N-acetyl Cysteine For Headaches

N-acetyl cysteine, or NAC, is a drug derived from the amino acid, cysteine. NAC is used in clinical settings as an antidote for acetaminophen overdose and to reduce the thickness of mucus in people with lung disease. NAC may also be useful in treating a number of other health conditions, particularly conditions related to brain functioning and mental health. There is no evidence, however, to suggest this drug is useful for the treatment of headaches.

N-Acetyl Cysteine and Headaches

N-acetyl cysteine may improve symptoms of a number of conditions, but headaches are not one of them. In fact, this amino acid-derivative has been shown to worsen headaches. A 1992 University of Copenhagen study examined the effects of NAC on headaches caused by nitroglycerin, a drug used to treat chest pain in people with coronary heart disease. Researchers found that a 100 mg dose of NAC actually worsened the severity of the nitroglycerin-induced headaches, as measured by the self-reported pain measurements of the volunteers.

Acetaminophen Antidote

NAC is commonly used to reverse the toxicity of high doses of the painkiller, acetaminophen. After an acetaminophen overdose, oral or intravenous administration of NAC reduces levels of acetaminophen in the blood and thereby prevents or lessens liver damage resulting from the acetaminophen overdose.

Mucolytic Applications

NAC belongs to a class of drugs called mucolytics which decrease the thickness of mucus secretions and ease its removal from the lungs in patients with chronic or acute lung disease, such as bronchitis or cystic fibrosis. For lung-disease related applications, NAC solutions are inhaled as a mist administered through a face mask, mouthpiece or tracheostomy.

Traumatic Brain Injury

NAC has also shown the potential in clinical settings to treat a number of other health conditions. As of late 2010, the latest research regarding NAC involves its potential to treat cognition and memory following traumatic brain injury. A 2010 study, published in the peer-reviewed, scientific journal "PLoS ONE", found that a combination of NAC and minocycline improved memory-related functioning in rats with TBI. Although further research including human trials are necessary to substantiate these findings, the study's conclusions regarding NAC and TBI are significant, since, as of 2010, there are no drugs presently available to treat TBI.

Potential

In addition to the study regarding NAC and TBI, clinical research involving NAC has demonstrated its potential to treat various other conditions. This research includes a study published in "Archives of General Psychiatry" in 2009 regarding NAC's usefulness in treating a compulsive hair-pulling disorder called trichotillomania; a 2007 study published in "The American Journal of Psychiatry" which demonstrated that NAC reduces desire for cocaine in cocaine addicts; and a 2008 "Biological Psychiatry" study evidencing the function of NAC to augment bipolar disorder treatment.