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Acetylcysteine 100 mg/mL Solution — NDC 42494-0435-25 package photo
Label image from the product's FDA listing (DailyMed) — may show a different pack size or an older label revision.

Acetylcysteine 100 mg/mL Solution — NDC 42494-435-25 (Billing 42494-0435-25)

by Cameron Pharmaceuticals · 25 VIAL in 1 CARTON / 4 mL in 1 VIAL

This is a package of Acetylcysteine 100 mg/mL Solution from Cameron Pharmaceuticals, marketed since Aug 2025 and currently FDA-listed; retail pharmacies pay about $2.55 per mL (NADAC). It is this product's only package size.

NDC 42494-0435-25
🏷️ FDA NDC (as labeled) 42494-435-25 billing pads the product segment with a zero
Rx only Generic On market Non-controlled ⇄ Compare with another NDC
🗂️ FDA directory synced Oct 1, 2026 · this listing last changed Jul 24, 2026 · sources: openFDA · FDA label (DailyMed) · FDA Orange & Purple Book · First Databank · CMS NADAC, ASP, Medicare & Medicaid · RxNorm
📋 All sources & update times →

NDC database record

One package, one record: these facts belong to NDC 42494-435-25 alone.

Record
FDA NDC Directory package listing · Human prescription drug
Code segments
42494 labeler · 435 product · 25 package
Package marketed since
Aug 21, 2025
Sample package
No — commercial package
Listing certified through
Dec 31, 2026
Barcode (UPC-A, from the NDC)
3 4249443525 9
FDA record last changed
Jul 24, 2026
⚠️
Other active recalls for Acetylcysteine (different manufacturers) — 2 · tap to view
These affect other manufacturers’ products for the same ingredient — not necessarily the exact NDC on this page.
Class II · Jul 24, 2026 — Presence of Particulate Matter: Product contaminated with particulate matter identified as hair, glass and/or paraformaldehyde (American Regent, Inc.) · FDA recall D-0797-2026
Class II · Jul 24, 2026 — Presence of Particulate Matter: Product contaminated with particulate matter identified as hair, glass and/or paraformaldehyde (American Regent, Inc.) · FDA recall D-0796-2026
Each entry is an official FDA enforcement report — look up any recall number in the FDA recall database ↗

Identity & classification

Regulatory identifiers FDA, NLM and CMS codes for this package

FDA NDC (as labeled) 42494-435-25
Product NDC 42494-435
11-digit billing NDC 42494043525
NCPDP billing unit ML — per mL (volume)
RxCUI 307718, 307719
UNII WYQ7N0BPYC
Application # ANDA214177
SPL Set ID 8165ad85-98e7-438f-9567-5cfda88d0ebf
Established class (EPC) Antidote; Antidote for Acetaminophen Overdose; Mucolytic
Mechanism of action Reduction Activity
Physiologic effect Decreased Respiratory Secretion Viscosity; Increased Glutathione Concentration
DEA schedule Non-controlled
Marketing category ANDA
Marketing status On market
FDA listing status Listed (active directory)
Marketing start 2025-08-21
Route RESPIRATORY (INHALATION)
Dosage form SOLUTION
Substance ACETYLCYSTEINE
TE code (Orange Book) AN · RLD · RS

Drug-database identifiers Medi-Span GPI and First Databank GCN / HICL / AHFS classification

GPI-14 43300010002003
GCN Seq No 000591
GCN 02400
HICL code 000189
Ingredient (HICL) Acetylcysteine
HIC1 code B
Therapeutic class — broad (HIC1) Respiratory System
HIC2 code B3
Therapeutic class — intermediate (HIC2) Drugs Affecting Primarily The Trachea And Bronchi
HIC3 code B3A
Therapeutic class — specific (HIC3) Mucolytics
AHFS code 48:24.00.00
AHFS class Mucolytic Agents
FDB label name ACETYLCYSTEINE 10% VIAL
FDB brand name Acetylcysteine
Legend status F — Federal legend — prescription drug or device
Quick answers
  • GSN (GCN sequence number): 000591
  • GCN: 02400
  • GPI-14 (Medi-Span): 43300010002003
  • HICL (First Databank): 000189
  • AHFS class code: 48:24.00.00
  • RxCUI (RxNorm): 307718
Why two NDCs? The FDA registers this code as 42494-435-25 — a 5-3-2 layout, and that's what's printed on the package and shown on DailyMed. For insurance claims, every NDC is standardized to a uniform 11-digit 5-4-2 format by adding a zero to the product segment → 42494-0435-25. Same drug, same package — only the format differs.
Where does this data come from?
Identifiers from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Structured Product Labeling; RxCUI from RxNorm (NLM); GPI from Medi-Span; GCN / HIC / AHFS / legend from First Databank.

