N-acetylocysteine compositions and methods for the treatment and prevention of drug toxicity

摘要

Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition useful for treating or preventing the toxic effects of therapeutic agents in mammals, consisting essentially of: (a) a toxicity-reducing amount of N-acetylcysteine, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of N-acetylcysteine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative of N-acetylcysteine in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or carrier, wherein a unit dose of N-acetylcysteine comprises at least 1.5 mg N-acetylcysteine per kg of body weight and not more than 2000 mg N-acetylcysteine, and (b) a therapeutic or greater amount of a therapeutic agent that produces oxidative stress. The disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment or prevention of the toxic effects of therapeutic agents (such as acetaminophen) and methods of treating or preventing such toxicity using a toxicity reducing amount of N-acetylcysteine either alone or in combination with a therapeutically effective amount or, to achieve its therapeutic advantages, an amount larger than what is customarily given as a therapeutically effective amount, of a therapeutic agent whose side effects are made worse by increased oxidative stress or treatment related decreases in subject cysteine/glutathione levels or are otherwise relieved by administration of NAC.