small study: high dose NAC might help bronchiectasis patients

I would like to know if they said that also. I'm hesitant to take anything outside of what is known and proven.

I am curious if anyone else with asthma and broncheictasis can't seem to tolerate NAC? I tried the NAC powder of 600mg twice daily but it absolutely made my lungs "twitchy", which was disappointing. My pulmonologist said that usually only happens for some asthma patients when they nebulize NAC. However, rarely, it can happen with supplement form. Lucky me?

Help me please, I'm not sure what video you are referring to. The information we have been talking about here can be found by going through all the posts in this discussion and clicking the highlighted links. If you can be more specific I'll try to help.
Sue

Sue I believe it’s the one Dr. Emory discusses how mucolytics SHOULD NOT be used by Non-CF Bronchiectasis patients. As always thank-you for your unwavering support. How is your trial with no NAC or Mucinex going?

Approx minute mark 46 is where mucolytics are discussed but the entire presentation is worth watching.

My naturopath said she has been prescribing nebulized NAC for ages. I believe there is a clinical study now underway for nebulizing NAC for NTM patients. This link shows NIH confirming NAC at least somewhat beneficial for aspergillosis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6308940/

@lbramirez That's the confusing part about the discussion. There are oodles of studies reinforcing the use of mucolytics in bronchiectasis, one after the after. Then I viewed this presentation [by a well known doctor who specializes in bronchiectasis], it gave me pause!

It really is confusing! Personally, I am taking NAC + Mucinex for now AM and PM, they seem low risk. I am thinking that they likely won’t hurt me, and might help. My mucus tends to be sticky, it doesn’t feel like it is too liquified at his point. They haven’t ruled out CF for me. But perhaps individually, consider the texture of your mucus?

Definitely frustrating, about conflicting information and the challenge of finding concrete data. I saw my ID once, next appointment was scheduled for 7 months out. My questions seem to be deferred until we meet. So I am doing my best at guessing my way through this in the meantime

Hi spider - I'm not one of those trying the "No mucolytics" trial. I tried it years ago and ended up with yet another 4 month long ear infection followed by a sinus infection.
Thanks @scoop for providing the link - after watching it twice, I am not convinced that a single opinion outweighs all the studies I have seen, nor my personal experience or that of many Connect members.
Keep in mind that most of us have not had the extensive testing done at NJH, so may have ant number of genetic markers or proteins that indicate a predisposition to Cystic Fibrosis. Given that I have had ONE exacerbation during three years of NAC (compared to dozens before), have a daughter who is positive for the CF gene (though she does not have CF)) and that other studies show the merits of mucolytics, I will continue to use it until it is demonstrated conclusively to be detrimental.

So, my non-medical, non-expert takeaway? We are all different in our Bronchiectasis journeys and our responses to ALL treatment modalities - antibiotics, beta agonists like albuterol, 7%n saline, alternatives like NAC, airway clearance, exercise...
If NAC or Mucinex help you, and you are not having frequent exacerbations or side effects, and do not have contraindications (certain cancers may be aggravated by it) go ahead and use it. If not, continue to explore other options.
Sue

Thank-you Sue for your reply, I have one other question for you though. How long before you noticed a difference in your mucus problems AFTER you started using NAC and/or Mucinex? I used both for about 1 1/2-2 weeks and didn’t seem to see a difference. In fact if anything seemed a little worse. Granted I’ve been diagnosed with Bronchiectasis and fibrosis, not MAC or NTM. As always thank-you for you help & knowledge to us all.