RxNorm drug class

This medicine belongs to the Antidote class.

Pharmacologic class Antidote, Mucolytic, Antidote for Acetaminophen Overdose
Drug family (ATC) Mucolytics, Other ophthalmologicals, Antidotes
How it works Reduction Activity
Where does this data come from?
Therapeutic classes from RxNorm RxClass (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — Established Pharmacologic Class (FDA), ATC drug family (WHO) and mechanism of action, matched by this product’s RxCUI.

Clinical

Label name ACETYLCYSTEINE 10% VIAL Ingredient Acetylcysteine
📖 What it is MedlinePlus · NLM

Acetylcysteine inhalation is used along with other treatments to relieve chest congestion due to thick or abnormal mucous secretions in people with lung conditions including asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and cystic fibrosis (an inborn disease that causes problems with breathing, digestion, and reproduction). Acetylcysteine is in a class of medications called mucolytic agents. It works by thinning the mucus in the air passages to make it easier to cough up the mucus and clear the airways.

Read the full MedlinePlus article ↗
📗 Our plain-language guide HelloPharmacist
  • It has two main uses. It is an antidote that helps protect the liver after an acetaminophen overdose. In inhaled form, it also helps loosen thick, sticky mucus in many lung conditi...
  • The injection is given into a vein by healthcare staff, usually starting with a loading dose. The inhaled solution is breathed in as a mist, often a few times a day. Your prescribe...
  • The most common ones are rash, hives, facial flushing and itching. Some people have nausea, vomiting or a fast heartbeat. Mild flushing often fades even while the infusion continue...
  • Get help for wheezing, shortness of breath, throat tightness, swelling or feeling faint. These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction. If you have asthma, tell your care team...
📖 Read our full Acetylcysteine guide →
Where does this data come from?
Plain-language summary from MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine); supplement & herbal interactions and nutrient depletion data from the Natural Medicines database; our full guide is HelloPharmacist editorial content.

Pricing

A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.

Price systemPer mLPer package
Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly $2.554 $255.39 / 100 ml
Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data.
Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 $1.53 $153.23 / 100 ml
Medicare Part B allowsASP · J7608 $7.274 / J7608 unit —
NADAC price history (per mL) — tap or hover for the price & month
Feb 2026 Apr 2026 Jun 2026 Sep 2026 $2.643 $2.350
▲ Up 9% over the last 8 months.
Where does this data come from?
NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) is the CMS weekly pharmacy-acquisition-cost survey — what pharmacies pay. ASP (Average Sales Price) is the CMS Medicare Part B drug-payment file, published quarterly. Medicaid pays is computed by us from CMS State Drug Utilization Data (total reimbursed ÷ units, trailing 12 months) — gross of rebates and inclusive of dispensing fees, so it reflects what Medicaid paid, not an acquisition cost. Medicare drug plans pay is the median negotiated point-of-sale unit cost across plans listing this NDC in the CMS quarterly Prescription Drug Plan pricing files, before rebates. The VA pays is the federal contract price (FSS, and the statutory Big 4 ceiling where listed) from the VA National Acquisition Center pharmaceutical price file. All are free public government data; each measures a different payer, so the figures are not directly comparable.

Billing & reimbursement

FDA NDC (as labeled)42494-435-25
11-digit billing NDC42494-0435-25
Format5-3-2 as registered → padded to 5-4-2 for billing (zero added to the product segment)
HCPCS J-codeJ7608
DescriptorAcetylcysteine, inhalation solution, fda-approved final product, non-compounded, administered through dme, unit dose form, per gram
Billing units / pkg10 units
How the units are derivedThis package is 4; the HCPCS unit is 1 GM, so one package = 10 billing units.
Medicare Part B spend (2026 (Q1))$575,237 · 2,256 claims · $254.98 per claim (all NDCs under J7608)
Crosswalk sourceCMS ASP NDC-HCPCS Crosswalk
Where does this data come from?
The HCPCS J-code crosswalk comes from the CMS ASP NDC-HCPCS crosswalk and the DMEPDAC (DME MAC) NDC-HCPCS crosswalk — free public CMS data. Billing units are derived from the code’s descriptor and the package amount.

