Using L-NAC to stop breathing problems caused by fentanyl
Official title: Repurposing L-NAC to prevent fentanyl-induced respiratory depression
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-10912705 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether a medicine called N-acetyl-L-cysteine (L-NAC) can help people breathe better if they’ve taken too much fentanyl, while still allowing the fentanyl to work for pain relief.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $201,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DA058086-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10912705 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who may require opioid analgesics for pain management.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use opioids or who are not at risk for opioid-induced respiratory depression may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the potential of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (L-NAC), a drug already approved for human use, to counteract the dangerous respiratory depression caused by fentanyl, an opioid pain medication. The approach involves administering L-NAC intravenously to see if it can reverse the respiratory effects of fentanyl without affecting its pain-relieving properties. The study is based on previous animal experiments that suggest L-NAC may be effective in this role. If successful, this could lead to safer opioid use in clinical settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new way to use fentanyl safely, reducing the risk of life-threatening breathing issues in patients.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on reversing opioid-induced respiratory depression, the specific use of L-NAC for this purpose is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lewis, Stephen John — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Lewis, Stephen John
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.