I tried it and it didn't do a thing for me. Others have found it beneficial.

I'm still taking it - started after reading Johns Hopkins White Paper on lung disorders and it was the one supplement that was tested that JHU supported for appearing to be beneficial. I haven't had any side effects that would dissuade me from taking it.

I take 600 mg NAC with 1000 mg Vitamin C twice a day. I started taking it about 4 years ago when I had mucus plugs. At first my pulmonologist recommended guaifenesin (that's the generic mucinex), but that wasn't helping. My doctor told me to try over the counter NAC.

It took a while, but NAC definitely helped. I no longer have a mucus problem, but I continue to take NAC because it is a powerful antioxidant.

It is important to take Vitamin C with NAC because NAC can cause kidney stones.

Susan

BTW, 600 mg NAC with 1000 mg Vit C twice a day is the dosage I've seen most often reported by people on copd support forums. This is also the dosage suggested by Mark Mangus, a respiratory therapist who answers questions online at COPD Canada:

http://copdcanada.ca/ask_the_rt_your_COPD_question.htm

thanks for thr info,any brand recomendations?there seems 2b alot of different ones out there

I buy The Vitamin Shoppe's store brand mainly because they often have a buy-one-get-one-free (or half price) sale.

I've seen complains about how bad NAC smells. It's reported to have a rotten egg odor. However, the tablets from Vitamin Shoppe brand don't have an odor and I'm guessing it's because the capsules are well sealed.

Jarrow is another brand I've used. It costs more than Vitamin Shoppe's store brand.

My pulmo.said to take 600 mg.once a day....I only started taking it recently so I dont know yet if it helps.....

Is NAC the same med that just a few days ago someone posted an article about it (?) and vitamine E and the very harmful side effects?
My memory is full of holes, but it was something like N Acelytine, my spelling is bad....Just wondering...
BJ

BJ - Yep the same animal.

You will find numerous references online here is one:
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1018-n-acetyl%20cysteine.aspx?activeingredientid=1018&activeingredientname=n-acetyl%20cysteine

My pulmonologist and cardiac both told me point-blank, and quite clearly, to stay away from it. Whether thru prejudice against supplements or because they knew something about my condition I dont care, that was enough for me I aint touching it. Smile.

As noted at the WebMD site, in most case it cases little harm. The biggest problem with it and COPD is that it is known to be harmful to people with Asthma and many are unaware (or not listening) they have both conditions.

Dang ...

" ... in most cases it causes little harm."

i don't get why this one keeps being brought up---just what are the actual "benefits" supposed to be from it?
is it supposed act like a bronchodialator & releive SOB? so does it replace our inhalers? or does it make our lungs breathe better so i don't have to up my 02?
or is it for bronchiutus type copd that is wetter & mucousyier (word of the day) than emhpysema type?
(i don't have a cough or mucous problem (just choking trying to get up a mucous plug now & then)

i guess i'm slow, but just what benefit is it supposed to provide?

oh okay, i found this from study from 2010---
http://www.lef.org/magazine/2010/5/N-Acetyl-Cysteine/Page-01

so it's supposed to help if we have lots of coughing & mucous---and it's good if we overdose on tylenonl.
this also says something about inhaling it for codd???

i'm looking fourther :)

question; i have emphysema type copd so i don't cough & produce a lot of mucous, i more like need to clear my throat all the time & now & then i choke to death coughing up real thick mucous plug, but my spiriva has helped that ....
from my hrct scan that i saw, my avioli are just big holes now instead of tiny bunches of grapes so i guess that is why i don't have the mucous???
do others with this dx have a lot of mucous all the time & cough a lot?

Jarca, when seasonal allergies hit, like now, I cough all the time, because it irritates my bronchitis, but the only time I produce a lot of mucus from my lungs is when I am really sick with a lung infection, and usually I have none, maybe a spit up or two when this post nasal drip gets in my lungs. I have emphy and bronchitis.since I was stabilized a couple of years ago, I produce very little if any from lungs unless, like I said, I am getting sick.

My pulmonary doc put me on it a few weeks ago....he knows I also have asthma...Some docs say take it and some say dont....soooooooooooo what to do. Here I go again with my flipping coin....heads I take it ..tails I dont....Argh

mchug; if my dr told me to take i would, but to just go online & buy something wouldn't.

.i'm still reading more, but from what i've "gathered" so far it's mainly to help if you have a lot of mucuos in your lungs ... which i don't so i guess my bit of mucinex/guafinessin (sp?) is what my dr told me to use & seems to use.

buckeroo; did you happen to ask your pulm about this when you say him/her today???