N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)

I take it more as a preventive measure. I already have some hearing loss, by taking NAC I hope to avoid any further loss which in the end should also prevent a worsening of my tinnitus.

 

I take a total of about 12 different vitamins and I bought NAC. I have read to not take NAC everyday? Why is that? Is it dangerous?

 

Where did you read that?

 

I've been taking NAC just about every day now for the last eight years. Always in the morning on an empty stomach. No side effects for me.

 

I have a bridge on the top, back right, that came loose recently, and has to be replaced. I went in today to have it removed. The dentist is good, did the best he could, but it was intense - the drilling and the banging to break it out were both loud but this possibly sounded worse because I was wearing foam earplugs (which can only do so much as the vibrations go to the bone). There doesn't seem to be any spike or much of an increase in tinnitus, so far, but time will tell.

I didn't take NAC, (N-Acetylcysteine) as it normally doesn't agree with me, but that was some mild stomach distress, nothing serious. I finished about an hour ago.

My tinnitus had been very quiet today, since the dental work it's present somewhat but not too bad - it could be my nerves. Maybe it's too late as I didn't take it before the work, but I have decided to take NAC (N-Acetylcysteine).

Any recommendations on how much should I take and for how long? Thanks.

 

1000mg a day for 7-14 days. Take it with food if it upsets your stomach.

 

NAC makes my T disappear completely.

 

At what dose?

 

I dunno...i took only 1 pill today before the dentist and it makes it go away...it wears off though and now my T is back.

I only use it before a noise exposure that i am uncomfortable with.

I'll take a look at it tomorrow when i find my bottle...its pretty cool...but not permanent.

 

I took NAC for three days and got the worst spike ever. But as always, you never know if it was really from the NAC.

 

Yeah remember I tried it with you and got the spike too.

 

Bad times man, bad times

 

I took NAC for a month or so after my onset, it didn't increase my tinnitus (from what I could tell at the time). Since then I've taken it during flu season and when I've felt a bad cold coming on... so 2-3 times or so over the past 9 months for 1-2 week periods) . It hasn't caused any spikes for me. Everyone is different so your mileage may vary.

 

I might have to stop taking NAC for the foreseeable future. Apparently it can inhibit platelets and I’ve found I have a low count that’s quite under the normal range. I think this supplement may be a reason for that, even though I don’t take a lot.
If only my luck would improve and idiots stop making so much noise.

 

Hi Deb, I have read that you planned to try N-Acetylcysteine amide NACA in 2013. Have you tried it?

 

I don't find that NAC works at all, I still got worse while taking it, it does not seem to prevent spikes from happening.

 

What is the NAC dosage for gunshot-ear (30 hours ago)?

The stuff on the web varies from 1200 mg per day for 15 days, to 3000 mg per day for 10 days... and other dosages. I just got the bottle.

I am, of course, talking about the noise from the blast, not a wound - lol.

 

How much is the dosage on your bottle, can you take a picture, or link to it so I can see?

 

Hi @GSC,

This is it.

https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/nac-acetyl-l-cysteine-600-mg-50-capsules/vs-1294

It said, for maintenance, take one 600 mg capsule daily, so I went on ahead in took 2. But, only after reading on the web that 1200 mg approximated other acute situations (I couldn't locate anything for, specifically, acoustic trauma dosages). It was around an hour ago - I did not want to risk waiting too much longer. I suppose I feel a little groggy, with a tad of that vitamin B like sensation on my tongue, along with the prickly feeling of vitamin B (but not as bad as GABA supplement, if know what that's like). Probably a side affect from never taking it - along with a big(ish) dose.

You think I did okay?

Thanks!!

 

I read it, and I think you are fine. It said to only use 600 mg for a dietary supplement and you are not using for that. It says you can take 1,200-1,800 safely. Even in some cases 3,000 - 5000. I think you outta be fine. How do you plan on using it from here on? It seems like three doses of 600mg a day is the most common dosing.

Edit: Maybe melatonin would help too.

 

@GSC, I was seeing that they gave the guinea pigs 1005 mg a day to save their ears - in a big study - and that's a lot for the little guys. It also mentioned that they suffered not toxicity at that dose - and their ears were 95+% saved.

Thank you for finding all that; so you deduce 3 X 600mg daily, for the 15 days? And then maintenance of just the 600mg per day?

Oh, and I already take magnesium and melatonin...

 

Melatonin and mag will hopefully help you as well. That is a lot for guinea pigs. I think you would be safe taking anywhere to 1200 - 1800 mg a day. I would personally do 600mg three times a day. But I think from what I'm reading, you could even do a fourth dose JUST IN CASE? Maybe call your doctor and see the dosing he would give you and compare. I would stick to 600 in the morning. 600 for a noise exposure you're uncertain of. Then the last for when you go to bed.

 

@GSC,

That's what I'll indeed do; you're a gift!

 

Thanks for directing my attention to this post @Artazanasss , I looked for this precise info before I posted my query. It helped confirm that I was doing it right... well, on the high end of right. The NAC isn't really bothering me in the ways it can - just a tad.

You're awesome!

 

I started taking NAC back in 2010. Unfortunately, studies have shown it to be ineffective as an otoprotective agent or with helping tinnitus. Also, NAC capsules are prone to oxidation. When I do take NAC, I take PharmaNAC. The tablets are effervescent and dissolve in water. I also stack NAC with L-Methionine and Nicotinamide Riboside. Here is a good read by a parent trying to increase glutathione levels in their twin girls.

http://addiandcassi.com/beware-of-a...etyl-cycsteine-nac-boosts-glutathione-levels/

 

Thanks, @vttbx , I'm checking out the info you provided. Does that oxidization condition cause the rot smell they say is 'normal?'

 

I'm not sure. My bottle of NAC is at least one year old and expires in October of this year. It has a mild smell but nothing that would be considered rotten. I don't think the smell is the only indication of oxidation.

 

Some of us find NAC useful for mitigating trauma, etc., but it furthermore seems undisputed that NAC reduces oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, plus some other useful things. Hence, in an attempt to mitigate our tendency to present imbalances in our excitatory/inhibitory systems - due to abnormalities in our glutamatergic pathways, the NAC can work for us as both a glutamatergic modulator and an antioxidant. In other words, we can come off our panic induced spikes much easier with NAC.

What I am saying is there is now clinical evidence, showing NAC can "normalize glutamate neurotransmission into the nucleus accumbens and other brain structures, in part by upregulating the expression of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2), a.k.a. glutamate transporter" (Slattery, et al., 2015, p. 295).

Oh, and this quote is surely important: "Overall, NAC treatment appears to be safe and tolerable" (Slattery, et al., 2015, p. 295)

Slattery J, Kumar N, Delhey L, Berk M, Dean O, Spielholz C, Frye R (August 2015). "Clinical trials of N-acetylcysteine in psychiatry and neurology: A systematic review". Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. 55: 294–321

 

I have been taking NAC for about 3 months now. I really notice no difference in anything. It's just one of those OTC things that I read some decent anecdotal stuff on. Most of the reports I read were really slanted and from 1 or 2 sources so I am not sure how I feel about that.

I will keep taking it because I paid for it and there is zero impact to my negatively. We shall see!

 

@dayma, this for new applications, not what we usually take it for. Moreover, this is critical info, as it addresses something that may prevent suicides and other problems. It is not anecdotal, it is peer reviewed, and part of my university PhD research - I am studying to be a Psychologist.