Packaging — all sizes for this product

Package NDCDescription Marketing startMarketing endStatus
42494-0435-25 You're viewing this Main listing 25 VIAL in 1 CARTON / 4 mL in 1 VIAL 2025-08-21 — Active

Therapeutic equivalents

ProductLabelerPackNADAC/unitTEStatusPrice vs. this
Acetylcysteine 100 mg/mL 00409-3307-03 Hospira, 3 vials $0.636 AN Availability likely save 75%
Acetylcysteine 100 mg/mL 63323-0691-30 Fresenius 3 vials $0.636 AN Availability likely save 75%
Acetylcysteine 100 mg/mL 63323-0693-10 Fresenius 3 vials $0.966 AN Availability likely save 62%
Acetylcysteine 100 mg/mL 00517-7504-25 American 25 vials $2.554 AN Availability likely —
Acetylcysteine 100 mg/mLthis 42494-0435-25 Cameron 25 vials $2.554 AN Availability likely —
Acetylcysteine 100 mg/mL 63323-0695-04 Fresenius 25 vials $2.554 AN Availability likely —
Acetylcysteine 100 mg/mL 70069-0018-25 Somerset 25 vials $2.554 AN Availability likely —
Acetylcysteine 100 mg/mL 00517-7510-03 American 3 vials — AN FDA listed —
Acetylcysteine 100 mg/mL 55154-5730-05 Cardinal 5 vials — AN FDA listed —
About this product: this is a generic version of the medicine. FDA equivalence ratings are shown when available, and other versions are listed above, least expensive first.
Where does this data come from?
Equivalents are other NDCs of the same ingredient, form and route from the openFDA NDC Directory, ranked least-expensive-first by NADAC. Therapeutic-equivalence (AB) ratings come from the FDA Orange Book; biologics use the FDA Purple Book for biosimilar & interchangeable status.

Availability & generic status

🏛️
2025
On the market since
Aug 2025
📍
2026
Currently FDA-listed
1 year listed
🔓
·
Generic on the market
this product is a generic
✅This is a generic drug

This product is an FDA-approved generic. Other versions of the same drug are listed under Therapeutic equivalents, least expensive first.

Where does this data come from?
Patents and exclusivity from the FDA Orange Book (small-molecule drugs), refreshed from public FDA data. Generic launch timing is an estimate, not a guarantee.

Inactive Ingredients / Excipients

Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.

💡 Tap an ingredient (hover on desktop) to see what it is and why it’s used.

  • UNII 7FLD91C86K
    Edetate disodium is a chemical compound that binds and removes certain metal ions. In medicines, it acts as a preservative and stabilizer by preventing metals like calcium from interfering with the product's shelf life and consistency.
  • UNII 059QF0KO0R
    Water is a liquid solvent that dissolves and mixes ingredients together in liquid medicines, syrups, and injections. It helps distribute the active drug evenly throughout the product.

2 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.

Where does this data come from?
Data sourced from official FDA Structured Product Labeling (SPL) via DailyMed — ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.

Inactive ingredient FAQ

Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
No. Inactive ingredients can differ by manufacturer, dosage form, strength, and package / product version.
Why might an inactive ingredient be missing?
Some SPLs do not provide a complete structured inactive-ingredient list, and older or unusual labels may only include the information in narrative text.
Can inactive ingredients matter?
Yes. They can matter for allergies, intolerances, dyes, gluten / lactose concerns, preservatives, and formulation differences — but confirm with a pharmacist or the manufacturer when it’s clinically important.

Manufacturer & labeler

LabelerCameron Pharmaceuticals
Application holderCONBA USA INC
FDA applicationANDA214177 (ANDA)
Labeler code42494
First marketedAug 2025
Product typeHuman Prescription Drug
Portfolio14 products on file
The labeler markets the product; the application holder owns the FDA approval. They’re often the same company but can differ (e.g. a repackager or an authorized generic). A mailing address / phone appears here when the manufacturer includes it in the product’s FDA label (not all do).
Where does this data come from?
Labeler, application holder and registered establishment from the FDA openFDA NDC Directory and Drugs@FDA; address/contact from the product’s FDA label.

