Pharmacokinetics of N-acetylcysteine in man

Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1986;31(2):217-22. doi: 10.1007/BF00606662.

Abstract

N-Acetylcysteine was given intravenously and as three fast dissolving and one slow-release formulation, on separate occasions, as a single dose of 600 mg to 10 fasting (5 men and 5 women) healthy volunteers. Blood and urine were sampled for the following 12 h. Renal clearance constituted around 30% of total body clearance, which was 0.21 l/h/kg. Volume of distribution was 0.33 l/kg, consistent with distribution mainly to extracellular water. The late elimination half-life was 2.27 h and the mean residence time 1.62 h. The slow-release tablet resulted in a flattened plasma concentration-time curve typical of slow release formulations, while the other three oral formulations were rapidly absorbed. The oral availability of N-acetylcysteine varied between 6 and 10%, with the slow-release tablet having the lowest and the fast dissolving tablet the highest availability.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / administration & dosage
  • Acetylcysteine / metabolism*
  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Biological Availability
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Female
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Kinetics
  • Male
  • Metabolic Clearance Rate
  • Solutions

Substances

  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Solutions
  • Acetylcysteine