← Search & browse all drugs
ALIMENTARY TRACT AND METABOLISM › VITAMINS › OTHER PLAIN VITAMIN PREPARATIONS › Other plain vitamin preparations
inositol
A11HA07
Forms & Strengths
- Capsules: 500 mg, 650 mg, 1000 mg
- Powder: Pure bulk powder
- Tablets: 500 mg
Adult Dosing
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Myo-inositol 2 g to 4 g daily in divided doses, often combined with D-chiro-inositol (40:1 ratio)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Panic Disorder: Myo-inositol 12 g to 18 g daily orally, titrated up gradually
- Metabolic Syndrome / Insulin Resistance: Myo-inositol 2 g to 4 g daily orally
Pediatric Dosing
- Respiratory Distress Syndrome (Premature neonates): 80 mg/kg/day intravenously or via enteral feeding (investigational/historical)
- Safety and efficacy in children for psychiatric or metabolic indications not well established
Indications
- Dietary supplement for nutritional support
- Management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) symptoms and restoration of ovulatory function
- Adjunctive support for insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome
- Investigational use in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and panic disorder
Mechanism of Action
- Acts as a structural basis for a number of secondary messengers in eukaryotic signaling (e.g., inositol trisphosphate)
- Improves insulin sensitivity by acting as a putative insulin second messenger (mediating glucose uptake)
- Modulates neurotransmitter receptor sensitivity (serotonergic and dopaminergic pathways) at high CNS doses
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to inositol or any component of the formulation
- Bipolar disorder (high doses may precipitate mania or hypomania)
Adverse Reactions
- Gastrointestinal: Mild nausea, flatulence, diarrhea, and abdominal pain (typically at doses > 12 g/day)
- Neurological: Dizziness, fatigue, and headache at high therapeutic doses
- Psychiatric: Rare reports of mania or agitation in susceptible individuals
Drug Interactions
- Lithium: May theoretically antagonize inositol depletion mechanisms or interact with CNS signaling pathways
- Antidiabetic agents: May enhance the glucose-lowering effects of insulin and oral hypoglycemics, increasing hypoglycemia risk
Curated Content: Needs Vetting Before Put to Clinical Use