Full prescribing information FDA SPL

The complete FDA label for this product — the official prescribing information, verbatim, section by section. Very long sections are excerpted here and marked; the full text is on DailyMed (linked in the sources below). Jump with a chip, search within the label, or expand everything.
🎯 Indications and Usage 132 words ▾

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Acetylcysteine solution is indicated as adjuvant therapy for patients with abnormal, viscid, or inspissated mucous secretions in such conditions as: Chronic bronchopulmonary disease (chronic emphysema, emphysema with bronchitis, chronic asthmatic bronchitis, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis and primary amyloidosis of the lung) Acute bronchopulmonary disease (pneumonia, bronchitis, tracheobronchitis) Pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis Tracheostomy care Pulmonary complications associated with surgery Use during anesthesia Post-traumatic chest conditions Atelectasis due to mucous obstruction Diagnostic bronchial studies (bronchograms, bronchospirometry, and bronchial wedge catheterization)

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Acetylcysteine, administered orally, is indicated as an antidote to prevent or lessen hepatic injury which may occur following the ingestion of a potentially hepatotoxic quantity of acetaminophen. It is essential to initiate treatment as soon as possible after the overdose and, in any case, within 24 hours of ingestion.

⏱️ Dosage and Administration ~3 min read ▾

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION General Acetylcysteine solution is available in rubber stoppered glass vials containing 4 or 10 mL. The 20% solution may be diluted to a lesser concentration with either Sodium Chloride Injection, Sodium Chloride Inhalation, Sterile Water for Injection, or Sterile Water for Inhalation. The 10% solution may be used undiluted.

Acetylcysteine solution does not contain an antimicrobial agent, and care must be taken to minimize contamination of the sterile solution. If only a portion of the solution in a vial is used for inhalation, store the remainder in a refrigerator and use within 96 hours. NEBULIZATION-FACE MASK, MOUTH PIECE, TRACHEOSTOMY When nebulized into a face mask, mouth piece, or tracheostomy, 1 to 10 mL of the 20% solution or 2 to 20 mL of the 10% solution may be given every 2 to 6 hours; the recommended dose for most patients is 3 to 5 mL of the 20% solution or 6 to 10 mL of the 10% solution 3 to 4 times a day.

NEBULIZATION TENT, CROUPETTE In special circumstances it may be necessary to nebulize into a tent or Croupette, and this method of use must be individualized to take into account the available equipment and the patient's particular needs. This form of administration requires very large volumes of the solution, occasionally as much as 300 mL during a single treatment period. If a tent or Croupette must be used, the recommended dose is the volume of acetylcysteine solution (using 10% or 20%) that will maintain a very heavy mist in the tent or Croupette for the desired period.

Administration for intermittent or continuous prolonged periods, including overnight, may be desirable. DIRECT INSTILLATION When used by direct instillation, 1 to 2 mL of a 10% to 20% solution may be given as often as every hour. When used for the routine nursing care of patients with tracheostomy, 1 to 2 mL of a 10% to 20% solution may be given every 1 to 4 hours by instillation into the tracheostomy.

Acetylcysteine solution may be introduced directly into a particular segment of the bronchopulmonary tree by inserting (under local anesthesia and direct vision) a small plastic catheter into the trachea. Two to 5 mL of the 20% solution may then be instilled by means of a syringe connected to the catheter. Acetylcysteine solution may also be given through a percutaneous intratracheal catheter.

One to 2 mL of the 20% or 2 to 4 mL of the 10% solution every 1 to 4 hours may then be given by a syringe attached to the catheter. DIAGNOSTIC BRONCHOGRAMS For diagnostic bronchial studies, two to three administrations of 1 to 2 mL of the 20% solution or 2 to 4 mL of the 10% solution should be given by nebulization or by instillation intratracheally, prior to the procedure. Administration of Aerosol MATERIALS Acetylcysteine solution may be administered using conventional nebulizers made of plastic or glass.

Certain materials used in nebulization equipment react with acetylcysteine solution. The most reactive of these are certain metals (notably iron and copper) and rubber. Where materials may come into contact with acetylcysteine solution, parts made of the following acceptable materials should be used: glass, plastic, aluminum, anodized aluminum, chromed metal, tantalum, sterling silver, or stainless steel.

Silver may become tarnished after exposure, but this is not harmful to the drug action or to the patient. NEBULIZING GASES Compressed tank gas (air) or an air compressor should be used to provide pressure for nebulizing the solution. Oxygen may also be used but should be used with the usual precautions in patients with severe respiratory disease and CO 2 retention.

