Timing of n-acetyl-cysteine

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kushami

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Does anyone who tends to slump at a certain time of day have any advice on timing n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)?

I tend to have an awful slump from about 3pm to 8pm, and am about to give NAC a try, so was wondering whether it seems to have an effect a certain time after you take it, or whether it is more cumulative and ongoing.

Edit: Slump is the wrong word. I’m pretty sure my cerebral blood flow is dropping (OCHOS). So it’s not exactly fatigue but OI and cognitive problems, even a bit towards agitation. And a low mood.
 
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heapsreal

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kushami said:
Does anyone who tends to slump at a certain time of day have any advice on timing n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)?

I tend to have an awful slump from about 3pm to 8pm, amd am about to give NAC a try, so was wondering whether it seems to have an effect a certain time after you take it, or whether it is more cumulative and ongoing.
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I take 750mg at breakfast and dinner. I can't say I've noticed it help with energy slumps. I mostly use it to protect the liver and as a general antioxidant.
 
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kushami

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cfs since 1998 said:
I take NAC but it isn't a stimulant. Not sure it would help you with any slumps.
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Oh, woops, I didn’t mean it like that. I should say an uptick in symptoms. If anything, I lean towards agitation rather than fatigue at these times, so I’m glad to hear it isn’t a stimulant.

My blood flow seems to drop in the afternoon, so I’m hoping the NAC might help with that, as well as the other benefits it may have.
 
cfs since 1998

cfs since 1998

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kushami said:
Oh, woops, I didn’t mean it like that. I should say an uptick in symptoms. If anything, I lean towards agitation rather than fatigue at these times, so I’m glad to hear it isn’t a stimulant.

My blood flow seems to drop in the afternoon, so I’m hoping the NAC might help with that, as well as the other benefits it may have.
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I have seen basically zero effect on my symptoms. I take it to help increase glutathione/antioxidant activity.
 
ilivewithcfs

ilivewithcfs

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I had been taking NAC for years. In my opinion, the timing doesn't matter, it doesn't work immediately.
Prior to getting CFS, I had been sick with treatment-resistant depression, and 2 g of NAC a day worked like magic, so much better, than all the psych meds combined. I fully recovered from depression.
I tried NAC once again after I got CFS, and it did absolutely nothing.
 
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kushami

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Minor update:

I started taking 600mg once a day with a meal, but unfortunately got the common side effect of nausea. I did not even think of starting lower, and didn’t even check the strength of the capsules before ordering. Silly me!

I am taking a couple of days off, and will divide the dose into empty capsules and try again next week.

I had a vague impression that something was happening apart from the nausea, but it was hard to tell. Still, am feeling positive about it, and feel the nausea will probably subside.
 
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kushami

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I am now tolerating a 300mg dose once a day. Interestingly, it is having an effect for me after each dose. I feel a bit better generally, can do a little more because my brain fog lifts slightly, and also feel very slightly tipsy, for want of a better word.

I tried two 300mg doses in a day, but got the horrible taste in my mouth, so am back to one.

I imagine this is happening because I have abnormal cerebral vasoconstriction, and NAC is said to boost the action of NO, which would be beneficial for me. (I don’t think I have a specific problem with NO, I just need more cerebral vasodilation from any source.)

I have observed various mental effects from taking a wide variety of vadodilators over the past year, even unpleasant ones from going too far (accidentally overmedicating), so that’s what I’m basing my assumption on.

Of course, it could be some other mechanism entirely, and unfortunately there’s no handy home cerebral perfusion monitor I can strap onto my head and take a reading with :)
 
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kushami

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I had to stop, but started again this week at 600mg (the size the capsules came in). No nasty taste in the mouth and no side effects. I am taking it with dinner because I think having food in my system helps.

My dad is also going to take it with dinner. He’s pretty healthy but is in his eighties.
 
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kushami

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Mary

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@kushami - several years ago a PR member wrote that NAC helped modulate glutamate in the brain and helped with sleep. I'd been taking it for several years in the morning, so switched it so that I took one 600 mg. capsule in the a.m. and one after dinner. And it helped with sleep, for a short while . . . and then bingo! more insomnia! arggghhh! I've had incredible problems with insomnia and ME/CFS. Anyways, it took awhile until I realized the NAC at night was actually causing more insomnia - no sleep for the weary! So I went back to 2 caps in the morning. You might be on the lookout for this . . .
 
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cfs since 1998

cfs since 1998

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Yeah I think I slept super well the first night or two I took NAC. It never happened again after that.
I took it consistently during the pandemic and again recently for about 9 months. No difference.
 
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kushami

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Thanks, folks, I will watch out for possible sleep disruption. Might be best to take it with lunch instead.
 
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