucking function, lack of body weight, hypotension, and nervous disorders. Admission from the first days of life is allowed. Strict adherence to the dosage prescribed by the doctor is required.
2. Cartan. The drug is widely used in nursing newborns, for hypotension and malnutrition, slow growth and development of infants and older children.
3. Carnitene. The drug is produced in Italy. The main component is levocarnitine. There are not many auxiliary components in the composition, which reduces the risk of allergies.
4. Metapictures. The owner of the certificate is Great Britain. A drug for intravenous infusion containing levocarnitine.

Other drugs help accelerate the development of children, stimulate better absorption of nutrients, and ensure rapid weight gain for infants:

1. Vitamin complexes. Aquadetrim is indicated from the neonatal period, contains vitamin D. Eliminates the danger of rickets, stimulates metabolism, helps absorb calcium for bone growth.
2. Pantogam. A nootropic drug prescribed for encephalopathy, birth injuries, toxic effects on the body, neuroses and similar conditions.
3. Korilip. A remedy for improving metabolic processes. The drug Korilip Neo is available for newborns. These are suppositories, used rectally. Contains riboflavin, vitamins, enzymes. Improves all types of metabolism, increases the energy potential of the body.
4. Cocarboxylase. The medicine promotes the absorption of glucose, stimulates carbohydrate metabolism, and restores the functions of the cardiovascular system. Helps infants recover from infectious diseases. Positively affects respiratory functions.

Only a specialist who observes the baby and knows exactly the diagnosis and developmental characteristics can choose an exact or therapeutic analogue of Elkar.

Storage conditions

After the bottle is opened, the drug is constantly kept in the refrigerator. The medicine must be used within 2 months. Until the bottle is opened, it is stored at room temperature (25 °), keeping children out of reach. The shelf life of an unopened medicine is 3 years. The attitude of pediatricians to the use of Elkar is very diverse. Everyone agrees on one thing - parents should not give the drug to their infants on their own. Only a specialist can calculate the dose, course and frequency of administration.

Many doctors are confident that after taking the drug, infants develop faster. They begin to hold their head up, sit more confidently, and crawl more actively. Although others point out that in the 2-4 weeks it takes for the course of treatment, the kids would have learned this anyway.

Metabolic processes are adjusted and improved in infants within the time frame allotted by nature. Elkar helps premature babies catch up with their peers in development, gain weight, become stronger and more cheerful. For healthy children, the drug is indicated for the prevention of metabolic disorders, strengthening and improving the nervous system, and activating the body's defenses.