Question - dosage Inositol
 

Anyone else taking Inositol?

mrsD, I know you have spoken with me a long time ago about it, but I'm just
wondering about the dosage of the powder. It's Jarrow Formulas Inositol Powder.

600mg per 1/4 teaspoon.
Dosage suggested at 1/4 teaspoon.

Now I know people who take it by the teaspoonful with great benefit for their anxiety, but I'm a little cautious.

Thanks :)

Usually inositol is taken by the "gram".

My husband uses it fairly often in spurts... I think 1/2 to one scoop. (that comes with the powder). He does say that he reaches some "point" where he doesn't like it and then stops (after weeks/months usually). He has a severe head injury from the age of 2, where he fell out a 2nd story window. So at times he has difficulties, one of which is being able to express himself. (I think he has a right head injury). At times he has huge anxieties, mostly when he has to do something "new", or packing for our summer trip. He will get just as anxious coming home as well...it is the "change" that sets him off. So I bought the inositol in a tub in powder form, with that little scoop.

The doses for OCD treatments I've read go really high...like 10+ grams a day.

If you purchased capsules, they are usually 500mg each, so you could start at 500mg a day and very slowly increase as you think you need. It is rather slow onset and slow acting (not like RX drugs are), so give each dosage time to work.

The inositol used for PCOS is another form, called d-chiro-inositol, and that is available only by two brand makers, that I know of, at the doses of 300mg to 600mg a day. This form will help with insulin use, (didn't work for me) and also PCOS infertility. It seems to lower androgens in females with elevated androgen levels. And can be rather expensive compared to the myo- or regular inositol.

If you are looking for anxiety relief only...then try PharmaGaba.
This I have used several times. (mostly when our kitten Houdini disappeared)... and it is a newer form of GABA which does cross the blood brain barrier and get into the brain. It was not habit forming for me and I found it very useful at certain times where I'd get overwrought. My anxieties it turned out seemed to be generated by my levothyroxine becoming too strong for me.
Seems my hypothyroid situation changed, and I was actually suffering from HYPERthyroid symptoms. So last Nov. I discontinued it and my most recent tests were in late Feb and were totally normal. So I don't feel that terrible anxiety and heart pounding anymore. I am also on a beta blocker for my blood pressure and that really helps too, for me.
http://www.iherb.com/Natural-Factors...w&gclsrc=aw.ds

PharmGaba did not cause any habituation for me either. It is not very strong...like Valium or Xanax, but it does what it needs to more gently. I had no withdrawal effects stopping it.

We bought the Jarrows powder. The capsules had 800mg in them if I recall correctly so we decided the powder might be easier to take. I haven't taken any yet but daughter took 1.2grams yesterday all up. 600mg before lunch time and another 600mg before bed. I must say that even the first dose seemed to have some effect which is possibly just wishful thinking but we'll see.

We looked into the Chiro a long time back because of daughter's PCOS but she's pretty well stablized this past year and she's no longer needing to take any Metformin (thankfully!). She is however, an "atypical" case.

She was taking a prescribed beta blocker for her anxiety. That was prescribed at the same time as the Metformin. It actually really helped her a lot but it only worked if she took it constantly and she was having some very nasty side-effects including visual hallucinations. I talked about that one time here way back. After much research she came to the conclusion that the Inositol was worth a try, especially since she's been off her beta blocker for a long time now.

We've read about the really high doses for OC and Anxiety issues, but I don't want her taking something in high doses that may affect her in some other way e.g. deplete iron or zinc or something else. She obviously doesn't want that either. I also don't want us to be taking something we would create dependence issues. We have read such hopeful information about this Inositol and anxiety but true... they were quite hight doses that people were taking.

Weird you mentioned the GABA one. It's still early here so I can't go ask her but I swear she's already taking some form of GABA. I'll check on the PharmaGABA one though.

Thankyou for all that great help. It's very much appreciated as always.

I'll start it today myself. Will report back. ;)

I remembered you telling me that your husband took the inositol.

Thanks so much, Lara, and mrsD.
I have a lot of information now to digest.
After I become unthoroughly confused by it all (lil joke) I'll figure out what to get.
Inositol sounds good. PharmaGaba also looks promising.
Would you take one or the other or both?
Thanks for the link, Lara.

I hope I didn't add to your confusion in private msg because my daughter and I are taking different doses,
plus I can prattle on a bit sometimes. :rolleyes:

I've read up on the PharmaGABA and the reviews and I'll buy it one day to try.
I checked since that last post of mine on this thread and my daughter had not bought it already.

Cost is prohibitive for me and mainly because of postage.
I don't like to buy something and then wait weeks for it to arrive so usually I pay for the fastest postage.
I bought more Methyl B12 and some Biotin on Thursday and it'll be here tomorrow/Monday... all the way from Kentucky.
That's just amazing service!

