Acetylcysteine Side Effects

Brand Names: Mucomyst, Acetadote

Please note - some side effects for Acetylcysteine may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Acetylcysteine - for the Consumer

Acetylcysteine Solution

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Acetylcysteine Solution:

Cold, clammy skin; drowsiness; fever; inflammation of the mouth or tongue; nausea; runny nose; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); mouth sores; throat and lung irritation.

Side Effects by Body System

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects reported after oral administration have included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, dyspepsia, rectal bleeding, and epigastric pain. Stomatitis, hemoptysis, and rhinorrhea have been associated with the use of nebulized acetylcysteine.

Hypersensitivity

Allergic reactions to intravenous use have occurred. Symptoms have included urticarial rash, pruritus, flushing, a warm feeling of the skin, occasional bronchospasm or hypotension, angioedema, dyspnea, a serum sickness-like reaction, and asthma.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects, including bronchospasm, wheezing, precipitation of asthma, and respiratory arrest, have been reported after respiratory or intravenous administration. Hemoptysis rarely occurs.

Nervous system

CNS side effects of dizziness, drowsiness, lightheadedness, and asthenia have occurred with oral use. Headache and increased intracranial pressure have been reported rarely.

Cardiovascular

One case of ST segment depression, chest pain, and T-wave inversion was associated with an anaphylactoid reaction to intravenous acetylcysteine.

Cardiovascular side effects of tachycardia and hypotension have been reported in patients with hypersensitivity to acetylcysteine.

Dermatologic

Skin rashes and pruritus have been reported. Skin reactions are a common presentation of hypersensitivity to intravenous administration.

Rashes seen after intravenous therapy usually consist of transient flushing on the upper trunk, neck and face. Rashes sometimes were urticarial and pruritic.

Local

Local reactions to injectable 20% acetylcysteine solution extravasation include severe pain and excoriation.

Other

Fever is a rarely occurring side effect seen after both inhalation and intravenous administration.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects have rarely included myalgia and arthralgia.

Hepatic

Elevated serum transaminase levels were temporally associated with acetylcysteine administration in a patient with cystic fibrosis. At the dose used for acetaminophen toxicity, acetylcysteine does not have hepatotoxic effects.

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