#70-NAC IN 5 POINTS
NAC IN 5 POINTS
Hey everyone!
You have probably already taken it without knowing it.
What is NAC and what do you need to know about it?
There's a lot to say about NAC, but I certainly don't claim to be an expert.
Do your own research, check and cross-check the information before starting any treatment. The information that I communicate is neither advice nor prescriptions, as you can imagine.
Still, I feel like it might be useful to share what I've learned about NAC over the past few years.
Here are the 5 key points:
1/ NAC = N-acetylcysteine = Acetylcisteine
NAC has several names: N-acetylcysteine, Acetilcisteine, Lysomucil, Fluimucil, Acetadote. It is used as a medicine and as a dietary supplement.
You have probably already taken it without knowing it. It was my case, I admit.
2/ NAC = glutathione precursor
NAC is a direct precursor to glutathione that can be taken as a dietary supplement to enhance the body's production of glutathione. NAC supplementation is effective if the body has a good ability to synthesize glutathione, which is an antioxidant, from raw materials. This ability decreases with age and certain illnesses.
3/ NAC = Lysomucil
It is also found in medications like Lysomucil to loosen mucus and improve breathing.
This medication thins the secretions (phlegm) present in the bronchi. It facilitates their evacuation by coughing. It is used in case of wet cough with difficulty in spitting, especially during acute bronchitis.
This drug is common. This is why many people take NAC without knowing it.
4/ NAC = antidote to colchicine and paracetamol
NAC is the antidote to colchicine and should not be taken together as they interact dangerously. It is given in cases of colchicine overdose (such as a suicide attempt, for example).
In case of pericarditis, colchicine is often given as an anti-inflammatory. It would then be counterproductive, even dangerous, to take NAC because it would cancel out the effects of colchicine. In the long term, I don't think the effects of such a combination are known.
NAC is also an antidote to paracetamol in case of poisoning. It would protect the liver and the kidneys.
Finally, NAC helps detoxify the body of heavy metals and toxins.
5/ NAC = can cause joint pain
Few people make the connection between taking NAC and the joint pain it can cause.
NAC can oxidize reducing the number of free radicals.
When you take it for a while, it oxidizes. And if in addition, it is not well eliminated by the body, the residues of oxidized NAC come to fix on the joints. This results in pain in the hips, knees, hands, elbows, shoulders, etc. These symptoms could be confused with those of osteoarthritis.
I took NAC for several months (as a precursor to glutathione) and the solution to avoid this joint pain was to take lipoic acid which is a powerful antioxidant to help eliminate oxidized NAC.
BONUS: Lipoic Acid
Lipoic acid, or alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), is a sulfur acid found in all cells of the body. It plays a key role in the production of the energy the body needs to function properly. The body naturally produces ALA, in tiny quantities.
Lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that has the ability to scavenge toxic metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. It is both water-soluble and fat-soluble, which allows it to neutralize several types of free radicals. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as a universal antioxidant. It also has the property of partially recycling other antioxidants, including vitamins E and C, as well as glutathione, thus increasing their lifespan and effectiveness.
I hope you have learned something by reading this article and that this information will be useful to you.
Consult your doctor before using any medication or supplement.
For more information, you can read my other blog posts: #17-COLCHICINE, #40-GLUTATHIONE, #71-MORE ENERGY.
In my case, I waited to stop colchicine to try NAC. There was a slight improvement at first. However, after several months, my total glutathione levels continued to decline, and my energy levels were still very low. It was clearly not effective enough. I switched to take liposomal glutathione instead.
CLOSER TODAY THAN YESTERDAY.
Pericordially yours,
Vali