Acetylcysteine – What Is It All About and the Benefits

Ivan Brandt 3 years ago 3 min read

Acetylcysteine is one of the talked about drugs for treating and managing Covid-19. If you are keen to know what is acetylcysteine (acetylcysteine คือ, term in Thai) and whether or not it can really help in the management of Covid-19, you have come to the right place. This article aims to give you insights into acetylcysteine and how it works in alleviating the symptoms of Covid-19.

What is acetylcysteine?

It is a semi-essential amino acid packed with all the good stuff. It is tagged as semi-essential amino acid because the body can produce it out of other amino acids, specifically serine and methionine. Although you can increase the body’s ability to produce such antioxidants through diet, sometimes, it is just enough. That is why it is of utmost importance to supplement the body’s need for such antioxidants.

Below are some of the notable health benefits of acetylcysteine

It plays an integral part in making glutathione

It plays a crucial role in creating antioxidants, specifically glutathione. It is one of the most important antioxidants as it has the ability to neutralize free radicals that can cause severe damage to cells and tissues. It boosts the immune system and helps fight off cellular damage. It can combat oxidative stress, which is essential in treating, managing, and preventing some medical conditions like infertility, heart-related conditions, and mental health issues.

It plays a vital role in the body’s detoxification process

It is important for the body to detoxify regularly so organ-related issues can be prevented, such as liver damage and damage to the kidneys. If you are taking medicines for maintenance purposes, chances are, your kidneys and liver are at work, and they need help to detoxify those pills. A perfect example is in the case of acetaminophen overdose wherein acetylcysteine is given to the patient intravenously to reduce, if not totally prevent, damage to the liver and kidneys.

It helps improve mental health conditions

Acetylcysteine has the ability to regulate glutamate level, one of the important neurotransmitters in the brain. Glutamate plays an important role in regulating brain activities. However, excessive levels of glutamate can cause havoc to the brain cells. If the level gets out of hand, it could lead to brain damage. It could lead to conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Giving acetylcysteine can help address the symptoms of medical-related conditions as well as to those suffering from substance withdrawal effects.

It helps alleviate respiratory-related symptoms

Respiratory-related symptoms can be greatly alleviated with the help of acetylcysteine. It does so by loosening thick or viscose secretions in the air passages. The antioxidant property helps replenish the level of glutathione in the lungs, thereby significantly reducing inflammatory effects in the lung tissues and bronchial tubes. Those who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience long-term inflammation and damage to the lung tissues. It is one of the reasons why air passages constrict, leading to symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath. By supplementing the body with acetylcysteine, symptoms can improve significantly.