APPARATUS Acetylcysteine solution is usually administered as fine nebulae and the nebulizer used should be capable of providing optimal quantities of a suitable range of particle sizes. Commercially available nebulizers will produce nebulae of acetylcysteine solution satisfactory for retention in the respiratory tract. Most of the nebulizers tested will supply a h… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

⛔ Contraindications 29 words ▾

CONTRAINDICATIONS Acetylcysteine solution is contraindicated in those patients who are sensitive to it.

CONTRAINDICATIONS There are no contraindications to oral administration of acetylcysteine in the treatment of acetaminophen overdose.

⚠️ Warnings 169 words ▾

WARNINGS After proper administration of acetylcysteine solution, an increased volume of liquified bronchial secretions may occur. When cough is inadequate, the airway must be maintained open by mechanical suction if necessary. Where there is a mechanical block due to foreign body or local accumulation, the airway should be cleared by endotracheal aspiration, with or without bronchoscopy.

Asthmatics under treatment with acetylcysteine solution should be watched carefully. Most patients with bronchospasm are quickly relieved by the use of a bronchodilator given by nebulization. If bronchospasm progresses, the medication should be discontinued immediately.

WARNINGS Generalized urticaria has been observed rarely in patients receiving oral acetylcysteine for acetaminophen overdose. If this occurs or other allergic symptoms appear, treatment with acetylcysteine should be discontinued unless it is deemed essential and the allergic symptoms can be otherwise controlled. If encephalopathy due to hepatic failure becomes evident, acetylcysteine treatment should be discontinued to avoid further administration of nitrogenous substances.

There are no data indicating that acetylcysteine influences hepatic failure, but this remains a theoretical possibility.

🤒 Adverse Reactions 153 words ▾

ADVERSE REACTIONS Adverse effects have included stomatitis, nausea, vomiting, fever, rhinorrhea, drowsiness, clamminess, chest tightness, and bronchoconstriction. Clinically overt acetylcysteine induced bronchospasm occurs infrequently and unpredictably even in patients with asthmatic bronchitis or bronchitis complicating bronchial asthma. Acquired sensitization to acetylcysteine has been reported rarely.

Reports of sensitization in patients have not been confirmed by patch testing. Sensitization has been confirmed in several inhalation therapists who reported a history of dermal eruptions after frequent and extended exposure to acetylcysteine. Reports of irritation to the tracheal and bronchial tracts have been received and although hemoptysis has occurred in patients receiving acetylcysteine such findings are not uncommon in patients with bronchopulmonary disease and a causal relationship has not been established.

ADVERSE REACTIONS Oral administration of acetylcysteine, especially in the large doses needed to treat acetaminophen overdose, may result in nausea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Rash with or without mild fever has been observed rarely.

🔄 Drug Interactions 20 words ▾

Drug Interactions Drug stability and safety of acetylcysteine when mixed with other drugs in a nebulizer have not been established.

🤰 Pregnancy ~1 min read ▾

Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects In a teratology study of acetylcysteine in the rabbit, oral doses of 500 mg/kg/day (2.6 times the human mucolytic dose) were administered to pregnant does by intubation on days 6 through 16 of gestation. Acetylcysteine was found to be nonteratogenic under the conditions of the study. In the rabbit, two groups (one of 14 and one of 16 pregnant females) were exposed to an aerosol of 10% acetylcysteine and 0.05% isoproterenol hydrochloride for 30 or 35 minutes twice a day from the 6th through the 18th day of pregnancy.

No teratogenic effects were observed among the offspring. Teratology and a perinatal and postnatal toxicity study in rats were performed with a combination of acetylcysteine and isoproterenol administered by the inhalation route. In the rat, two groups of 25 pregnant females each were exposed to the aerosol for 30 and 35 minutes, respectively, twice a day from the 6th through the 15th day of gestation.

No teratogenic effects were observed among the offspring. In the pregnant rat (30 rats per group), twice-daily exposure to an aerosol of acetylcysteine and isoproterenol for 30 or 35 minutes from the 15th day of gestation through the 21st day postpartum was without adverse effect on dams or newborns. Reproduction studies of acetylcysteine solution with isoproterenol have been performed in rats and of acetylcysteine alone in rabbits at doses up to 2.6 times the human dose.

These have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to acetylcysteine. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies may not always be predictive of human responses, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ~2 min read ▾

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY The viscosity of pulmonary mucous secretions depends on the concentrations of mucoprotein and, to a lesser extent, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The latter increases with increasing purulence owing to the presence of cellular debris. The mucolytic action of acetylcysteine is related to the sulfhydryl group in the molecule.

