This interesting nutrient is made from the amino acid cysteine joined to an acetyl group. Acetylcysteine is a strong antioxidant. It donates the amino acid cysteine to help form the antioxidant glutathione, a powerful antioxidant normally found in the body. The proper dosage for long term health is not known but would be about one 500 mg capsule twice a week. You can use this supplement at a 500 mg dosage daily if you take a week off every other week. As with many supplements we don't know the effects when taken for several months or years. Therefore, taking breaks is a good idea.

Buy Acetylcysteine pill supplement 500 mg pill. You may also consider acetylcarnitine, another potent free radical scavenger that has mind enhancing benefits.

Review and benefits
N-acetylcysteine is an excellent source of sulfhydryl groups and is converted in the body into metabolites capable of stimulating glutathione synthesis, promoting detoxification, and acting directly as a free radical scavenger. Administration has historically been as a mucus dissolving agent in a variety of respiratory illnesses; however, it appears to also have beneficial effects in conditions characterized by decreased glutathione or oxidative stress, such as HIV infection, cancer, heart disease, and cigarette smoking.

Acetaminophen overdose ore excess use
Acetylcysteine could protect the liver of those who take acetaminophen on a regular basis. It is a good supplement to use to prevent Tylenol toxicity or perhaps to be used during treatment of additional pharmaceutical drugs that have potential harm to the liver.

Chemotherapy adjunct to prevent damage to the brain
There is a condition called "chemo-brain," which harms a large number of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Patients with this condition suffer from memory loss and have difficulty with concentration. Dr. Gregory W. Konat and colleagues at West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown first gave one group of rats two medications commonly used to treat cancer, Adriamycin and Cytoxan. These medications led to memory problems. However, memory loss was prevented when Dr. Gregory W. Konat gave the rats N-acetyl cysteine, or NAC, during chemotherapy.

Cocaine dependence
An open-label trial of N-acetylcysteine for the treatment of cocaine dependence: A pilot study.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2006;
Recent preclinical studies implicate this cysteine prodrug as a potential medication for preventing relapse to cocaine use; however, little is known about the safety and tolerability in cocaine-dependent subjects in an outpatient setting. Twenty three treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent patients participated in a 4-week medication trial and received N-acetylcysteine at doses of 1200 mg/day, 2400 mg/day or 3600 mg/day. Results suggested that the three doses were well tolerated. The majority of subjects who completed the study either terminated use of cocaine completely or significantly reduced their use of cocaine during treatment. Overall the findings suggest that it is feasible to treat cocaine-dependent treatment seekers with N-acetylcysteine on an outpatient basis.

Exercise and physical exertion
N-acetylcysteine enhances muscle cysteine and glutathione availability and attenuates fatigue during prolonged exercise in endurance-trained individuals.
Medved I.  Victoria University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
J Appl Physiol. 2004
The production of reactive oxygen species in skeletal muscle is linked with muscle fatigue. This study investigated the effects of the antioxidant compound N-acetylcysteine on muscle cysteine, cystine and glutathione, and on time to fatigue during prolonged, submaximal exercise in endurance athletes. Eight males completed a double-blind, crossover study, receiving acetylcysteine or placebo before and during cycling. Acetylcysteine improved performance in well-trained individuals, with enhanced muscle cysteine and GSH availability a likely mechanism.

Skin effect
Which is better to whiten olive skin? N-acetyl cysteine or plain glutathione? Should I take a combination of both?
    We are not aware of any research that shows skin pigmentation is decreased by taking oral n acetyl cysteine, oral glutathione pills, or applying such creams.

Side effects, risk
Other than large doses causing nausea, acetylcysteine is a safe nutrient. Some people have nausea for a few minutes within an hour of taking two or three 600 mg pills on an empty stomach.

Please let me know if you have had any feedbacks regarding vision problems as a result of n-acetylcysteine NAC supplement ingestion. Since a year ago I have temporary obstructed vision in my left eye. For a long time I had no idea why a fog like film would appear over night and then diminish over a period of about 6 to 8 weeks. I used to blame unknown ingredients in restaurant foods , but about a month ago I took n-acetylcysteine NAC to help relieve me of chest irritation and the next day the vision in my left eye went from relatively clear to virtually blind (only light, dark and faint colors visible). A check of several supplements by Pure Encapsulations which I have taken regularly showed small amounts of n-acetylcysteine in their ingredients. This may explain the "unknown" causes of the temporary incidents of blindness. My eye doctors at Kaiser, Maui and at the Hawaii Eye Center in Honolulu insist the phenomenon is a "mature cataract" and recommend lens replacement. My concern is that the obstructing layer may not be in the lens but perhaps between the cornea and the lens, therefore rendering lens replacement useless in this particular case. My opinion is reinforced by the fact that by avoiding any supplements containing it or other chelating ingredients the obstruction tends to clear up over time.
    We have not heard of any vision problems related to n-acetylcysteine NAC supplement use.

How often to take it
Acetyl-L-Cysteine is a potent antioxidant. It can be used a few times a week. If you take daily acetaminophen for arthritis pain or other reasons, discuss with your doctor whether this antioxidant could be helpful to you. This nutrient can be taken together with other antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, and alpha lipoic acid, however you would need to lower your dose of the other antioxidants.

Influence on glutathione
A supplement like N-acetylcysteine pill is a precursor of glutathione and is an excellent antioxidant. How much of the recommended dose is actually absorbed and forwarded to the liver (1st pass due to oral ingestion?) This is also a question about any other supplement, which, unlike pharmaceutical drugs, is not characterized by half life, absorption capability, protein binding percentage, etc. I am a lecturer at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa.
   Research with natural supplements is so early that we don't have enough data to answer these types of questions with any confidence.

I have read that glutathione supplements cannot effectively cross the cell membrane. Are you aware there is now a product available, developed by a triple board certified physician (Dr. Robert Keller) that is formulated and clinically proven to enhance delivery of the key ingredients necessary to make glutathione, supporting the body's natural production of this vital antioxidant.
   We have yet to see such as study regarding the product made by Dr. Robert Keller.

Review and  recommendations
Acetylcysteine is sold in dosages ranging from 250 to 600 mg. It can help form the powerful antioxidant glutathione but the formation of glutathione synthesis is under feedback control. Administration of acetylcysteine with the resulting increase in glutathione levels may cause a feedback inhibition in glutathione synthesis. Thus, it may be best to take acetylcysteine every other day. The use of acetylcysteine certainly should be considered as an additional supplement in protecting various cells from damage in the elderly and those with Parkinson’s disease. If you are planning to use it along with other antioxidants, limit your daily dosage to 100 to 500 mg and don’t take it all the time.

use with prescription medications
I currently take phentermine but not on a regular basis, maybe 2 -3 times per week. Can I take the n-acetyl l-cysteine as well?
    NAC is relatively a safe supplement but no one can accurately predict the response of any one individual to the combination of prescription drugs and supplements.

Use with herbal supplements
Can it be combined with tongkat ali herb?
   Probably as long as the dosages are low.