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Acetylcysteine
Medication used to treat overdose of paracetamol / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Acetylcysteine, also known as N-acetylcysteine (NAC), not to be confused with N-Acetylcarnosine, which is also abbreviated "NAC," is a medication that is used to treat paracetamol overdose and to loosen thick mucus in individuals with chronic bronchopulmonary disorders like pneumonia and bronchitis.[9] It has been used to treat lactobezoar in infants. It can be taken intravenously, by mouth, or inhaled as a mist.[9] Some people use it as a dietary supplement.[12][13]
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Pronunciation | /əˌsiːtəlˈsɪstiːn/ and similar (/əˌsɛtəl-, ˌæsɪtəl-, -tiːn/) |
Trade names | ACC 200, Acetadote, Fluimucil, Mucomyst, others |
Other names | N-acetylcysteine; N-acetyl-L-cysteine; NALC; NAC |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
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Routes of administration | By mouth, intravenous, inhalation |
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Bioavailability | 6-10% (Oral)[6][7] nearly 100% (intravenous)[8] |
Protein binding | 50 to 83%[9] |
Metabolism | Liver[9] |
Elimination half-life | 5.6 hours[5] |
Excretion | Kidney (30%),[9] faecal (3%) |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.009.545 ![]() |
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Formula | C5H9NO3S |
Molar mass | 163.19 g·mol−1 |
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Specific rotation | +5° (c = 3% in water)[11] |
Melting point | 109 to 110 °C (228 to 230 °F) [11] |
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Common side effects include nausea and vomiting when taken by mouth.[9] The skin may occasionally become red and itchy with any route of administration.[9] A non-immune type of anaphylaxis may also occur.[9] It appears to be safe in pregnancy.[9] For paracetamol overdose, it works by increasing the level of glutathione, an antioxidant that can neutralise the toxic breakdown products of paracetamol.[9] When inhaled, it acts as a mucolytic by decreasing the thickness of mucus.[14]
Acetylcysteine was initially patented in 1960 and came into medical use in 1968.[15][16][17] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[18][19] It is available as a generic medication.[20]
The sulfur-containing amino acids cysteine and methionine are more easily oxidized than the other amino acids.[21][22]