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 .
N-Acetyl Cysteine May Support Dopamine Neurons in Parkinson's Disease: Preliminary Clinical and Cell Line Data
Backgound The purpose of this study was to assess the biological and clinical effects of n-acetyl-cysteine ( NAC ) in Parkinson ’s disease ( PD ) . Methods The overarching goal of this pilot study was to generate additional data about potentially protective properties of NAC in PD , using an in vitro and in vivo approach . In preparation for the clinical study we performed a cell tissue culture study with human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived midbrain dopamine ( mDA ) neurons that were treated with rotenone as a model for PD . The primary outcome in the cell tissue cultures was the number of cells that survived the insult with the neurotoxin rotenone . In the clinical study , patients continued their st and ard of care and were r and omized to receive either daily NAC or were a waitlist control . Patients were evaluated before and after 3 months of receiving the NAC with DaTscan to measure dopamine transporter ( DAT ) binding and the Unified Parkinson ’s Disease Rating Scale ( UPDRS ) to measure clinical symptoms . Results The cell line study showed that NAC exposure result ed in significantly more mDA neurons surviving after exposure to rotenone compared to no NAC , consistent with the protective effects of NAC previously observed . The clinical study showed significantly increased DAT binding in the cau date and putamen ( mean increase ranging from 4.4 % to 7.8 % ; p<0.05 for all values ) in the PD group treated with NAC , and no measurable changes in the control group . UPDRS scores were also significantly improved in the NAC group ( mean improvement of 12.9 % , p = 0.01 ) . Conclusions The results of this preliminary study demonstrate for the first time a potential direct effect of NAC on the dopamine system in PD patients , and this observation may be associated with positive clinical effects . A large-scale clinical trial to test the therapeutic efficacy of NAC in this population and to better eluci date the mechanism of action is warranted . 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 .