Acetylcysteine
Name: Acetylcysteine
Acetylcysteine Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
Bioavailability
Absorbed following oral administration, with peak plasma concentrations achieved within 1–2 hours.a 119
Absorbed from the pulmonary epithelium.a
Distribution
Extent
Crosses the placenta following oral or IV administration.108
Plasma Protein Binding
50–83%.108 119
Elimination
Metabolism
Deacetylated in the liver to cysteine.a
Elimination Route
Principally (70%) nonrenal.119
Half-life
6.25 hours after oral administration.119
5.6 hours after IV administration in adults.108
11 hours after IV administration in neonates.108
Special PopulationsIn patients with hepatic cirrhosis, plasma concentrations following IV administration are threefold higher.108 Half-life increased by 80% in patients with severe liver damage (i.e., alcoholic cirrhosis [Child-Pugh score of 7–13] or primary and/or secondary biliary cirrhosis [Child-Pugh score of 5–7]).108
Precautions While Using acetylcysteine
Your doctor will check your progress closely while you are receiving acetylcysteine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to receive it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Serious allergic reactions may occur after receiving acetylcysteine. Tell your doctor right away if you have difficulty with breathing or swallowing, fever, hives, itching skin, rash, nausea, reddening of the skin, especially around the ears, swelling of the eyes, face, or inside of the nose, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
acetylcysteine may increase risk of bleeding in your esophagus and stomach. Tell your doctor if you have severe or ongoing vomiting after taking acetylcysteine.
Pronunciation
(a se teel SIS teen)
Acetylcysteine Brand Names
Acetylcysteine may be found in some form under the following brand names:
Acetadote
Acys-5
Enfolast-N
Mucomyst
Mucomyst-10
Mucomyst-20
Parvolex