Good evidence exists to support the use of N-acetylcysteine as an adjunct treatment to reduce the total and negative symptoms of schizophrenia .
N-acetylcysteine also appears to be effective in reducing craving in substance use disorders , especially for the treatment of cocaine and cannabis use among young people , in addition to preventing relapse in already abstinent individuals .
Oral N-acetylcysteine is safe and well tolerated without any considerable adverse effects .
N-acetylcysteine , a sulphur-containing amino acid for the treatment of paracetamol overdose and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , is a widely available off-the-shelf oral antioxidant supplement in many countries .
With the potential to modulate several neurological pathways , including glutamate dysregulation , oxidative stress , and inflammation that can be beneficial to the brain functions , N-acetylcysteine is being explored as an adjunctive therapy for many psychiatric conditions .
This narrative review synthesis es and presents the current evidence from systematic review s , meta-analyses , and latest clinical trials on N-acetylcysteine for addiction and substance abuse , schizophrenia , obsessive-compulsive and related disorders , and mood disorders .
Glutathione Precursor N-Acetyl-Cysteine Modulates EEG Synchronization in Schizophrenia Patients: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Glutathione ( GSH ) dysregulation at the gene , protein , and functional levels has been observed in schizophrenia patients . Together with disease-like anomalies in GSH deficit experimental models , it suggests that such redox dysregulation can play a critical role in altering neural connectivity and synchronization , and thus possibly causing schizophrenia symptoms . To determine whether increased GSH levels would modulate EEG synchronization , N-acetyl-cysteine ( NAC ) , a glutathione precursor , was administered to patients in a r and omized , double-blind , crossover protocol for 60 days , followed by placebo for another 60 days ( or vice versa ) . We analyzed whole-head topography of the multivariate phase synchronization ( MPS ) for 128-channel resting-state EEGs that were recorded at the onset , at the point of crossover , and at the end of the protocol . In this proof of concept study , the treatment with NAC significantly increased MPS compared to placebo over the left parieto-temporal , the right temporal , and the bilateral prefrontal regions . These changes were robust both at the group and at the individual level . Although MPS increase was observed in the absence of clinical improvement at a group level , it correlated with individual change estimated by Liddle 's disorganization scale . Therefore , significant changes in EEG synchronization induced by NAC administration may precede clinical ly detectable improvement , highlighting its possible utility as a biomarker of treatment efficacy . Trial Registration Clinical Trials.gov
Good evidence exists to support the use of N-acetylcysteine as an adjunct treatment to reduce the total and negative symptoms of schizophrenia .
N-acetylcysteine also appears to be effective in reducing craving in substance use disorders , especially for the treatment of cocaine and cannabis use among young people , in addition to preventing relapse in already abstinent individuals .
Oral N-acetylcysteine is safe and well tolerated without any considerable adverse effects .
N-acetylcysteine , a sulphur-containing amino acid for the treatment of paracetamol overdose and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , is a widely available off-the-shelf oral antioxidant supplement in many countries .
With the potential to modulate several neurological pathways , including glutamate dysregulation , oxidative stress , and inflammation that can be beneficial to the brain functions , N-acetylcysteine is being explored as an adjunctive therapy for many psychiatric conditions .
This narrative review synthesis es and presents the current evidence from systematic review s , meta-analyses , and latest clinical trials on N-acetylcysteine for addiction and substance abuse , schizophrenia , obsessive-compulsive and related disorders , and mood disorders .