This group probably "opens" disulfide linkages in mucus thereby lowering the viscosity. The mucolytic activity of acetylcysteine is unaltered by the presence of DNA, and increases with increasing pH. Significant mucolysis occurs between pH 7 and 9.

Acetylcysteine undergoes rapid deacetylation in vivo to yield cysteine or oxidation to yield diacetylcystine. Occasionally, patients exposed to the inhalation of an acetylcysteine aerosol respond with the development of increased airways obstruction of varying and unpredictable severity. Those patients who are reactors cannot be identified a priori from a random patient population.

Even when patients are known to have reacted previously to the inhalation of an acetylcysteine aerosol, they may not react during a subsequent treatment. The converse is also true; patients who have had inhalation treatments of acetylcysteine without incident may still react to subsequent inhalation with increased airways obstruction. Most patients with bronchospasm are quickly relieved by the use of a bronchodilator given by nebulization.

If bronchospasm progresses, the medication should be discontinued immediately.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY (Antidotal) Acetaminophen is rapidly absorbed from the upper gastrointestinal tract with peak plasma levels occurring between 30 and 60 minutes after therapeutic doses and usually within 4 hours following an overdose. The parent compound, which is nontoxic, is extensively metabolized in the liver to form principally the sulfate and glucuronide conjugates which are also nontoxic and are rapidly excreted in the urine. A small fraction of an ingested dose is metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P-450 mixed function oxidase enzyme system to form a reactive, potentially toxic, intermediate metabolite which preferentially conjugates with hepatic glutathione to form the nontoxic cysteine and mercapturic acid derivatives which are then excreted by the kidney.

Therapeutic doses of acetaminophen do not saturate the glucuronide and sulfate conjugation pathways and do not result in the formation of sufficient reactive metabolite to deplete glutathione stores. However, following ingestion of a large overdose (150 mg/kg or greater) the glucuronide and sulfate conjugation pathways are saturated resulting in a larger fraction of the drug being metabolized via the P-450 pathway. The increased formation of reactive metabolite may deplete the hepatic stores of glutathione with subsequent binding of the metabolite to protein molecules within the hepatocyte resulting in cellular necrosis.

Acetylcysteine has been shown to reduce the extent of liver injury following acetaminophen overdose. Its effectiveness depends on early oral administration, with benefit seen principally in patients treated within 16 hours of the overdose. Acetylcysteine probably 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.

📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ~1 min read ▾

HOW SUPPLIED Acetylcysteine solution is supplied as a clear, colorless liquid in a clear glass vial with an elastomeric stopper and an aluminum seal with a plastic flip-off dust cover containing 4 to 10 mL. The 20% solution may be diluted to a lesser concentration with either Sodium Chloride for Injection, Sodium Chloride for Inhalation, Sterile Water for Injection, or Sterile Water for Inhalation. The 10% solution may be used undiluted.

Acetylcysteine solution is sterile and can be used for inhalation (mucolytic agent) or oral administration (acetaminophen antidote). Acetylcysteine solution is not for parenteral injection. It is available as: Acetylcysteine solution 10% (100 mg acetylcysteine per mL).

Sterile, not for injection. NDC 42494-435-25 Cartons of twenty-five 4 mL vials NDC 42494-439-03 Cartons of three 10 mL vials, 1 plastic dropper Acetylcysteine solution 20% (200 mg acetylcysteine per mL). Sterile, not for injection.

NDC 42494-436-25 Cartons of twenty-five 4 mL vials NDC 42494-440-03 Cartons of three 10 mL vials, 1 plastic dropper STORAGE Store unopened vials at 20 ° - 25 °C (68 ° - 77 °F); excursions permitted to 15 °- 30 °C (59 ° – 86 °F) (see USP Controlled Room Temperature). Acetylcysteine solution does not contain an antimicrobial agent, and care must be taken to minimize contamination of the sterile solution. Dilutions of acetylcysteine should be used freshly prepared and utilized within one hour.

If only a portion of the solution in a vial is used, store the remaining undiluted portion in a refrigerator and use within 96 hours. A change in color may occur after opening. This does change the efficacy of the drug.

