Mucomyst Side Effects

Generic name: acetylcysteine

Note: This document contains side effect information about acetylcysteine. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Mucomyst.

Some side effects of Mucomyst may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

For the Consumer

Applies to acetylcysteine: inhalation solution

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction while taking acetylcysteine (the active ingredient contained in Mucomyst) hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using acetylcysteine and call your doctor at once if you have chest tightness or trouble breathing.

Less serious side effects of acetylcysteine include:

• unusual or unpleasant smell while using the medication;

• sticky feeling around the nebulizer mask;

• white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;

• nausea, vomiting;

• fever;

• runny nose, sore throat;

• drowsiness; or

• skin rash or clammy feeling.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to acetylcysteine: compounding powder, inhalation solution, intravenous solution, oral capsule, oral tablet

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 (the active ingredient contained in Mucomyst)

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 (the active ingredient contained in Mucomyst)

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 (the active ingredient contained in Mucomyst) 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 (the active ingredient contained in Mucomyst) administration in a patient with cystic fibrosis. At the dose used for acetaminophen toxicity, acetylcysteine does not have hepatotoxic effects.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have included increased blood loss and use of blood products when acetylcysteine (the active ingredient contained in Mucomyst) was used to prevent perioperative inflammation and ischemia-reperfusion injury during cardiac surgery.

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