N-Acetylcysteine for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A Review of Current Evidence
Ooi SL
Published in BioMed Research International
Methodology
Narrative review synthesising current systematic reviews, meta-analyses and recent clinical trials of N-acetylcysteine across addiction and substance abuse, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and mood disorders.
Key Findings
This narrative review synthesised systematic reviews, meta-analyses and recent trials of N-acetylcysteine as an add-on treatment in psychiatric conditions. The evidence is described as good for reducing total and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, and for reducing craving in substance use disorders, particularly cocaine and cannabis use in young people and relapse prevention in abstinent individuals. Evidence in obsessive-compulsive and related disorders and in mood disorders is less consistent and more research is called for. Oral N-acetylcysteine was safe and well tolerated, with a suggested dose of 2,000 to 2,400 mg/day.
Conclusions
N-acetylcysteine also appears to be effective in reducing craving in substance use disorders, especially for the treatment of cocaine and cannabis use among young people.
Limitations
A narrative rather than systematic review, with no pooled effect estimates or formal risk-of-bias assessment; conclusions across very different psychiatric conditions rest on trials of varying size and quality.
Supplements Studied
N-acetylcysteine also appears to be effective in reducing craving in substance use disorders, especially for the treatment of cocaine and cannabis use among young people.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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