Cysteine Interactions

Article navigation

Beneficial Interactions with Medications and Supplements

Cysteine has beneficial interactions with the following medications and supplements:

Acetaminophen (with or without codeine)
People taking acetaminophen drugs (with or without codeine) for reducing pain and inflammation, may benefit from taking cysteine supplements, as the cysteine can reduce the possibility and severity of any side effects.
Antibiotics
People taking antibiotics such as gentamicin for bacterial infections, may benefit from taking cysteine supplements, as the cysteine can reduce the possibility and severity of any side effects.
Chemotherapy (cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, docetaxel etc)
People taking chemotherapy medications (such as cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, docetaxel, paclitaxel and others) need to seek advice from their oncologist, as research has not confirmed if the cysteine will be beneficial (animal studies show that cysteine together with zinc are beneficial, but there are no human studies to confirm this).
Clozapine
People taking clozapine for treating schizophrenia may benefit from taking cysteine supplements, as the cysteine can reduce the possibility and severity of any side effects.
Corticosteroids
People taking corticosteroids for reducing inflammation associated with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, may benefit from taking cysteine supplements, as the cysteine may help the corticosteroids to work more effectively.
Isosorbide dinitrate, Isosorbide mononitrate, Nitroglycerin
People taking isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate or nitroglycerin for preventing and treating angina and also for heart attack and heart failure, may benefit from taking cysteine supplements, as the cysteine may help the isosorbide dinitrate medication to work more effectively.
Interferon
People taking interferon to help boost their immune system when they have conditions such as multiple sclerosis, hepatitis, viral infections and some cancers, may benefit from taking cysteine supplements, as the cysteine may help the interferon to work more effectively.
NSAIDs (Flurbiprofen)
People taking NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) such as flurbiprofen for treating pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, may benefit from taking cysteine supplements, as the cysteine can reduce the possibility and severity of any side effects.
Vitamin C
People taking vitamin C supplements can take cysteine supplements at the same time, as this combination can prevent the cysteine from converting into cystine, which can cause bladder or kidney stones.

People taking acetaminophen drugs (with or without codeine) for reducing pain and inflammation, may benefit from taking cysteine supplements, as the cysteine can reduce the possibility and severity of any side effects

Detrimental Interactions with Medications and Supplements

Insulin
People taking insulin should not also take cysteine supplements at the same time, as the cysteine may inactivate the effectiveness of the insulin, which could cause dangerous effects in the diabetic from the high blood glucose levels.
Metoclopramide
People taking metoclopramide, an antacid used to treat heartburn should not take cysteine supplements at the same time, as this combinations may cause adverse health effects.

Other Interactions with Cysteine

Cysteine has the following reactions with other substances:

MSG (monosodium glutamate)

People taking cysteine should avoid all food that has high amounts of the food additive MSG (monosodium glutamate) added as a flavour enhancer. The cysteine may increase the toxicity of the MSG in people who are more sensitive to getting side effects from this substance.