N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) Usage

The exact effect of NAC on arrhythmias is not clear. When taken orally, NAC is thought to help the body make the important antioxidant enzyme glutathione.

Read more about Arrhythmias (Heart Rhythm Disturbances) and N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC).

Significant but not entirely consistent evidence suggests that regular use of NAC is helpful for individuals with chronic bronchitis (a condition commonly associated with smoking and emphysema) in reducing frequency of acute flare-ups of the condition. ¹ Regular use of NAC may help prevent influenza , possibly by stimulating immunity. ² One substantial study found evidence that NAC may augment the effectiveness of clomiphene , a drug used for female infertility , in women with polycystic ovary syndrome . ³ Another study found NAC far less effective for this purpose than the drug metformin; however, it still could have provided some benefit.

Mixed evidence suggests that NAC may also enhance the effectiveness of the drug nitroglycerin , ^{4 5 6 7 8} used for the treatment of angina . However, severe headaches can develop as a side effect.

Note: Do not attempt to self-treat angina, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or acetaminophen poisoning! Medical supervision is absolutely essential because of the very real risk of death in these conditions.

NAC may be helpful in a life-threatening condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome. ⁹ Very high dosages of NAC are used in hospitals as a conventional treatment for acetaminophen poisoning.

According to some, but not all studies, NAC may be helpful for preventing complications that occur during cardiac surgery. ¹⁰ Some research has also suggested that NAC may be helpful for Sjogren’s syndrome ¹¹ (a disease that causes dry eyes, among other symptoms), chronic blepharitis ¹² (ongoing infections of the eyelid), severe liver disease, and reducing the side effects of the cancer chemotherapy drug ifosfamide. ^{13 14 15 16} Other evidence hints that NAC might help offset the carcinogenic effects of smoking and reduce colon cancer risk. ¹⁷ Weak evidence hints that NAC might reduce some side effects (specifically, cardiac toxicity and hair loss) caused by the cancer chemotherapy drug doxorubicin . ¹⁸ NAC has been proposed as supportive therapy for HIV . Despite some intriguing results, overall the evidence is inconsistent at best. ¹⁹ Several studies have suggested that NAC may be beneficial as an aid to treating various mental health disorders including schizophrenia , ²⁰ cocaine-dependence, ²¹ and even pathological gambling. ²² In order to get more information from certain types of x-rays, radiologists often administer substances called contrast agents. Unfortunately, contrast agents can damage the kidney. It has been suggested that NAC can help protect the kidney from such damage; ²³ however, the most recent and best-designed study failed to find benefit. ²⁴ One double-blind trial failed to find NAC helpful for head and neck or lung cancer. ²⁵ Studies have also failed to find NAC helpful for treating viral hepatitis , ²⁶ preeclampsia , ²⁷ or enhancing sports performance . ²⁸