Common side effects include nausea and vomiting when taken by mouth.[9] The skin may occasionally become red and itchy with any route of administration.[9] A non-immune type of anaphylaxis may also occur.[9] It appears to be safe in pregnancy.[9] For paracetamol overdose, it works by increasing the level of glutathione, an antioxidant that can neutralise the toxic breakdown products of paracetamol.[9] When inhaled, it acts as a mucolytic by decreasing the thickness of mucus.[14]
^ abcdefghij"Acetylcysteine". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
^"L-Cysteine, N-acetyl- — Compound Summary". PubChem. National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. 25 March 2005. Identification. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
^ abCite error: The named reference sial was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^US3091569A, Sheffner AL, "Mucolytic-nu-acylated sulfhydryl compositions and process for treating animal mucus", issued 28 May 1963Archived 6 August 2024 at the Wayback Machine
^US patent 3091569, Sheffner AL, "Mucolytic-N-acylated sulfhydryl compositions and process for treating animal mucus", published 28 May 1963, issued 28 May 1963, assigned to Mead Johnson & CoArchived 30 June 2024 at the Wayback Machine
^Organization WH (2019). World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
^World Health Organization (2021). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/345533. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02.