Anyone taking the over the counter supplement - Acetylcysteine "NAC" for Kidneys ?

adman
adman Member Posts: 336
in Kidney Cancer #1

 

Previously a few peeps on here have written that they take Acetylcysteine "NAC" over the counter supplement <> more or less 600mg/ Day

Is this really the same as taking the prescription dosage & same drug?I found it today in the health food store - I'm thinking about taking it since I can't get the prescription version. I found out the reason it's in such short supply - it's not prescribed very much and in the generic version, not much money = Drug company doesn't make as much any longer.

Thoughts?

Comments

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #2
    NAC knackered

    Maybe it's not prescribed so much because of improved CT contrast media and the perception that it isn't really needed now for most patients?

  • NanoSecond
    NanoSecond Member Posts: 653
    #3
    NAC

    Why would you think the contents of an over the counter "drug" would be different (assuming the source was reputable, etc.)?

    I don't expect my pharmacist to fill a prescription for my calcium supplements.

    I don't understand all of your the concern over this particular supplement.  It is FDA approved and has many other valuable health benefits aside from protecting the kidneys.

    As I mentioned earlier, I have been taking it for over 6 months with no adverse effects.  On the contrary, I feel it is contributing to the fact that I have had no significant side effects while taking Sutent - while my creatinine level has remained as low as might be expected for someone with one kidney.

  • adman
    adman Member Posts: 336
    #4
    NanoSecond said:

    NAC

    Why would you think the contents of an over the counter "drug" would be different (assuming the source was reputable, etc.)?

    I don't expect my pharmacist to fill a prescription for my calcium supplements.

    I don't understand all of your the concern over this particular supplement.  It is FDA approved and has many other valuable health benefits aside from protecting the kidneys.

    As I mentioned earlier, I have been taking it for over 6 months with no adverse effects.  On the contrary, I feel it is contributing to the fact that I have had no significant side effects while taking Sutent - while my creatinine level has remained as low as might be expected for someone with one kidney.

    Follow up...

    You misunderstood my question or I wasn't crystal clear, either way, I'm going to be more specific.

    I'm not suggesting I believe the two are the same - one is a prescription and the other you can buy over the counter. 'What I was' asking was - is the 600mg dosage equivalent to the dosage you get with a prescription? And if not, how far off is it?

    My concern is - I have 1 kidney and I need to make sure that EVERYTHING I eat, drink, & take is the best decision I can make given my situation. If I'm a little anal [ which is my nature anyway ] about what I do now to protect my kidney, and that allows me to sleep a little better knowing I did my research, then so be it.

    Last time I checked, this is the Internet and everyone is an armchair expert. There are no certainties in the world, but no matter how much I value and respect everyone opinions on this and other boards, they tend to be all over the place and guess who is looking out for me? :)

    As always I really appreciate the input and feedback and do truly value the education and support I have so graciously been allowed to receive here.

    God Bless!!

    ~M

     

     

  • NanoSecond
    NanoSecond Member Posts: 653
    #5
    adman said:

    Follow up...

    You misunderstood my question or I wasn't crystal clear, either way, I'm going to be more specific.

    I'm not suggesting I believe the two are the same - one is a prescription and the other you can buy over the counter. 'What I was' asking was - is the 600mg dosage equivalent to the dosage you get with a prescription? And if not, how far off is it?

    My concern is - I have 1 kidney and I need to make sure that EVERYTHING I eat, drink, & take is the best decision I can make given my situation. If I'm a little anal [ which is my nature anyway ] about what I do now to protect my kidney, and that allows me to sleep a little better knowing I did my research, then so be it.

    Last time I checked, this is the Internet and everyone is an armchair expert. There are no certainties in the world, but no matter how much I value and respect everyone opinions on this and other boards, they tend to be all over the place and guess who is looking out for me? :)

    As always I really appreciate the input and feedback and do truly value the education and support I have so graciously been allowed to receive here.

    God Bless!!

    ~M

     

     

    Follow Up

    M,

    You are correct, I did misunderstand.

    For what it is worth, I started taking NAC everyday under the suggestion of Dr. Keith Block (and his associates).  He is the author of "Life Over Cancer" and their nutritionist and other dietician recommended the amount I take (daily total = 1000mg) - based on blood tests that were run on me.

    I cannot answer your question about dosage equivalents - but I can't see why they would be different between a prescription and over the counter.

    Hope that helps.

     

  • AprilandChuck
    AprilandChuck Member Posts: 110
    #6
    adman said:

    Follow up...

    You misunderstood my question or I wasn't crystal clear, either way, I'm going to be more specific.

    I'm not suggesting I believe the two are the same - one is a prescription and the other you can buy over the counter. 'What I was' asking was - is the 600mg dosage equivalent to the dosage you get with a prescription? And if not, how far off is it?

    My concern is - I have 1 kidney and I need to make sure that EVERYTHING I eat, drink, & take is the best decision I can make given my situation. If I'm a little anal [ which is my nature anyway ] about what I do now to protect my kidney, and that allows me to sleep a little better knowing I did my research, then so be it.

    Last time I checked, this is the Internet and everyone is an armchair expert. There are no certainties in the world, but no matter how much I value and respect everyone opinions on this and other boards, they tend to be all over the place and guess who is looking out for me? :)

    As always I really appreciate the input and feedback and do truly value the education and support I have so graciously been allowed to receive here.

