Anxiety disorders impact nearly 40 million American adults in a given year. As a whole, they are the most commonly diagnosed and treated mental health disorder, though the condition often co-occurs with depression or substance addiction. Symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on the specific type of disorder, the causal factors, and the treatments implemented to reduce symptom duration. Inositol is an alternative supplemental medicine that may help alleviate anxiety disorder symptoms. Consult your physician before trying inositol to ensure it is appropriate for your condition.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Many forms of anxiety disorder exist, including social phobia, generalized anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder. In sufferers, these disorders often trigger physiological and emotional responses in reaction to certain people, situations or events. When anxiety is triggered, the symptoms may appear as excessive worry, fearfulness, and an avoidance of particular places or people. Once anxiety is triggered, its intensity can become so overwhelming that it may prevent you from engaging in normal daily activities. Anxiety disorders can form from an initial response to a significantly traumatic event -- like physical abuse in the case of PTSD or being trapped in an elevator for hours in the case of panic attack or specific phobia. Brain chemistry and learned behaviors are thought to contribute to the poor coping during the initial event, but if the anxiety is left untreated, these factors also contribute to the continued anxious response that may worsen with time.
Conventional Treatment
Treatment for anxiety-based disorders aim to balance brain neurotransmitters involved in the stress response of an anxiety attack. The first line of treatment to balance brain chemistry is medications like benzodiazepines, which offer quick relief during a panic attack, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which work to balance your serotonin levels over time so you do not experience persistent anxiety. Psychotherapy is also used to treat these disorders by teaching you coping skills to deal with your anxiety triggers. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one form of psychotherapy, in which you actively learn to recognize your irrational thoughts and take action to change the way you respond to them. In combination, medication and psychotherapy are the most effective means of treating anxiety disorders.
Inositol for Anxiety
Inositol is not considered a vitamin because it is not essential to your diet, but it is commonly grouped with the B vitamins. Myo-inositol, the form of inositol used in studies for treating mental health disorders, is a form of carbohydrate present in animal heart and brain tissue. It is important for fat processing in the liver, as well as for the proper function of your muscles and nerves. Beans, whole grains, nuts and citrus fruits contain a substance called phytic acid, which releases inositol when it binds with bacteria in your digestive tract. The average diet supplies you with all the inositol you need per day. Inositol to treat anxiety, however, is administered in higher doses and by a medical professional.
Evidence of Effectiveness
According to a study published in "The American Family Physician," inositol, in doses of 12 to 18 g per day, effectively reduced panic disorder symptoms. This same dose was also found effective in treating symptoms specific to obsessive-compulsive disorder in people who were not also taking SSRIs. No standard dose exists for inositol as a supplement. Do not take this supplement without physician supervision due to unknown risks.
Interactions and Side Effects
No studies have been performed to determine the safety of high doses of inositol used long-term. Upset stomach, loose stool and nausea may occur in the first weeks of taking inositol. This supplement may also increase arterial blood flow, so talk to your physician if you are taking vasodilating medication. Do not take inositol if you are pregnant or lactating.
References
- "American Family Physician"; Herbal and Dietary Supplements for Treatment of Anxiety Disorders; Sy Atezaz Saeed, M.D., et al; Aug. 15, 2007
- Baptist Health Systems; Inositol; February 2011
- OCD Recovery Center: Protocols: Inositol
- National Institute of Mental Health; Anxiety Disorders; Nov. 02, 2010
- University of Michigan Health System; Inositol; Dec. 23, 2009
