Hepamerz (L-Ornithine L-Aspartate / LOLA) - Syrup Dosage
Hepamerz syrup contains L-Ornithine L-Aspartate (LOLA), an amino-acid salt used to lower blood ammonia in liver disease. Typical strength in the oral liquid formulation is 3 g LOLA per 10 mL.
Usual adult dosing (oral syrup):
- 10-20 mL, 2-3 times a day, mixed in a glass of water or juice, preferably after meals.
- In hepatic encephalopathy or higher ammonia levels, doctors sometimes increase to 20 mL three times daily.
- Duration and exact dose should be individualized by the treating physician based on liver function, ammonia levels, and clinical response - this is not a fixed one-size-fits-all regimen.
Indications: acute/chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver with hyperammonemia, and hepatic encephalopathy (reduces elevated blood ammonia, which is a key driver of encephalopathy symptoms).
Cautions / contraindications:
- Avoid or use with extreme caution in severe renal impairment (LOLA is renally cleared; a serum creatinine above ~3 mg/dL is generally used as a cutoff for avoiding it).
- Hypersensitivity to L-ornithine-L-aspartate is a contraindication.
- Safety in pregnancy/lactation and in children is not well established - pediatric use should only be under medical supervision.
- No significant known drug interactions, but always disclose other medications to your doctor/pharmacist.
Mechanism (why it's dosed this way): LOLA supplies ornithine and aspartate, which stimulate the hepatic urea cycle (ornithine activates carbamoyl phosphate synthetase; aspartate activates arginase) and promote glutamine synthesis in muscle, both pathways that clear ammonia from the blood - Yamada's Textbook of Gastroenterology; Current Surgical Therapy 14e, "Alternative Therapies for HE."
Clinical evidence review: a Cochrane systematic review (LOLA for hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis, PMC6494563) found LOLA may improve hepatic encephalopathy symptoms compared to placebo, though evidence quality varies across trials and some studies had industry funding (including one using Hepamerz itself), so effect sizes should be interpreted cautiously.
Important: the exact dose depends on the specific formulation/strength on your bottle's label (concentrations vary slightly by manufacturer and country) and on why it's being prescribed (maintenance liver support vs. active encephalopathy). Please follow the dose on your prescription/product label, or confirm with your prescribing doctor or pharmacist before use - this is not a substitute for personalized medical advice.