Proven Effective for OCD and Anxiety
Is inositol a wonder drug/supplement? I'm a skeptical soul. I've never believed in alternative medicine or supplements for real medical conditions. However, the efficacy of inositol has more than wowed me. My son has autism and severe OCD - he has severely violent reactions to SSRI medication and we'd run out of options, we were referred to a Psychiatrist for a medication consultation. He suggested Inositol as an alternative to SSRIs. At first I balked, because I simply did not think a supplement could battle a clinically serious condition. The doctor understood my doubts printed out studies for me to look over. One study he showed me proved Inositol to be more effective in just *one week* than Fluvoxamine (SSRI treatment for anxiety disorder) in the treatment of severe anxiety disorders. Other studies show it to be just as effective and sometimes more effective than a slew of medications used to treat OCD. These are legitimate double-blind scientific studies. Added to this there are no serous side effects EVER known to occur and because it's available as a powder, I can mix it into a liquid (my son will not take pills and the insurance company will not pay for liquid medication). After my research I was more than happy to give it a try. However, one thing I've noted looking at reviews here and at other sites is the importance of dosage. People are dosing themselves all over the scale, but mostly under-dosing . There is no help on the side of the bottle to dose for mental health issues and you have to search out the information. The doses for psychiatric conditions is very HIGH and would have scared me had I not been assured by the psychiatrist that these high doses are necessary for treatment and absolutely safe. Inositol is water-soluble - which means whatever your body does not use it discards - it is not stored in the body. Dosing Guide: OCD: 18 grams a day (split 2-3 times per day) PANIC DISORDER and ANXIETY: 12-18 grams per day (split 2-3 times per day) WARNING: Do NOT take Inositol if you suffer from bipolar disorder - it is known to increase episodic behavior at high doses. (Source: UW Integrative Medicine school of medicine and public health) (Amazon is always a little tetchy about hyperlinks in reviews but search University of Wisconsin Integrative Medicine Supplement Sampler for more info) NOW's Inositol powder contains 730 MILIgrams per 1/4 teaspoon. .73mg inositol x 8 (1/4 tsp doses) = 5.84 Grams (roughly 6 Grams) 1/4 tsp x 4 = 1 full teaspoon So, 2 teaspoons will roughly equal 6 Grams. If treating for OCD take 2 teaspoons Inositol 3 times daily (6 Grams x 3 doses = 18G) If treating for Anxiety take 2 teaspoons Inositol 2 times daily. (6 Grams x 2 doses = 12G) Make sure to use TEASPOONS not tablespoons as your measurement. Take it regularly on a schedule to achieve maximum efficacy and treat it the same as you would a prescribed medication. Common side effects are upset stomach when first taking, should stop after first few weeks, Headache, and fatigue. Some people may prefer starting with a smaller dose and titrating up over the course of a few weeks (though we started out on maximum dose and only encountered minor stomach upset and no other side effects). And as with any supplement, check with your doctor or mental health professional. Search around for the best price Do your own research and reach your own conclusions. Highly Recommended
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