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N-A-C and apo-Lactoferrin helping MAC and Bronchiectasis
I've been having great success with taking a couple of supplements for the last 7 months. I wonder if anyone else has tried these particular two supplements regularly over a number of months and found success in that. I have been taking the Apo-Lactoferrin bought through Life Extension once a day and the N-A-C 600mg Sustain by Jarrow for about 7 months now.
I keep getting better and better. My lungs seem stronger though I haven't had them tested and my heavy almost constant chronic cough that I had for a couple of years is pretty much gone. I have a brief few coughs right after extensive exercise that brings up and clears a bit of thick mucus most days that I exercise but it's only for a moment about 10 minutes after an hours worth of exercise. My pulmonary doc appt isn't till October, so I don't have any diagnostic proof without tests to see if I'm rid of the heavy concentration of MAC and Aspergillus that I was diagnosed with after a Bronchcospy in January.
I have not yet taken any antibiotics or medicine for treating the MAC as I wanted to see what I could do on my own. I also use some light saline nasal spray in the mornings. I could be just lucky, but it seems those supplements are doing what some research said they might do and are helping break up the biofilms of the mycobacteria and helping my immune system keep them at bay (or maybe even rid me of them!).
I also take Jarrow Curcumin once a day for good measure to help prevent any possible inflammation for the last 4 months and have been taking 500mg of D3 sublingually but I've taken the D3 for a couple of years, so I think it's been the N-A-C and the app-lactoferrin that's working for me!
Anyone else tried N-A-C in a consistent dosing over a number of months? I think the long-term consistent dosing with the N-A-C supplement is important not just to get at and break up the hard to reach MAC that hides in its biofilms, but to prevent any new NTM from getting a deep hold in the lungs. Again, I don't know whether it's the N-A-C alone or with apo-lactoferrin, there's just much more research on N-A-C since it's been used for other useful things in medicine, like preventing liver toxicity.
Here's an initial study on it from last April in relation to lowering problems with bronchiectasis: https://respiratory-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12931-019-1042-x.
Here's another research paper on N-A-C and it's effects on breaking up resistant bacterial biofilms: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=N-acetylcysteine+as+powerful+molecule+to+destroy+bacterial+biofilms.+A+systematic+review
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Also, why is it being reclassified? I’m not sure what that means for its use as a supplement vs a drug?
Thanks,
It is not currently being reclassified, it is "under consideration" - that means they may study it and redefine based on dosage, or completely reclassify as a drug and remove from the supplement market.
As to "Why" - it is a periodic review - as more substances become promoted as (unregulated) supplements, the FDA looks at them with an eye to whether they are safe to be used in that manner. The long-standing protocol has been "once a drug, always a drug" - sometimes they prevail, sometimes the supplement manufacturers do.
As for dosage, I am not a pharmacologist, but I know the "detox" dose is very high and can be quite risky, but I don't have numbers for you.
Sue
I have been taking 600 mg of NAC 3x a day for years . There have been some small studies showing that it is helpful in thinning mucus. I recently came across a nbi article reviewing 8 small studies looking at whether NAC works to dissolve biofilm in the lungs. Yowza! I had never heard that before. I have been looking for the article and if I find it I will post it. I get the NOW brand of MAC from Amazon.
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3 Reactions2x a day
I miss the edit function.
I check into the bronchiectasis MAC chatrooms infrequently - delighted! to see this today 5/17/21. Been using NAC quite awhile, NAC Sustain not as many months, but also been using Colloidal Silver & herbs like Pau D'Arco, Herb Pharm Lung Expectorant, Olive Leaf extract (caps) as well as Proteolytic Enzymes (along with my regular menu of basic supplements) - so can't tell EXACTLY what's made me so much better in last couple years; probably into overkill & too much expenditure. 🙂 Have had bronchiectasis 26 years, MAC about 7 - didn't show up on my last sputum test! Wish I could restore more of my energy, but been so much better past 3 years, can't complain. & haven't had any antibiotics or other drugs in all that time either. Turned away when told by pulmonologists at point of heavy sweats nightly, frequent shortness of breath & loss of almost 20 lbs. that the only thing I could do then was take "the cocktail" of 3 strong antibiotics for the 18-24 months with no assurance of much or more than MAYBE couple months' success. To say nothing of the potential side effects I might've experienced. I think it important whenever possible to think outside of the box/dominant narrative. Blessings all & keep positive!
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4 ReactionsHello Alessandre. I hope you will take the time to read some of the older posts which can be found by topic under the 'Discussions' board. Some patients do respond to the Big 3 cocktail. Some get better, some improve, and some don't. If you click on my picture icon; you can read about the treatment I was put on back in 2013. I have been mac free since 2014. I did get infected with pseudomonas in 2016, but got rid of it in a month. I now struggle with chronic shortness of breath and limited energy, but have remained mac free. I am glad that you are trying natural remedies as well; just be careful not to put off good antibiotics if it will spare your lungs from further damage. Are you doing the inhaled sodium chloride by any chance? (It is saline.)
Hello Terri. Glad the cocktail worked so well for you & that you've been MAC-free for 8 years! I too have pseudomonas (since 2013) but it's possible I'm rid of it. I had the chronic shortness of breath 3 years back so I know what you're going thru with it & hope you can kick that too. & that we both can find our way to more energy! - I inhale 7% saline solution + glutathione (powder form (from Theranaturals.com; liquid is the gold standard but too expensive) but just once a day & about 5 days a week; and do postural drainage with Acapela religiously every night; critical for me for bringing up phlegm, mucus, whereas in AM it comes up naturally, takes about an hour of nasty coughing. For me, a "spiritual" "set" is also critical. Warm regards,
@windwalker Do you know why you now have chronic shortness of breath(sorry to hear that), has a CT scan shown why.Take care Heather
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2 ReactionsThanks for the tip. Those are 2 great supplements so I’m not surprised. I’m going to try the combo.
@alessandre can you tell me what kind of nebulizer you use with the Theranaturals Glutathione? I have been using the Glutathione as well, however, not happy with my nebulizer! Thanks Glenda