    God Bless!!

    ~M

     

     

    I am the same way with my

    I am the same way with my Husbands existing Kidney... I would suggest you ask your Doctor most are okay with Suppliments(within reason)..and will tell you if it will harm your existing kidney...and your right everyone on the internet is an expert lol... can be a little scarey....Hugggsss

    P.S. I will say there is a lot of knowledge on this board and I thank God everyday for this place...

  • adman
    adman Member Posts: 336
    #7
    UPDATE....

     

    I'm having my scan tomorrow morning - what an ordeal.

    The 'testing' facility will not do the test [w constast] if I do not take the alternative medication ( Theophylline - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophylline ) since
    Acetylcysteine is not available.

    My ONC Doc had to call them and ake full responsibility for them to agree to it.

    Most of the articles I've read on this drug and Acetylcysteine don't provide much conclusive evidence that it really works very wekk, and it's more of a placebo.

    I already get 50cc's instead of the normal 100cc injection [ thanks, Jeff - MedScanMan ) and my creatinine was 1.1-1.2 & my eGFR # was 78 on my last test 4 months ago [ will have results from blood this am later ].

    Not sure there is much more I can do but pray!!

     

     

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #8
    adman said:

    UPDATE....

     

    I'm having my scan tomorrow morning - what an ordeal.

    The 'testing' facility will not do the test [w constast] if I do not take the alternative medication ( Theophylline - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophylline ) since
    Acetylcysteine is not available.

    My ONC Doc had to call them and ake full responsibility for them to agree to it.

    Most of the articles I've read on this drug and Acetylcysteine don't provide much conclusive evidence that it really works very wekk, and it's more of a placebo.

    I already get 50cc's instead of the normal 100cc injection [ thanks, Jeff - MedScanMan ) and my creatinine was 1.1-1.2 & my eGFR # was 78 on my last test 4 months ago [ will have results from blood this am later ].

    Not sure there is much more I can do but pray!!

     

     

    UPDATE

    MG (I had one for years - the B GT - loved it)

    I've only encountered one worse worrier about nothing (comparatively!) as you. That was Rajesh who, unfortunately (he is a highly intelligent fellow and had become a valuable contributor here) was forbidden by his care team to continue here because they thought it did him more harm than good (and were, quite possibly, correct).

    You recognise how lucky you are

    "5.0cm  Clear Cell RCC - Stage-1, Grade-1. Margins clear. I AM VERY, VERY LUCKY!"

    But was there ever a man who had so much difficulty practising what he preaches?  You said:

    "The best gift in life is to learn to see the glass 1/2 full.

    "Most people bypass what is good and refreshing in their lives, and habitually focus on the unpleasant, bad elements." ~Plutarch"

     

    What reason is there now for you to need so much extra protection from contrast media? 

    Why are you so terrified about having a routine scan?  "Not sure there is much more I can do but pray!!"  

    Sure there is - go and have a pint (and I don't mean of Acetylcysteine) and forget about it. It's going to be fine. And do remember that most of us here would give a lot to have your exceptionally good eGFR.

     

  • adman
    adman Member Posts: 336
    #9
    Texas_wedge said:

    UPDATE

    MG (I had one for years - the B GT - loved it)

    I've only encountered one worse worrier about nothing (comparatively!) as you. That was Rajesh who, unfortunately (he is a highly intelligent fellow and had become a valuable contributor here) was forbidden by his care team to continue here because they thought it did him more harm than good (and were, quite possibly, correct).

    You recognise how lucky you are

    "5.0cm  Clear Cell RCC - Stage-1, Grade-1. Margins clear. I AM VERY, VERY LUCKY!"

    But was there ever a man who had so much difficulty practising what he preaches?  You said:

    "The best gift in life is to learn to see the glass 1/2 full.

    "Most people bypass what is good and refreshing in their lives, and habitually focus on the unpleasant, bad elements." ~Plutarch"

     

    What reason is there now for you to need so much extra protection from contrast media? 

    Why are you so terrified about having a routine scan?  "Not sure there is much more I can do but pray!!"  

    Sure there is - go and have a pint (and I don't mean of Acetylcysteine) and forget about it. It's going to be fine. And do remember that most of us here would give a lot to have your exceptionally good eGFR.

     

    Mr. Wedge.....agreed :)

     

    Thanks for the 'reality check' - I can't argue.

    This is the last word from me on this [ at least for today ;) )

    Got my blood results back - Ready to go tomorrow

    Creatinine - 1.14

    eGFR - 75+

     

     

     

     

  • garym
    garym Member Posts: 1,647
    #10
    adman said:

    Mr. Wedge.....agreed :)

     

    Thanks for the 'reality check' - I can't argue.

    This is the last word from me on this [ at least for today ;) )

    Got my blood results back - Ready to go tomorrow

    Creatinine - 1.14

    eGFR - 75+

     

     

     

     

    Those are great numbers...

    Wanna trade?

  • adman
    adman Member Posts: 336
    #11
    garym said:

    Those are great numbers...

    Wanna trade?

    :)))))

     

    I wish I could help everyone - :)

  • adman
    adman Member Posts: 336
    #12
    garym said:

    Those are great numbers...

    Wanna trade?

     
     

     

     

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