The Mechanism and Inflammatory Markers Involved in the Potential Use of N-acetylcysteine in Chronic Pain Management.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has established use as an antidote for acetaminophen overdose and treatment for pulmonary conditions and nephropathy. It plays a role in regulating oxidative stress and interacting with various cytokines including IL-1β, TNFα, IL-8, IL-6, IL-10, and NF-κB p65. The overexpression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is believed to contribute to chronic pain states by inducing inflammation and accelerating disease progression, favoring pain persistence in neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain conditions.