Yesterday Over The Course Of About 12 Hours. I Took

Posted on Tue, 12 Nov 2019

Question: yesterday over the course of about 12 hours. I took around 10g of NAC or N-aceytyl cysteine In the form of 20 500mg pills. after my last dose I took some activated charcoal. Will I be ok? Poison control or ER had no idea what to do. 6%E2%80%991 190 Male

Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
NAC OVERDOSE

Detailed Answer:
Hi....
Welcome to "Ask a Doctor"service.
I am Dr Ajeet XXXXXXX

I have gone through your query and here is my opinion.

Usually NAC has a wide margin of safety but overdose may result in nausea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Rash, fever and seizures have also been reported.

Only specific management strategy in such case is administration of activated charcoal which prevents further absorption of NAC.
Rest of the treatment revolves around the support of airway,breathing and circulation.

It is better if such patient remains under medical supervision for next few hours for observation and intervention and support of the systems as and when required.

Hope that I have answered your query.
Stay healthy and stay blessed.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. AJEET SINGH (32 minutes later)

So far is has been some time since I ingested. Did I tak me a deadly dose?

Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (0 minute later)

Brief Answer:
NAC OVERDOSE

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.

In clinical use (like paracetamol poisoning) doses of NAC as high as 140 mg per kg loading followed by 70 mg per kg 4 hrly (a total of 17 doses) are given.

Though the deadly dose of NAC is not defined but in my opinion,the answer of your question is "No" because as I have already told you that it has a wide margin of safety.

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. AJEET SINGH (27 minutes later)

Thank you. I am finding it somewhat hard to swallow. How long until all effects wear off?

Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
NAC OVERDOSE

Detailed Answer:
In my opinion,the symptoms should wean off in next 24 hours.

Stay healthy and stay blessed.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Answered by Dr. AJEET SINGH (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
NAC OVERDOSE

Detailed Answer:
Hi....

In my opinion,there is hardly anything organic and these are symptoms of extreme anxiety.

Do not overthink,learn relaxation techniques(including belly breathing) and meditation,have sun exposure,don't be sleep deprived,get counselling and see your clinician for revision of your drug treatment(including Benzo).

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. AJEET SINGH (8 minutes later)

I do not know if my symptoms are psychosomatic at this point but my heart rate seems a little faster. Took the last of my benzo and noticed my headache again. Is this all in my head?