NAC supplement?

Interesting discussion here.

I haven't tried NAC, but I have come across it during my research into some of the claims made around the treatment of Lyme disease using herbs and supplements. That's how I came here.

It seems that the goal of taking NAC is to aid glutathione production. Glutathione seems generally great. It is produced by your body - primarily the liver, I believe - and there's quite a lot of it in your body and it has lots of different roles, including in the immune system and as an antioxidant.

From what I read, there are mixed reports around whether taking glutathione orally is effective. I haven't done much research so far on NAC, but what I have found is the idea is that if you are lacking is cysteine (one of the precursors for glutathione), then supplementing it can help. What I read into this is that if you have adequate cysteine (which is obtained from protein containing food), then supplementing it may not help.

Glutathione decreases with age and also in certain conditions. I haven't found any studies yet assessing clinical impact of oral glutathione supplementation.

I've also been reading about the Th1/Th2 dynamic and its role in disease and found that diseases like asthma seem to be more Th2 dominant. Meanwhile, glutathione seems to be involved in more Th1 dynamic.. so it's curious that dixiemamma reports what she has here.

Not sure if that's helpful.

I've certainly found it useful to sift through and evaluate actual scientific studies, learning about the body systems via youtube etc. as I go along. I've found that some of the claims made online are based on very little evidence and of course there is a vested interest from supplement companies/manufacturers, who want people to believe their products are effective..

My approach has been to assess supplements for safety, cost and likelihood of being effective and take them based on that.

Haven't completed my assessment of NAC yet. May repost here when I do. It's certainly cheaper that glutathione!

I have no idea about long covid.

EDIT seems like there are contra-indications for some medications, so do check that out

I’ve been taking Biotics Research brand NAC (1 capsule is 500mg) recommended and purchased through my Chiropractor, for approximately 2 1/2 months now for my LHC. I took 1 capsule 3 times a day for the first week, then 1 capsule twice a day for the second week, then just once a day, still taking until my 180 capsule bottle is gone. This really helped my extreme heavy weighted fatigue and brain fog. I noticed a little difference after taking it for only a couple of days, but probably took a month or so to notice a significant improvement. You can feel it when a dose wears off, which for me was around 5 hours, it was encouraging though since I could feel it working. Then I would have a couple of better days a week mixed in with bad days until now my days are on a more even keel fatigue/ heavy weighted feeling/brain fog wise. I still have other symptoms I’m dealing with, but these symptoms are probably about 70% better. Hopefully it will continue to help me and it will be 100% better by the time I’ve finished the bottle.

My first and so far only visit to the long-covid clinic at the UT-Dell Medical School in Austin was on September 15. The provider told me that an anti-inflammatory diet would help with my brain fog and fatigue from post-exertional malaise, regardless of which of the many possible causes of long covid are the underlying problem. He also suggested NAC for brain fog and fatigue, which I've started taking. He said it would take a month or two to begin working.

For whatever it's worth, I have improved, though whether that's because of time, or the NAC, or both, I don't know. I was already trending better. But NAC is cheap, and I'll continue to take it.

Interestingly, while I was in Canada on vacation at the end of September, I mentioned my long covid to my Airbnb host. She told me that it's so popular there that you can't find it on the shelves. People apparently swear by it.

What is NAC? Would love to try it

N-Acetyl Cysteine https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1018/n-acetyl-cysteine-nac

I have. Saw an article in the NY Times last July about a Long Covid study at Yale University Medical Scool. They gave NAC and a prescription medication to those enrolled in the study. Fatigue and brain fog were relieved. I decided to try the amino acid, bought some from Amazon in July. It has helped me so much. I now have energy to walk instead of using a wheelchair. Brain fog is also much less. I am 75, have had LC for over three years. Highly recommend for anyone to try. When I told my internist she was very pleased, said she has another patient who is 70, and will suggest she try. She also said it is safe. Even if it doesn't help, it won't hurt.

How much NAC are you taking?

My long Covid clinic said 600 mg/day is enough. I take Life Seasons Essentials brand. It's 750 mg per capsule.

Yes,NAC supplement was recommended to me by an integrative/functional nurse practitioner at aLong Covid evaluation visit in 9/22. I take 2 capsules in the morning on an empty stomach. It helps to relieve the body aches I wake up with. I have since been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis post covid.

I follow the directions on the bottle and take in the morning before breakfast.