Another possible treatment for COVID-19

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a form of severe lung inflammation that is found to be the main cause of death in COVID-19.

ARDS causes fluid to leak into the lungs, preventing oxygen from getting into the body. The treatment is often mechanical ventilation which is dangerous in itself and typically has a high mortality rate.

In clinical studies, patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome who were given N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) had shorter intensive-care-unit stays, and clinical improvements. It is therefore worth using when COVID-19 symptoms occur.

NAC is a precursor to the antioxidant glutathione. It helps prevent harmful oxidative damage and reduces inflammation.

Most individuals are found to benefits from using 600 mg to 1,800 mg/day of NAC  in divided dosages.

Lu X, Ma Y, He J, et al. N-acetylcysteine for adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hong Kong J Emerg Me. 2019;26(5):288-98.