small study: high dose NAC might help bronchiectasis patients

So far, so good with my experiment eliminating both NAC and mucinex from twice/day regime. Will see how it goes. All I know is that I have slept much better since eliminating mucolytics. Important to note that I continue to neb levalbuterol and 7% saline twice daily.

Mucus is complicated, it seems. Answers are likely in this article, which I have yet to read but be my guest!
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02410

Wow, dense info!! Thanks.
My personal experiment lately has been with Gaviscon Extra, with the alginate barrier, to see what role reflux might be playing. I'm surprised to realize on day 2 that it stops both cough and mucus for many hours!
Hmmm.

Could NAC increase the risk of bleeding?

An interplay occurs among stomach acids, cough and sinuses for sure! Once I elevated the bed high enough and eliminated eating/drinking (and chocolate, so sad) 3 hours before bed, I've been better. Reflux is known to exacerbate sinus and lung disease when unchecked.

With bronchiectasis our job is to clear the accumulated mucus. My suspicion is that mucolytics draw extra fluid out of the mucin/mucus layer *along with* the bronchiectasis mucus. But we only need to clear the accumulated bronchiectasis mucus. Albuterol and 7% saline help us do this without impacting the mucin/mucus layers. I believe this is why my chest rumbled at night because the mucinex NAC was still busy drawing fluid out of the mucin/mucus layer(s). Dunno for sure but happy to be getting more sleep.

This is why I've never really done Mucinex, it just seemed to make me feel even glue-ier, if that's a word. I had secretly hoped NAC was something different. But it sounds like it's just more of the same process. Sigh.

Many people here swear by NAC. Perhaps give it a try and see if it makes a positive difference for you?

Until I saw that slide from Dr. Swenson’s presentation, I was happy with my clearance regimen but unhappy with my disrupted sleep. That’s really the only reason I decided to stop taking the mucolytics. Your results may vary.

Mucinex hasn’t helped me. When I asked my pulmonologist about NAC he said , we only use it in lung transplant patients

True, that!! Shooting fish in a barrel, blindfolded!

I would be VERY interested in hearing how your experiment with the no mucinex and no NAC for bronchiectasis. I tried NAC 600 twice daily for 1 1/2- 2 weeks and it seemed to make my mucus worse. I also currently take mucinex 600 ER daily and supplement that with liquid Guaifenison (Mucinex) when mucus seems to be more than usual. All that to go along with my daily airway clearance with albuterol, Pulmozyme, and 7% saline twice daily. Whew!!! I do think it is possible to over medicate certain conditions. Could someone please tell me more about the NJH Dr. who stated, No mucinex or NAC for Bronchiectasis. After all NJH is known as the leading respiratory medical facility in the U.S. thank-you.

Could a link be put out about how to view the presentation from Dr. NCFB? It’s probably been posted before, but I’ve missed it. I too have many nights where my sleep is interrupted due to mucus. Thank-you all so much.