📦 Storage and Handling 106 words ▾

STORAGE Store unopened vials at 20 ° - 25 °C (68 ° - 77 °F); excursions permitted to 15 °- 30 °C (59 ° – 86 °F) (see USP Controlled Room Temperature). Acetylcysteine solution does not contain an antimicrobial agent, and care must be taken to minimize contamination of the sterile solution. Dilutions of acetylcysteine should be used freshly prepared and utilized within one hour.

If only a portion of the solution in a vial is used, store the remaining undiluted portion in a refrigerator and use within 96 hours. A change in color may occur after opening. This does change the efficacy of the drug.

📋 Description 119 words ▾

DESCRIPTION Acetylcysteine solution is for inhalation (mucolytic agent) or oral administration (acetaminophen antidote), available as a sterile, unpreserved solutions (not for injection). The solutions contain 20% (Acetylcysteine Solution 20%) or 10% (Acetylcysteine Solution 10%) acetylcysteine, with disodium edetate in water for injection. Sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid is added to adjust to pH (range 6.0 - 7.5).

Acetylcysteine is the N-acetyl derivative of the naturally-occurring amino acid, L-cysteine. The compound is a white crystalline powder with the molecular formula C 5 H 9 NO 3 S, a molecular weight of 163.2, and chemical name of N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Acetylcysteine has the following structural formula: This product contains the following inactive ingredients: edetate disodium, sodium hydroxide and water for injection.

Chemical Structure

⚠️ Precautions ~3 min read ▾

PRECAUTIONS General With the administration of acetylcysteine solution, the patient may observe initially a slight disagreeable odor that is soon not noticeable. With a face mask there may be stickiness on the face after nebulization. This is easily removed by washing with water.

Under certain conditions, a color change may occur in acetylcysteine solution in the opened bottle. The light purple color is the result of a chemical reaction which does not significantly affect safety or mucolytic effectiveness of acetylcysteine solution. Continued nebulization of acetylcysteine solution with a dry gas will result in an increased concentration of the drug in the nebulizer because of evaporation of the solvent.

Extreme concentration may impede nebulization and efficient delivery of the drug. Dilution of the nebulizing solution with appropriate amounts of Sterile Water for Injection, USP, as concentration occurs, will obviate this problem. Drug Interactions Drug stability and safety of acetylcysteine when mixed with other drugs in a nebulizer have not been established.

CARCINOGENESIS, MUTAGENSIS, IMPAIRMENT OF FERTILITY Carcinogenesis Carcinogenicity studies in laboratory animals have not been performed with acetylcysteine alone, nor with acetylcysteine in combination with isoproterenol. Long-term oral studies of acetylcysteine alone in rats (12 months of treatment followed by 6 months of observation) at doses up to 1,000 mg/kg/day (5.2 times the human mucolytic dose) provided no evidence of oncogenic activity. Mutagenesis Published data 1 indicate that acetylcysteine is not mutagenic in the Ames test, both with and without metabolic activation.

Impairment of Fertility A reproductive toxicity test to assess potential impairment of fertility was performed with acetylcysteine (10%) combined with isoproterenol (0.05%) and administered as an aerosol into a chamber of 12.43 cubic meters. The combination was administered for 25, 30, or 35 minutes twice a day for 68 days before mating, to 200 male and 150 female rats; no adverse effects were noted in dams or pups. Females after mating were continued on treatment for the next 42 days.

Reproductive toxicity studies of acetylcysteine in the rat given oral doses of acetylcysteine up to 1,000 mg/kg (5.2 times the human mucolytic dose) have also been reported in the literature. 1 The only adverse effect observed was a slight non-dose-related reduction in fertility at dose levels of 500 or 1,000 mg/kg/day (2.6 or 5.2 times the human mucolytic dose) in the Segment I study. Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects In a teratology study of acetylcysteine in the rabbit, oral doses of 500 mg/kg/day (2.6 times the human mucolytic dose) were administered to pregnant does by intubation on days 6 through 16 of gestation.

Acetylcysteine was found to be nonteratogenic under the conditions of the study. In the rabbit, two groups (one of 14 and one of 16 pregnant females) were exposed to an aerosol of 10% acetylcysteine and 0.05% isoproterenol hydrochloride for 30 or 35 minutes twice a day from the 6th through the 18th day of pregnancy. No teratogenic effects were observed among the offspring.

Teratology and a perinatal and postnatal toxicity study in rats were performed with a combination of acetylcysteine and isoproterenol administered by the inhalation route. In the rat, two groups of 25 pregnant females each were exposed to the aerosol for 30 and 35 minutes, respectively, twice a day from the 6th through the 15th day of gestation. No teratogenic effects were observed among the offspring.

