PharmaNAC

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cfowler

Guest
First time poster, but been lurking for a while. Been reading alot about NAC and thought about ordering it. BUt was curious, if you take the PharmaNAC (FIzzy NAC) do you take enzymes with it as well to digest it?

Also, has anyone ever heard of immunocal? Its a Whey Protein Isolate, but is clinically proven to help produce glutathione in the body. I have tried it for about 2 weeks but didnt notice any really significant changes, but was thinking about continuing it. I was introduced to it by a buddy at work... It's also supposed to be an immune boosting supplement... here is some information on it...
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.immunotec.com/immunocaljax
">http://www.immunotec.com/immunocaljax
</a>
There is alot of information on the internet about it, but I really havent found any CF'ers who have tried it...

I ask about enzymes, as there is a paper on immunocal about not taking enzymes at the same time as taking immunocal. Its says you should take it on an empty stomach and wait about 30 mintues to an hour before taking enzymes.. I know immunocal is not PHarmaNAC, but it seems they serve the same purpose, although it seems people have had great sucess with PharmaNAC...

I need to try something, getting desperate these days to try and find anything that will help with the infections and just over all quality of life..... im 34 now and my last PFt was %28... I get around pretty well for being in the twenties, I work full time job and do normal acitivties, they are just much more difficult. I also have oxygen but only use it when exercising and I use at night if I am feeling bad... if I dont, I wake up with severe headaches... also just had my first sinus surgery... I can breathe through my nose again! woo hoo.. :)

Sorry for being so long....

Anyway, thanks in advance!

Chris
 

theLostMiler

New member
I havent been taking enzymes with my PharmaNAC, but have still noticed a difference. I honestly dont think it will do much for the pfts... but I do feel like it helps my lungs feel less inflammed (which will help a bit on the pft aspect) but I do get some big ole globs up during the day.

I wouldnt think you would need to take enzymes b/c its not fatty or a fat soluable 'thing' (for lack of a better term I can not think of). Kinda like how antibiotics dont need to be taken with an enzyme but our vitamins do.

Hmm I am extremely tired so I havent clicked on your link but I will when I am more up to the challenge of learning haha.
 

jbrandonAW

New member
Congrats to you for getting your health better. I too have been working on the same thing. Over Dec I ended myself in the ICU on bi-pap from a mysterious virus. It took my lung function from a 62% to a 25% and now it's back up to 42%. I do pft's again today and I am really excited and hoping they will be good.

I have started my own journey of trying to get healthy. I have added quite a few new meds, and I am doing my treatments often. I am also walking my way into running. I have recently (6 weeks ago) added some supplements to my plan.

Probiotic
Garlic
Vit C
Vit D
Meletonin (for sleep)
Fish Oil

I don't know which one has made the biggest difference BUT I am feeling very well. I am in the hospital but its b/c I am having sinus surgery, which will also bring up my PFT's.

Honestly I think the thing that made the biggest difference in my health was getting better sleep. Meletonin is what the body naturally produces. I have NEVER been a good sleeper, so this is amazing.

I also have bad asthma. We are trying to get it under control. I switch to symbicort -LOVE IT. And I am now taking cromolyn sodium (Intal) and I def notice a differnce. I am just hoping my pft's reflect it.

Also get an allergy test and your vitamin levels checked (do this often) this can be a great key into what you need to take. My vit d was at 30, so now I am going to add calcium to bring that number up. From everything I have read higher vit D levels mean for better overall health.

I also got a g-tube. Having this has helped me get healthier faster b/c I am still getting nutrients even when I don't want to eat. It also helps my vitamin levels come up and everything. I recommend it for ever CFer!
 
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cfowler

Guest
How much Melotonin do you take and have you tried anything else? I have the same problem, I cant fall a sleep, but once I do fall a sleep I wake up anywhere from 10 to 15 times a night.. I get no sleep at all.... I have tried ambien but it keeps me awake and the Dr gave me a two week trial of Rozerem to try that... it kind of helped, it allowed me to fall a sleep a little quicker, but I still wake up constantly.....

I also take Calcium + vit D supplements and have also started taking 1000mg of Vitamin C a day..

I think I am going to add fish oil, taurine and garlic to see what happens... also will look at probiotic and flax seed oil... Anything at this point..

But still really interested in the diffeence between PharmaNAC and Immunocal.. looks like most people take PharmaNAC, but it seems there are some direct side effects.. has anyone had any problems taking it?

Also starting P90x next week... will do what I can with it, wont be able to do all of it, but some is better than none, thats for sure...
 

BaylorCrew07

New member
I don't have any experience w/ the NAC, etc. although I probably should look into it.

Just wanted to respond to cfowler - I have p90x too and I love it!! Very challenging, and you can cater to your level of ability, etc. I love having the DVDs at home, esp when I can't make it to the gym. Hope you enjoy it <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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bethylove

Guest
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>cfowler</b></i>

How much Melotonin do you take and have you tried anything else? I have the same problem, I cant fall a sleep, but once I do fall a sleep I wake up anywhere from 10 to 15 times a night.. I get no sleep at all.... I have tried ambien but it keeps me awake and the Dr gave me a two week trial of Rozerem to try that... it kind of helped, it allowed me to fall a sleep a little quicker, but I still wake up constantly.....
</end quote></div>

I've never tried Melotonin, but for a while I had trouble staying asleep. I was waking up constantly -- every 20-35 minutes. I started to take Trazadone, and it helped a little but still not great. Well we upped my dose and it works wonders! Granted, since it is a high dose I can only take it when I knowwwww I will have 9+ hours to sleep, or else I feel a little groggy for a while waking up. I take 100mg of trazadone on an as need basis. I found that once I started to take it, and weened myself off it, I was sleeping much better! Through the night even --without it! Almost as if my body just needed a reminder of how to sleep.

Also, I was waking up due to unexplained night sweating, which we attribute to being highly anemic. I started taking Iron supplements and the night sweats disappeared, also contributing to my good nights' sleep. But on trazadone I was able to sleep through the night sweating, vs before I would wake up.
 

Havoc

New member
Anything over 3 or so mg of melatonin is overkill. If you want to adjust your circadian rhythm, take 1mg about 3-4 hours before bed. If you are using it for sedation take 3-5mg (they usually come in 1, 5 and 10mg tabs) 30 minutes before bed.
 

AnD

New member
I don't take enzymes with my NAC. I believe it is simply absorbed, not in need of being digested. I could be wrong, as my digestive issues are not too bad, but I don't remember anyone else saying they take enzymes with it, either...I do notice a difference- less inflamation and more energy- so it works for me, but I know some people who have tried it for a while and it made no noticable difference. I guess it just depends on if your body needs it or not... It took about 6 weeks I guess to notice the full effect for me, and one week off to kick myself for forgetting to take it! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">
 

klawrence

New member
i know that taking NAC has helped a lot of people with their symptoms. PharmaNAC is one supplement that I've read a lot of research on.. a lot of doctors and scientists trust it because the NAC shouldn't be exposed to air because if it becomes oxidized it is unstable and ineffective, but these tablets specifically are individually wrapped and carefully manufactured so that this doesn't happen.

In one study done at Stanford they gave PharmaNAC to CF patients and it decreased their sputum activity, the neutrophil burden in the airways, and airway inflammation with no side effects. I'm not sure if the subjects were children (probably not) but it seems like maybe this NAC formulation would be a good one to try if you've been experiencing side effects with other ones. I use it, it dissolves in water and is effervescent (kind of like alka-seltzer) and tastes pretty good too!

I found some of the research on their website which I think is just www.pharmanac.com. Hope this helps!
 
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