How to Use Inositol for Anxiety Relief

If you are looking for a natural source of anxiety relief, Inositol is one of the supplements that comes well recommended in user reviews.

Inositol is a carbohydrate and vitamin substance that the body can produce in small amounts. It is found naturally in certain fruits, lecithin, brown rice, meats and whole grains, but the amounts present in food are typically not enough to produce anti-anxiety effects.

Inositol is necessary for proper formation of cells, transportation of fats and nerve transmission. The neurotransmitter serotonin may also be affected by use of Inositol.

Serotonin levels are often low in depression and anxiety sufferers and many forms of medication for these conditions affect Serotonin receptors in the brain.

How do you use Inositol for anxiety and what are some of the ways this nootropic works to alleviate stress and nervousness?

Inositol

Nutrient Supplement

Brain Health

Mood

Weight Loss

How It Works:

• Supports brain & liver health
• Involved in mood regulation & nerve signalling
• Improves insulin sensitivity for PCOS, fertility & weight loss

Dosage:

Between 500 mg - 18 g per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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An Overview of Anxiety

General Anxiety Disorder is a state of being overly fixated on the possibility of negative events within the body and brain.

An individual may spend an excessive amount of time thinking about certain unlikely possibilities or may experience high levels of nervousness in social settings (as is the case with social anxiety).

This is frequently accompanied by restless behaviors including pacing, jitters, persistent negative thought patterns and difficulty relaxing or falling asleep at night.

Even though some anxiety is a perfectly normal response by the body to stress, individuals who suffer from high levels of anxiety may have a chemical imbalance in their brain that makes it difficult to suppress these negative thoughts.

Anxiety can interfere with daily functions and can leave people feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and irritable. Anxiety can also cause a lack of sleep or low sleep quality, resulting in difficulty focusing during the day as well as a lack of alertness. In some serious cases, individual may start to feel physical pain from headaches or tension in the muscles.

There are many prescription medications that have been used in the treatment of anxiety, but Inositol is a great alternative if you want to avoid using a pharmaceutical drug. It is a natural part of the body, and can be just as effective (if not more so) than prescribed medications at curbing some of the irrational brain activity associated with anxiety disorders.

Inositol and Anxiety

Studies have shown that Inositol is effective in the treatment of many different anxiety disorders. These include obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder/attacks, general anxiety and more.

Double-blind studies of patients suffering from anxiety with placebo control showed that 12 grams of Inositol every day resulted in improvement of symptoms significantly. There were no major changes in the kidneys, liver or any hematological functions. Although anxiety victims were helped, there were no major changes in patients with depression.

Other studies have shown that those that suffer from anxiety disorders could take 18 g of Inositol daily, and have the same benefits that would be received from taking the prescription antidepressant known as fluvoxamine.

Within the first month of this study, panic attacks from patients were reduced by four for those that took Inositol. Those that took fluvoxamine, however, only saw a reduction in panic attacks by 2.4.

Fluvoxamine was also showing side effects in those that took the drug, including nausea and fatigue. Since Inositol is natural, it did not have the same side effects, and those that were there had little severity.

Using Inositol

Inositol is found most frequently in cantaloupe, nuts, beans and wheat. Inositol or any of its phosphates and/or lipids are found in many other foods, as well. However the amounts of this nutrient in these foods is quite low and will not likely give you noticeable results in reducing anxiety symptoms.

Under normal circumstances, it is recommended that Inositol powder or pills are taken in two separate 500 mg dosages daily. But if you suffer from anxiety you may need a significantly larger dosage to reap the full benefits. For those that suffer from panic disorders, as much as 5 to 18 g may be taken daily.

You should speak to your doctor first to determine what the best dosage level would be for your personal situation. If an SSRI antidepressant is being taken to treat symptoms of OCD, it is not suggested to combine it with Inositol.

What are the side effects of Inositol?

Since Inositol is a water-soluble substance, it does not produce side effects that would be considered toxic. Inositol side effects are very rare when taken in the proper dosage.

However, an overdose in Inositol can result in some minor side effects. These include dizziness, fatigue, headache and diarrhea. Once the body has become accustomed to certain levels of Inositol, these listed side effects can lessen, or stop altogether.

It’s important to always consult with a physician before taking Inositol. Doing so can help to minimize reactions, especially if you know all of the other medications you may be taking.

What are some other things to consider with Inositol?

The long-term effects of taking Inositol supplements have not been determined in studies. However, since it is a natural part of the body, it is not expected that adverse long-term effects will be found. With dosages of up to 18 times of the suggested daily intake for some patients, no serious side effects were reported according to studies.

Bipolar disorder patients should always consult a physician before use of Inositol, as well. Inositol can trigger manic episodes for these patients with bipolar disorders. Your physician should be a partner in any nootropic supplement regimen you use to deal with anxiety.

That being said, using Inositol for anxiety is viewed as very safe and effective by in research studies as well as according to user reviews online. You can buy Inositol as a single ingredient supplement, but it is also common to find it in a Choline Inositol Formulation which has added benefits for your brain.

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