THE VISCOCITY OF PULMONARY MUCOUS SECRETION DEPENDS ON THE CONC. OF MUCOPROTEINS AND TO A LESSER EXTENT ON DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID. ACETYL CYSTEINE OPENS DISULFIDE LINKAGE IN THE MUCUS THERBY LOWERING THE VISCOCITY. PROVIDES REDUCING EQUIVALENTS TO HELP RESTORE DEPLETED INTRAHEPATIC GLUTATHIONE LEVELS.
ACETYLCYSTEINE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO REDUCE THE EXTENT OF LIVER INJURY FOLLOWING ACETAMINOPHEN OVERDOSE. IT IS MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN GIVEN EARLY, TREATED WITHIN 8-10 HOURS OF THE OVERDOSE. ACETYLCYSTEINE LIKELY PROTECTS THE LIVER BY MAINTAINING OR RESTORING THE GLUTATHIONE LEVELS, OR BY ACTING AS AN ALTERNATE SUBSTRATE FOR CONJUGATION WITH, AND THUS DETOXIFICATION OF, THE REACTIVE METABOLITE.