n acetyl cysteine Hangover — NAC for Liver

This article was originally posted on Research Hangovers here

What damages your liver when you drink? When you drink alcohol (ethanol), your body breaks it down into acetaldehyde. This is done by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (1). Acetaldehyde is what’s dangerous to our body and liver. To break down acetaldehyde into a harmless substance, we need aldehyde dehydrogenase and glutathione. Our bodies can only produce so much glutathione so that when our levels get depleted our ability to break down acetaldehyde decreases. Fortunately, there is a way to increase NAC glutathione while combating free radical damage naturally.

How to help prevent liver damage

Studies have shown that taking N-Acetyl-Cysteine NAC for hangover prevention can contribute to avoiding damage to your liver (2). NAC works by helping to increase glutathione production which helps break down acetaldehyde. NAC hangover drink is so effective that it is even used with patients that overdose on Acetaminophens. An example is when someone overdoses on Tylenol. If they are given NAC in time, it is almost “100% hepatoprotective when it is given within 8 hours after an acute acetaminophen ingestion” (3). Similar results have been shown for rats that consume NAC alcohol drink. The liver cells of the rats given NAC “showed tiny change and appeared almost normal” (4). This is compared to the rats that ingested ethanol and showed liver damage.

Taking N-AcetylCysteine Hangover supplements

The best way to help prevent possible liver damage is to take an NAC hangover supplement before drinking alcohol (NAC and alcohol). This will assist in the production of glutathione which will help break down the toxic acetaldehyde. If you take NAC before or after drinking alcoholic beverages you should notice that it takes more drinks to get you drunk. That’s why we recommend taking it after a night of heavy drinking hangovers. It should help to reduce the symptoms caused by high levels of acetaldehyde. Be sure you are taking other measures to address additional symptoms of a hangover. View our Hangover Cures page for more information.

NAC Reduces Alcohol Linked Diseases:

Alcohol Craving: According to the research report of Gihyun Yoon, NAC supplements help in reducing alcohol craving and other habitual crimes like gambling and drug use. Excess use of alcohol develops alcohol hepatitis and pathological gambling. N-acetylcysteine hangover prevention is effective in controlling alcoholism, loss of control, and physical symptoms like nausea and shakiness. N-acetylcysteine supplements reduce liver damage and bind to aldehyde to prevent further loss.

Alcohol Hepatitis: N-acetylcysteine mechanism of action is effective in alcohol hepatitis which is the result of alcohol craving. Inflammation of the liver is called alcohol hepatitis, and liver failure is its severe form. Alcohol hepatitis shows its symptoms in those who drink heavily and use low-quality alcohol. NAC Supplements recreates the alcohol glutathione depletionand reduce liver inflammation by eliminating the by-products of alcohol.

Pathological Gambling: n acetyl cysteine hangover cure possesses enough potential to reduce the symptoms of pathological gambling in which, a gambler craves to get euphoric state and consume more alcohol. The person can use both alcohol and drugs to attain the required state and increase the bets or odds against him. N-acetylcysteine depression can be used to cure this fatal condition as it replenishes the depleted glutathione levels.

NAC for OCD

Obsessive Compulsion Disorder (OCD) is a very common disabling psychiatric illness which affects 2–3% Americans. The symptoms of OCD include poor health, impairment in academic and relationship functioning, and low-quality life. Drug therapy and cognitive behaviour therapy help the person to go back towards a healthy life. Ocd attacks two neurotransmitters i.e. dopamine and serotonin. Apart from these two neurotransmitters, Glutamate is the third neurotransmitter which plays its part as a neurotransmitter in the brain. The function of glutamine is the transformation of nerve information from one nerve to another but its excess amount in the brain is injurious for the nervous system. Neurone damage is the ultimate result of high level of glutamate.

N-acetylcysteine OCD is an antioxidant to poetical glutathione and has many medical applications. It’s used for diabetes, chronic obstructive disease, and neuropathy. NAC supplements show anti-inflammatory behaviour which is the indication of its oxidative pathway. First of all, NAC converts in cystine which is a substrate of glutamate and found in glial cells. Glial takes cystine and transfers it into extrasynaptic space where it stimulates the inhibitory metabotropic nerves terminals. Most noteworthy, NAC works at the synapse and boosts the ability of glutamate.

Using N-acetylcysteine in the Treatment of Bipolar Disorders

Bipolar disorder is a severe and common psychiatric issue which can’t be neglected in any way. The sufferer of the disease ends his life due to the serious nervous problem. The patient feels disappointed and doomed. He tends towards the suicide or drugs. Mood stabiliser medicines are used for the cure of bipolar disorder. These medications have antioxidants and anticonvulsants. However, they don’t show satisfactory results in long-term treatment. N-acetylcysteine bipolar treatment amazingly works and reduces the symptoms of bipolar disorder while the results are also favourable for paracetamol poisoning and mucolytic. HIV and contrast-induced nephropat are some diseases in which NAC us extremely useful.

N-acetylcysteine in the Treatment of Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a strange disease in which the sufferer pulls out his hair. Hair fall and resulting pain worsen the situation if proper treatment is ignored. Trichotillomania falls into the category of serious psychiatric problems, and the treatment requires several therapies. N-acetylcysteine trichotillomania shows satisfactory and instant results because it’s a glutamate modulator. After the treatment, the patient gets relief from chronic pain, hypnosis, and self-limiting symptoms. The research has proved its efficacy for nervous issues and elimination of alcohol by-products.

Benefits of N-acetylcysteine

Bipolar disorder, air passage swallowing, lung diseases, and epilepsy are some diseases which are curable with N-acetylcysteine supplements. It increases the tolerance of nitrates and reduces the symptoms of trichotillomania up to 40%. To get the maximum benefits from NAC supplements, the person should use it other supplements.

• Dihydromyricetin is an anti-alcohol intoxication medication and works when used with NAC. It reduces the symptoms of hangover pains like nausea, shivering body, and headache. It chemically reacts with –OH group and removes it from the body to eliminate the effects of intoxicants
• Emoxyoine possesses antioxidant properties and gives different reactions. It readily works with NAC and protects the neural membrane. The anti-hypoxic effects protect the neurones present in the nervous system and strengthen them against ethone and aldehydes
• Ashwagandha Alcohol interaction significantly reduces the side effect alcohol hangovers and the possible neurones loss. It’s an herbal medication which is useful for high cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, and deficit-hyperactivity disorder
• NAC Supplements the effectiveness for ifosfamide in which the patient suffers from various kinds of cancers
• Use NAC with Pedialyte to remove the deficiency of water from the body

Side Effects of N-acetylcysteine

Besides of all benefits above, N-acetylcysteine poses some side effects as well. The major side effects of NAC are rachis, runny nose, mouth inflammation, and low blood pressure. Many patients complain about the chest tightening drowsiness, and liver problems as well. Doctors warn and issue precautions in the use of N acetylcysteine hangover prevention because it reacts with the body and triggers allergy. Asthma, bleeding disorder, surgery are some conditions in which the patient should avoid n acetylcysteine alcohol supplement to prevent their worst conditions. Unpleasant odour makes it difficult to swallow while stomach upset is a minor problem caused by NAC. Pregnant women and breast-feeding mother shouldn’t avoid both drinking and its preventive products.

Sources

1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3334563/
2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3334563/
3) http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/820200-treatment
4) http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF02869573#page-1