Acetylcysteine

[CallysMum]

I have recently been prescribed oral acetylcysteine as a mucolytic.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

I am unsure how having a greater volume of mucus to cough up will help me, and the drug information leaflet says it should not be used with bronchial asthma as it can cause bronchospasms.

[Poobah]

I would give the Asthma UK nurses a call on 0300 222 5800. I know that Carbocisteine is widely used as a mucus buster and as you say, the warning on acetylcysteine is giving you concerns. I do wonder why your doctor would prescribe something other than Carbocisteine, but only they can explain their thinking.

[CallysMum in reply to Poobah]

Thank you, I'm going to try half a tablet on a day I'm coughing up a lot and see....

[peege]

Over on the AsthmalungUK site several members are prescribed N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC for short) as a mucolytic. Carbocysteine is the more common mucolytic on prescription only (NAC can be bought over the counter). I've been prescribed it both in France and Croatia when I've run out of Carbocysteine). I liked it because it was in power form & mixed in a little water. Some people cant tolerate Carbo so are given NAC instead. I may be wrong but I think its a once a day dose whereas Carbo is twice or thrice daily .I've asthma with a propensity to lung infections so the Carbo helps loosen any lung mucus so it can't hang about waiting for any bugs to have a party 🙃 🙄

[CallysMum in reply to peege]

Thank you, I'm going to try half a tablet on a day I'm coughing up a lot and see....

[peege in reply to CallysMum]

It's so important to get all the mucus up and out any way you can. You may find lung clearance exercise videos on youtube 🤔

[Giraffe91]

I’ve actually just used it for a week. I was prescribed it by a hospital while on my travels. It seemed to make it easier and less painful to cough stuff up but it was annoying after a while as I seemed to have to do it a lot!

[CallysMum in reply to Giraffe91]

Thank you, I'm going to try half a tablet on a day I'm coughing up a lot and see....

[Cliff_G]

Hi,

I have been taking NAC now for about two weeks, and I think it is helping. I'm taking the augmented form supplied by the Zerospike organisation in Italy, and decided on it for a number of reasons including its anti-inflam properties and mucus busting. So far at half the recommended dose, so 1 x 200 mg capsule per day.

I have noticed an easing of my mucus and less need to squirt inhalers in the night. In fact last night for the first time in literally years I only did my bedtime blue & brown and didn't need the usual squirts in the night.

They recommend taking plenty of water during the day.

The ordinary NAC supplies are known to be somewhat prone to oxidation in the bottle once opened, and if that happens it can actually have the opposite effect. Keeping it in a fridge may help, but basically, don't buy too much and use it up before opening another.