Using the Smartvest

NAC (N acetyl Cysteine) is a supplement - that has both anti-inflammatory and anti-mucolytic properties. So it is thought reduce inflammation in the lungs of people with bronchiectasis and help loosen mucus.
Here is an article about its use:
https://bronchiectasisnewstoday.com/2019/05/09/n-acetylcysteine-potentially-beneficial-bronchiectasis-patients/
There is a large multi-year study underway in China right now where scientists hope to reach conclusions as to long-term effectiveness, dosage, etc,
Sue

That's an interesting question - Mucinex and NAC both thin the mucus. For some people, who have what my ENT described as "sticky mucus" it may be necessary to help keep airways clear. For others, whose mucus is already very low viscosity and comes up easily, I am not sure if there is a benefit in using it daily.

But, not coughing up all the mucus gives the bacteria a nice, warm, moist home, so...I choose to cough a bit during the day in exchange for not creating nests for MAC and pseudomonas.

If intermittent use works for you, and keeps you healthy, it is probably what is best for you.
Sue

Thanks, I’ll read the information. Have you noticed a difference??

Well, my self-care protocol overall has improved my health, so it is hard what difference any one thing makes.
Two thing I know I have are 'sticky mucus" and a hyper-active inflammatory reaction. NAC helps with both, so overall it seems to have a positive effect for me.
I also have asthma and hyper-reactive airways so have avoided inhaled glutathione, which is a component of NAC as it breaks down in the body. Some people here use it and think it effective.
We each need to try things to see what works for long-term management.
Sue
Sue

Thank you.

lvalenti @lvalenti, Jul 7 10:06am
In response to your original post, "How are you handling all?" Not well.
After 5 months of nebulizing in the AM and PM, cleaning, and sanitizing, I felt isolated from my wife and depressed. The first month seemed productive, I would get rattling in my airway when inhaling and I would stop and huff to clear it before continuing, when that stopped happening when exhaling I would get rattling in my throat, same solution, stop and huff to clear it. I mixed the albuterol and 7% saline together in the cup totaling 7ml which would take 25 minutes to nebulize. For 4 months no interruptions but immediately upon completion I would clear mucus from my throat about every 10 minutes until going to bed attached to CPAP. The sputum is disgusting, like glue, When dumping my spit cup in the toilet it hangs down and won't come loose of the cup. I decided to pause the nebulizing, and within a week I felt so much better. I'm going to get 3% saline and test if my airway is clear, if it isn't I will continue until it is. I'm not recommending what I'm doing, this is just a comment on how I'm handling it. Oh, I'm still clearing mucus from my throat but much less frequent.

Can you take the NAC without consulting your Dr?

Renee -
It is an over the counter supplement, so you could take it without letting the doctor know.
My personal policy is to always let my docs know when I add or delete a med or a supplement, so they have a full picture of what is going on.
That said, my pulmonologist was indifferent to whether I took it, but the pain doc was a fan because it has anti-inflammatory properties. Her attitude is the same about Mucinex, but I know it works. However, she was not my doc when I had sticky, thick mucus causing sinus infections and ear infections many times a year.
Sue

I’ve been reading up on NAC and studies found it to cause adeno carcinoma.
So I am confused about using it.

Renee -
Our research can be a double-edged sword. I think I found the article you referred to, and it was very interesting, but also highly specific, and did not involve a study of cancer in humans.
Criteria - emphysema, lung damage sufficient to require lung resection, history of smoking (5-10 years or more) and half the group also had COPD Scientists, using tissue harvested from the lungs of 16 people. Their harvested lung tissue was implanted in the lung tissue of dead mice and studied. I was unable to figure out the amount of NAC used compared to the dosgae a human uses, and the duration of the experiment.

The study did not conclude that nobody should use NAC, rather it said... "Consequently, NAC treatment in smokers or patients with COPD, who are at increased risk of developing lung cancer and exhibit low JunD levels in lung cells, should be considered only with great caution." (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6795405/)

So, take it for what is, a limited preliminary study, with a recommendation for a limited population. If you meet their stated criteria, perhaps you should avoid NAC.

On the other hand, here is another recent article that identifies NAC as having anti-proliferative effects on a number of cancers:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-34266-w
Sue