Can a common supplement boost or blunt your painkiller?
NCT ID NCT02206178
First seen Aug 07, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026
Summary
This early-phase trial in healthy men aged 18 to 45 asks whether taking N-acetylcysteine alongside acetaminophen (paracetamol) changes the drug's pain-relieving effect. Participants receive either the combination or a placebo, and researchers measure pain intensity from heat stimuli before and after dosing. The study also looks at whether genetic differences in an enzyme called GSH influence the effect. The goal is to understand how these two common substances interact, which could inform future pain treatment approaches.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- N-acetylcysteine combined with acetaminophen
- What this could lead to
- If N-acetylcysteine is found to alter acetaminophen's pain relief, it could guide safer or more effective pain management strategies.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study in healthy volunteers, so results may not apply to real-world pain patients. The effect may also vary by genetics.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
CHU de Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand, 63003, France
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