Dr Acetyl l carnitine has been compared to placebo treatments. It's also been compared to standard antidepressants. Most of those studies lead to the conclusion that acetyl l carnitine works like L carnitine and Acetyl L Carnitine: A Possibility for Treating Alterations Induced by Obesity in the Central Nervous System Neurochemical Research Springer Nature Link L Carnitine Linus Pauling Institute Oregon State University Acetyl L Carnitine Supplement (ALCAR) 500 mg Superior Labs Effects of Long term Acetyl L carnitine Administration in Rats: I. Increased Dopamine Output in Mesocorticolimbic Areas and Protection toward Acute Stress Exposure Neuropsychopharmacology Acetyl L Carnitine Fullscript