N-Acetyl Cysteine: A Potential Adjunctive Therapy in Psychiatric Disorders
Esma Khoja1, Oytun Erbaş1
1ERBAS Institute of Experimental Medicine, Illinois, USA & Gebze, Türkiye
Keywords: Cytokines, inflammatory mediators, mucolytic agent, N-acetylcysteine, neurological disorders, neurotransmitters.
Abstract
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a sulfur-containing amino acid recognized for its efficacy as an antidote in cases of paracetamol overdose and its safety as a mucolytic agent. Widely accessible as a nutritional supplement across numerous countries, NAC has garnered considerable attention in psychiatric and neurological treatment strategies over the past decade. Emerging clinical research underscores its potential therapeutic utility across a spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders, encompassing bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia. The multifaceted pharmacological actions of NAC are attributed to its modulation of various pathophysiological factors implicated in these conditions. Proposed mechanisms of action include the regulation of neurotransmitter systems, maintenance of oxidative balance, and modulation of inflammatory mediators. These findings suggest a promising role for NAC as an adjunctive therapy in the management of neuropsychiatric disorders, warranting further investigation and clinical validation. This review covers various ways NAC can help treat neuropsychiatric disorders, suggesting it needs more study to confirm its benefits.
Cite this article as: Khoja E, Erbaş O. N-Acetyl Cysteine: A Potential Adjunctive Therapy in Psychiatric Disorders. JEB Med Sci 2024;5(2):180-184.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.