Drug & supplement interaction

N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) + Phenprocoumon

Phenprocoumon brand name: Liquamar.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) has a moderate interaction with Phenprocoumon. Theoretically, N-acetyl cysteine might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) and Phenprocoumon

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Phenprocoumon

Phenprocoumon falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) interacts with.

Theoretically, N-acetyl cysteine might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Clinical research suggests that intravenous N-acetyl cysteine decreases prothrombin time, prolongs coagulation time, decreases platelet aggregation, and increases blood loss in surgical patients. Furthermore, in vitro research suggests that N-acetyl cysteine increases the anticoagulant activity of nitroglycerin.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Phenprocoumon is a blood thinner that works much like warfarin, and it's a drug where small shifts can have a big effect. The concern here is theoretical, but worth knowing: NAC may add to phenprocoumon's blood-thinning action, which could nudge you toward easier bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or longer bleeding from cuts. This idea comes mostly from studies using IV (intravenous) NAC, where it lengthened clotting times and reduced platelet stickiness.

We don't have solid proof this happens with everyday oral NAC capsules, so I wouldn't panic. Still, because phenprocoumon is so sensitive, please loop in your pharmacist or doctor before starting NAC. They may simply want to keep a closer eye on your INR for a while.

References
  1. Loscalzo J. N-Acetylcysteine potentiates inhibition of platelet aggregation by nitroglycerin. J Clin Invest. 1985;76(2):703-8. PubMed
  2. Niemi, T. T., Munsterhjelm, E., Poyhia, R., Hynninen, M. S., and Salmenpera, M. T. The effect of N-acetylcysteine on blood coagulation and platelet function in patients undergoing open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Blood Coagul.Fibrinolysis 2006;1 PubMed
  3. Wijeysundera, D. N., Karkouti, K., Rao, V., Granton, J. T., Chan, C. T., Raban, R., Carroll, J., Poonawala, H., and Beattie, W. S. N-acetylcysteine is associated with increased blood loss and blood product utilization during cardiac surgery. Crit Care Me PubMed
  4. Chirkov, Y. Y. and Horowitz, J. D. N-Acetylcysteine potentiates nitroglycerin-induced reversal of platelet aggregation. J Cardiovasc.Pharmacol 1996;28(3):375-380. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) Also Interacts With Other Medications

N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) has 1 major, 292 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Phenprocoumon one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against N-acetyl Cysteine (nac)

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against N-acetyl Cysteine (nac). Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Phenprocoumon

This page covers N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Phenprocoumon page lists 219 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Danshen (major), Piracetam (major), St. John's Wort (major) and Aconite (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 190 moderate · 25 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Phenprocoumon page

“Phenprocoumon (Liquamar) is a blood thinner in the coumarin family, a close cousin of warfarin, and small shifts in its blood level can tip you toward a clot or a bleed, so I treat this list with genuine care. Almost everything on it pushes the drug's effect further, layering extra bleeding risk on blood that is already thinned.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Phenprocoumon interaction page

One more smart check

Taking N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 3,554 real supplement products containing N-acetyl Cysteine (nac), each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides N-acetyl Cysteine (nac). Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Phenprocoumon too, on top of N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) and Phenprocoumon Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement N-acetyl Cysteine (nac)
Top 5%

#62 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Phenprocoumon
Top 25%

#685 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About N-acetyl Cysteine (nac)

What is N-acetyl Cysteine (nac)?

N-acetyl Cysteine (nac)
  • Thinning mucus in lung conditions
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose treatment
  • Antioxidant and glutathione support
  • Liver support
  • Respiratory health

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a supplement form of the amino acid cysteine and a building block for the antioxidant glutathione. It has well-established prescription uses for acetaminophen overdose and thinning mucus, but evidence for many over-the-counter uses is still limited. It is generally well tolerated, but you should check with a pharmacist or doctor before starting it.

Read the full N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & N-acetyl Cysteine (nac)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

1Major
292Moderate
0Minor
2,536No known interaction
Major

1 interaction

Moderate

292 interactions

Showing 60 of 292 moderate interactions — see all 292 on the N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) page.

No interaction 2,536 drugs checked — show the list
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) and Phenprocoumon Together: Common Questions

Can you take N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) with Phenprocoumon?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the N-acetyl Cysteine (nac) and Phenprocoumon interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.