View source for N-acetylcysteine (NAC)

=Uses=
==Detoxification==
Helps to prevent or reduce liver and kidney damage. <ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5241507/</ref>

==Immune Boosting==
A large study in Italy had older adults taking 600 milligrams of NAC twice a day for 6 months. It resulted in a significant decrease in the frequency of influenza-like episodes, severity, and length of time confined to bed. Only 25% of the adults who used NAC experienced any kind of flu-like illnesses compared to 79% of the placebo group.<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9230243</ref>

==Addiction==
NAC helps to regulate levels of glutamate in the brain (an extremely important neurotransmitter).

It has been shown to help in the treatment of multiple substance abuse disorders (SAD's), including nicotine, cocaine, and cannabis. <ref>https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40263-014-0142-x</ref>
NAC has been shown to reverse drug-induced down-regulation of the cystine-glutamate exchanger <ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18601982</ref>, which presumably allows for regulation of glutamate release, reducing compulsive drug-seeking behaviors. One study showed a ~25% reduction in cannabis usage over the course of 4 weeks of supplementation, along with significant reduction in self-reported cravings.<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2826714/</ref>

Overall it seems to be more effective in the prevention of a relapse once someone has quite rather than in lowering usage.<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24442756</ref>

===Dosage===
1200 mg twice daily. Some studies use 2400mg twice daily.

===Side effects===
In one study of 24 participants taking 1200mg twice daily, they reported discomfort (5/24), muscle pains/aches (5/24), insomnia (4/24), headache (3/24), nasal congestion/runny nose (3/24), nausea (3/24), weight decrease (3/24), restlessness (3/24), and dizziness (3/24).

==Diabetes==
==Cystic Fibrosis==
==chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)==
==Chronic Bronchitis==