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 Acylcarnitines metabolism in depression: association with diagnostic status, depression severity and symptom profile in the NESDA cohort Translational Psychiatry Acetyl l carnitine deficiency in patients with major depressive disorder PNAS Acetyl L Carnitine, 500 mg, 200 Quick Release Capsules