Acetylcysteine

What Is Acetylcysteine?

Acetylcysteine is a drug that breaks down mucus, the substance that lubricates many parts of the body such as the mouth, throat, and lungs.
Acetylcysteine inhalation is used to thin the mucus in people with certain lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis, emphysema, bronchitis, pneumonia, or tuberculosis. Acetylcysteine inhalation is also used during surgery or anesthesia, and to prepare the throat or lungs for a medical test.
Acetylcysteine inhalation may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
You should not use acetylcysteine inhalation if you are allergic to it.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have asthma.
FDA pregnancy category B. Acetylcysteine inhalation is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether acetylcysteine inhalation passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Acetylcysteine Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using acetylcysteine inhalation and call your doctor at once if you have:

• chest tightness; or
• trouble breathing.

Common side effects may include:

• sticky feeling around the nebulizer mask;
• white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
• nausea, vomiting;
• fever, runny nose, sore throat;
• drowsiness; or
• cold and clammy skin.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Acetylcysteine Interactions

Do not mix other medicines in a nebulizer with acetylcysteine inhalation, unless your doctor has told you to.
Other drugs may interact with acetylcysteine inhalation, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Acetylcysteine Dosage

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Do not use acetylcysteine inhalation at home if you do not fully understand all instructions that are specific to your use of this medicine.
Acetylcysteine inhalation solution can be inhaled directly from the nebulizer or with a face mask, mouth piece, tent, or intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) machine.
Use only the inhaler device provided with your medicine or you may not get the correct dose.
Do not place this medicine directly into a heated nebulizer medicine chamber.
Do not mix your dose of acetylcysteine inhalation until you are ready to use the medicine. Diluted acetylcysteine inhalation must be used within 1 hour of mixing.
Acetylcysteine inhalation liquid may change color once you have opened the bottle. This is caused by a chemical reaction and will not affect the medicine.
You may sense an unusual or unpleasant smell while using acetylcysteine inhalation. This effect should become less noticeable the longer you use the medicine.
Clean your nebulizer right after each use. The residue from acetylcysteine inhalation can clog the parts of the nebulizer.
Store an unopened vial (bottle) of acetylcysteine inhalation at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
An opened acetylcysteine vial should be stored in a refrigerator, but you must use it within 96 hours (4 days) after opening. Do not allow the medicine to freeze.
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.