small study: high dose NAC might help bronchiectasis patients

Thanks for posting this study; it's great that it's relatively new from Dec 2023. Maybe I missed it but the study did not say how often the NAC was given. Many of us take 600mg twice a day. I wonder if taking 1200mg twice a day would help, or they administered it in smaller increments throughout the day. For kicks I might give this a whirl!

@wolfplanetzero have you tried increasing the NAC you take?

This was an incredibly small study and results cannot be generalized on such limited information. It may be a wonderful breakthrough. But, then again, we will not know until it is tested on a larger sample of participants.

@sueinmn recently added a very interesting presentation, some of which is about NCFB (non cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis). One of the presenters was Dr. Swensen from Emory University, whose name I have seen here often.

I was shocked to learn that NAC is NOT recommend in NCFB patients. The presentation is from 2022. Does anyone know if usage of NAC has evolved since then? My pulmonologist said it was ok to use. Here is a capture of his slide.

Wow, Scoop, I missed that. Curious why that is, because there are other experts who do recommend it.

I won't let it deter me though, between NAC, Mucinex, part-time 7% saline, controlled asthma and daily airway clearance, I got through 2023 with one minor exacerbation - even being in crowds, around germy little kids, in my garden and traveling. I haven't done this well in years.

Are you up for some research to find out why?
Sue

No, i haven't tried increasing NAC at this point, but I am considering it. It is a small study, nine patients on NAC and 8 on a placebo. It might be challenging to get funding for a larger study since NAC is a relatively affordable and widely available supplement, so the profit motive would be lacking. I do hope it happens.

FYI the six week study took place in Australia, and the results will be published in the March 2024 issue of Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Volume 84. Not sure if a dosing schedule or other valuable info will be included. Stay safe and healthy, friends.

@sueinmn Last night I decided to do my own experiment. No mucinex nor NAC. For the first time in many weeks I slept through the night without waking from rumbles/noises in my chest. I nebbed levalbuterol & saline before dinner. I repeated the experiment this morning. Clearance seemed easier and faster. My breathing is better. I'll see how things go from here to rule out the placebo effect or fluke!

Also, as you suggested, it would be good to know why this is the case. Perhaps I was overmedicating? Also my sinuses seem to like mucinex. I plan to show my doctor the slide about mucolytic agents being a no-no for bronchiectasis; maybe she can explain the mechanics behind "disulfide bonds, mucin polymers, mucus viscosity".

From what I've gleaned in my reading, NJH along with Dr. Swensen encourage albuterol or levalbuterol and 7% saline only in bronchiectasis. What do the bronchiectasis experts at Mayo say?

Wow. Thanks, Scoop. I am surprised by this information. The studies I have read all seem to indicate that N-acetylcysteine can be effective in the treatment of bronchiectasis. Since taking it, my mucus has thinned out significantly thus improving my BE symptoms. I am curious to learn more about the reasons why it is not recommended for NCFB.

While waiting the months it took to see a pulmonologist in 2022 I started taking NAC (200 mg twice a day) after seeing it recommended on a bronchiectasis info site. When I told the pulmonologist I was taking it he said, "Good, but you should take 600 mg 2 times a day rather than 200."

Very interested to hear what you find out!! Could NAC increase mucus??