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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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HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.
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Hi Glenda, I use the Drive Power NebUltra nebulizer but only because it's paid for by Medicare & certainly sufficient. I'd previously used a Phillips Respironics neb. &, if anything, liked it a little better - but there's not THAT much of a difference. To health and good cheer! alessandre
Hi janovr, will Clear Lung clear other bacteria in the lungs as well? How long you have to take to see the benefit? So glad you are free from MAI.
Thank you for this post.
Clear Lungs, like the other non-antibiotic therapies, can help strengthen your lungs, so your body may be able to fight naturally, but in itself does not cure any bacteria of fungus.
Some of us have chosen to stop antibiotics due to side effects and try alternatives, but we must closely monitor our health and work with our doctors.
Also, I work with my primary provider to make sure none of the things I take will interfere with other meds or conditions. Clear Lungs contains a number of traditional Chinese medicine herbs which my doctor told me not to use for more than a few days.
I think from reading your posts that you are new to Mayo Connect and are trying to learn as much as you can. Please take your time, consult your doc, and don't try to start too many new treatments at once, especially if you are taking antibiotics or other prescribed medications. That way, if you have a bad reaction, you can more easily figure out what is causing it.
Can you tell us what infection you have?
Sue
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Hug
3 ReactionsThank you Sue. I'm still new to this disease and Mayo Connect. I have Burkholderia cepecia bug which is resistant to many antibiotics. It was showing 3+ (sputum culture) in October and doctor gave me high dose Bactrim which made me very sick. Then, I had covid in Jan and I was so sick during those months. B cepecia was showing 2+ till March but no treatment. In May and June, it went down to 1+ and still no treatment. Doctor said it does not need to treat now but if I want to eradicate, I have to get an IV with PICC line plus oral. I'm afraid of PICC IV antibiotic having had bad experience with Bactrim. Not sure if IV antibiotic is stronger or not. I think I will get a vest this week and see how it goes. This B cepecia is very dangerous especially for CF patients.
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Hug
1 ReactionHi, can you take if on MAC Antibiotics and Aryikace?
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Hug
2 ReactionsHi there! I have been taking NAC for several months now, and I do feel better and have clear lungs. I just looked up apo-lactferrin on the NIH website. Sure enough, studies have shown this to be effective as an anti-inflammatory, immune boosting, and anti-bacterial. I will give this a try. It also stated that it has been used to manage livestock health since 1960 against similar lung issues as mac. Thank you for the tip.
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Hug
1 ReactionI just looked up NAC and found this,
I guess it now needs to be prescribed by a physician.
Is NAC banned in US?
In a March 31, 2022 Constituent Update, FDA announced it has confirmed that NAC is excluded from the definition of a dietary supplement.Apr 4, 2022
Actually, I just checked, and it is more available now than it was late last year. Swanson, NOW and several other suppliers are still selling it. The only one available on Amazon is hugely expensive, so look at other vendors. Vitacost.com has many brands and doses available.
Sue
Hi Terri,
Do you think NAC is better than Clear Lung? Not sure if I should take both.