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 .
Maintenance N-acetyl cysteine treatment for bipolar disorder: A double-blind randomized placebo controlled trial
Background N-acetyl cysteine ( NAC ) is a glutathione precursor that has been shown to have antidepressant efficacy in a placebo-controlled trial . The current study aim ed to investigate the maintenance effects of NAC following eight weeks of open-label treatment for bipolar disorder . Method The efficacy of a double blind r and omized placebo controlled trial of 2 g/day NAC as adjunct maintenance treatment for bipolar disorder was examined . Participants ( n = 149 ) had a Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Score of ≥12 at trial entry and , after eight weeks of open-label NAC treatment , were r and omized  to adjunctive NAC or placebo , in addition to treatment as usual . Participants ( primarily out patients ) were recruited through public and private services and through newspaper advertisements .  Time to intervention for a mood episode was the primary endpoint of the study , and changes in mood symptoms , functionality and quality of life measures were secondary outcomes . Results There was a substantial decrease in symptoms during the eight-week open-label NAC treatment phase . During the subsequent double-blind phase , there was minimal further change in outcome measures with scores remaining low . Consequently , from this low plateau , between-group differences did not emerge on recurrence , clinical functioning or quality of life measures . Conclusions There were no significant between-group differences in recurrence or symptomatic outcomes during the maintenance phase of the trial ; however , these findings may be confounded by limitations .Trial Registration The trial was registered with the Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry ( ACTRN12607000074493 )
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 .