- Actions of N-Acetylcysteine in the Central Nervous System: Implications for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Disorders

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is the N-acetyl derivative of cysteine, and is less reactive, less toxic, and less susceptible to oxidation than cysteine, as well as being more soluble in water. For these reasons it is a better source of cysteine than the parenteral administration of cysteine itself [1]. NAC is rapidly absorbed, with time to peak plasma levels (tmax) being 1.4 ± 0.7 h following oral administration. The average

Pharmacokinetics .....................................................................................................29 NAC in the Treatment of Dementia .........................................................................30