In the present study, NAC was effective in inducing serotonin levels, the 33% decrease of serotonin recorded in PPA-treated rats was only reduced to a value of 14% and 29% decrease in NAC-protected and treated rats, respectively.

High-quality studies have demonstrated that NAC can improve depressive symptoms during maintenance phase treatment, the scores in MADRS and Bipolar Depression Rating Scale (BDRS), response rate, symptom remission, quality of life, and functioning.

Oral N-acetylcysteine is safe and well tolerated without any considerable adverse effects. Current evidence supports its use as an adjunctive therapy clinically for psychiatric conditions, administered concomitantly with existing medications, with a recommended dosage between 2000 and 2400 mg/day.

Recent studies have shown that N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a glutamate modulator produces an antidepressant-like effect by normalization of the periterminal release of glutamate and/or antioxidant effects.

A meta-analysis and systematic review of placebo-controlled studies on NAC as a stand-alone treatment of depressed mood in individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric disorders (Fernandes et al 2016) found evidence for moderately improved depressed mood and improved …

On a clinical level, in day-to-day work with patients, NAC seems to help with ruminations, with difficult-to-control extreme negative self-thoughts. Such thoughts are common in depression and anxiety disorders, and also in eating disorders, schizophrenia, OCD, etc.

NAC reversed the anxiety-like behavior and oxidative damage observed in stressed animals. Additional studies are needed to investigate the effects of this agent on glutamatergic modulation and inflammatory markers related to stress.

With regard to side effects, oral or inhaled NAC has been associated with drowsiness, stomatitis, clamminess, rhinorrhea, and hemoptysis. While side effects are generally mild, there are rare reports of renal stone formation during NAC treatment.

It is usually taken in doses from 1000 to 2000 milligrams per day—usually in 600-milligram capsules taken 2 to 3 times a day, and other than mild gastrointestinal side effects NAC is usually well tolerated.

N-AcetylCysteine (NAC) For Depression: Proven Benefits & Dosage. Recent research has highlighted the use of N-acetylcysteine for mental health conditions including depression. N-acetylcysteine or NAC is a derivative of the non-essential amino acid, L-cysteine. It is used clinically for detoxification in case of drug overdose.

While NAC is only available in supplement form, this amino acid is found naturally in foods in its cysteine form. Get the scoop on the best cysteine foods to incorporate into your diet. Chicken is a source of N-Acetylcysteine.

N-Acetylcysteine (N-A-C) has been clinically proven to help treat symptoms of anxiety, depression, and bipolar. N-Acetylcysteine is a powerful nootropic with still many unstudied benefits. N-A-C has been used by visionary doctors to help treat intractable depression and anxiety.

Oxidative stress and reduced natural antioxidant defences are some of the important factors that worsen major depressive disorder. NAC helps in depression by boosting the brain’s natural antioxidant defence agent-glutathione.