In the pregnant rat (30 rats per group), twice-daily exposure to an aerosol of acetylcysteine and isoproterenol for 30 or 35 minutes from the 15th day of gestation through the 21st day postpartum was without adverse effect on dams or newborns. Reproduction studies of acetylcysteine solution with isoproterenol have been performed in rats and of acetylcysteine alone in rabbits at doses up to 2.6 times the human dose. These have revealed… [Excerpted — this section continues on DailyMed.]

📄 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility ~1 min read ▾

CARCINOGENESIS, MUTAGENSIS, IMPAIRMENT OF FERTILITY Carcinogenesis Carcinogenicity studies in laboratory animals have not been performed with acetylcysteine alone, nor with acetylcysteine in combination with isoproterenol. Long-term oral studies of acetylcysteine alone in rats (12 months of treatment followed by 6 months of observation) at doses up to 1,000 mg/kg/day (5.2 times the human mucolytic dose) provided no evidence of oncogenic activity. Mutagenesis Published data 1 indicate that acetylcysteine is not mutagenic in the Ames test, both with and without metabolic activation.

Impairment of Fertility A reproductive toxicity test to assess potential impairment of fertility was performed with acetylcysteine (10%) combined with isoproterenol (0.05%) and administered as an aerosol into a chamber of 12.43 cubic meters. The combination was administered for 25, 30, or 35 minutes twice a day for 68 days before mating, to 200 male and 150 female rats; no adverse effects were noted in dams or pups. Females after mating were continued on treatment for the next 42 days.

Reproductive toxicity studies of acetylcysteine in the rat given oral doses of acetylcysteine up to 1,000 mg/kg (5.2 times the human mucolytic dose) have also been reported in the literature. 1 The only adverse effect observed was a slight non-dose-related reduction in fertility at dose levels of 500 or 1,000 mg/kg/day (2.6 or 5.2 times the human mucolytic dose) in the Segment I study.

📚 References 29 words ▾

REFERENCES 1. Bonanomi L, Gazzaniga A. Toxicological, pharmacokinetic and metabolic studies on acetylcysteine. Eur J Respir Dis 1981; 61 (suppl III): 45-51. 2. Am Rev Respir Dis 1960; 82:627-639.

📄 Package Label / Principal Display Panel 90 words ▾

PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 100 mg/mL Vial Carton NDC 42494-435-25 Rx Only Acetylcysteine Solution, USP 10% (100 mg/mL) For Inhalation (Mucolytic Agent) or Oral Administration (Acetaminophen Antidote) NOT FOR INJECTION PRESERVATIVE FREE 25 x 4 mL Vials PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 100 mg/mL Vial Carton

PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 200 mg/mL Vial Carton NDC 42494-436-25 Rx Only Acetylcysteine Solution, USP 20% (200 mg/mL) For Inhalation (Mucolytic Agent) or Oral Administration (Acetaminophen Antidote) NOT FOR INJECTION PRESERVATIVE FREE 25 x 4 mL Vials PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL - 200 mg/mL Vial Carton

Source: FDA Structured Product Labeling, mirrored from DailyMed / openFDA. Prefer the government’s original formatting? View this label on DailyMed ↗

Medicare Part D spend CMS · PART D · 2026 (Q1)

Medicare Part D (outpatient prescription) spending for Acetylcysteine — the program that covers self-administered drugs. 8 manufacturers.
⚠️ Drug-level data: CMS publishes Part D spending by drug, not by NDC — these figures combine every manufacturer, strength and package size sold under the name Acetylcysteine. That’s a different level of aggregation than the Medicaid card above, which is specific to this exact 11-digit NDC (pack size included), so the two aren’t directly comparable.
Period
Total Part D spend
$696.9K
Claims incl. refills
6.4K
Beneficiaries
2.6K
Spend / beneficiary
$269.81
Spend / claim
$108.17
Trend by period
💵 About the dollar figures: spending is what Part D plans paid before confidential manufacturer rebates, so the program’s real net cost is lower. A blank patient count means fewer than 11 people — CMS hides counts that small to protect privacy. Source: CMS Medicare Quarterly Part D Spending by Drug (data.cms.gov), updated quarterly.
For educational and professional reference only — not medical advice. Pricing reflects published NADAC and CMS ASP (free public data) and may differ from your acquisition cost; always verify before billing or dispensing.