We're both doing incredibly well with the Inositol for now.
If I buy the GABA, I'd take it alone, not with the Inositol, but mrsD will have more knowledge
about whether it is wise or even necessary to take both together.

What I find incredible is that my daughter was taking beta blockers/Propranolol for anxiety
for so long and now she doesn't need to take them at all.

Me? I don't remember the last time I had a panic attack.

(xxx fingers crossed)

:)

I only use the pharmagaba now.. it works better for me.

Hubby only is using the inositol...but not reliably. He just lets me know when it is time to order more. ;)

Since my doctor and I have changed my thyroid medication...based on testing... I have been much better. Seems my longstanding dosing became too strong all of a sudden.
I feel much better now. But when the painters come to paint the house outside, I might be back to my pharmagaba... LOL ;)
I sometimes use it at night..helps me fall asleep.

When we lost our kitten 2 years ago, I was taking the pharmagaba regularly. But I don't seem to need it as often now.

Speaking of Thyroid.

I often wonder what percentage of people who have been diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression by their general doctors have ever been given TFTs. I bet it's a really low percentage.

Speaking of Painters.

ugh, my worst nightmare is having people working around the house. Puts me on edge.

I'll certainly keep that in mind about the PharmaGABA, mrsD.
Thanks for that.

Yes, Lara.. I don't like people hanging around the house.
We had ice damage over winter, and the gutter repair finally could
get here inspite of the terrible weather. They made the most horrendous noises... Huge groans, rips.... thuds... ick.

The painters will be here in about 3-4 wks, for about 5 days.
Not looking forward to this.

Here is a photo of the ice damage:
The potting table slats were totally smashed, lost a trash can,
but luckly the mountain of ice did not hit our gas meter!
The gutter above this photo was lost. Never had one like this before. When it fell it sounded like the roof was caving in!

In regards to your inositol... there may be a tolerance in the future, so plan on that. The body tends to accommodate to new supplements so more may be needed. ( I call this the "honeymoon") ;)

WOW, that's something else, isn't it.

I promise never, ever to complain about the heat of our Summer again! :o


[I'll keep in mind about the tolerance issue with the Inositol. From what I'd read, it did sound as if that may happen.]

How to know tolerance?
By returned increase in anxiety?

Inositol vs. lithium:
 

There have been suggestions in the literature that lithium depletes inositol in the brain, leading to side effects.

This article clears that up some, as real evidence has been scanty on this action in the past.

http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v1.../1395201a.html

Myo-inositol mentioned in this article is the inositol used as a supplement and modified by the body to myo form.

Yes, when the body accommodates to a supplement by changing the chemistry --upticking it etc---then the perceived benefits of that supplement tend to wane and weaken. This may be prevented by taking some supplement free holidays so that this is less likely to happen. Then the patient would sense a "wearing off" of effect.

I do not think the PharmaGaba would be the same as the inositol with the lithium...but this has not really been studied.

This is a long article, and you can skip around to read the discussions etc. You may have to read it more than once.
Near the end is usually where the explanations occur...so that is where you should pay the most careful attention.

Inositol in mania:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16542185

So because there are papers like the one just immediately above, out there, be careful with inositol.

Yet again,mrsD you have given us a meaty breakfast to digest. ;)
Thank you for your kindness.

I eagerly await delivery today of my order from iherb.
I keep checking outside the door.
I don't want to get my hopes up but oh this would be welcomed relief.
Anxiety has increased with neuropathy pain and concern with new numbness in my hands.
I do not like what is happening and anxiety has reared its head over all.
So I eagerly await The Big Brown truck to pull up. ; )

I think you decided on the PharmaGABA, Theta?

Let us know how you go with it in the future. I'm interested.

I knew I should have gotten both. I could afford one so I went with the pharma gaba. I did notice an effect last evening after taking it. Will see how today goes. Thanks so much again.

Hi Lara and Mrs D,

What I am noticing is a remarkable improvement in my ability to get to sleep.
I'd been taking both melatonin liquid, plus 2 generic Benadryl in order to get to sleep. No longer do I need either. I can only think it is the pharma gaba helping in that way, by relaxing me enough to get to sleep. This is very good. ;)

Well that's very good news.

Update: Big Day today, long trip to the Big City for initial neuro appointment.
(For reasons unknown, there is no neurologist on the entire north coast of Oregon?)
The good news is that I armed myself early this morning with Pharma GABA, was calm and amiable the whole ride with 3 others.
I remained calm the 2 hours waiting until my appt time, as well through the meeting with the doctor. This I can only attribute to the Pharma GABA.
It's been sooo long since I felt calm, at all. So this is a very good development.
Thanks again to you both.

I am glad it is working for you.

It sure works to take that edge off.
Works for me too. ;)

Thanks, Mrs D.

I've been taking 200 mg Pharma GABA early morning to try to have a calm start on my day.
It was a long day yesterday so I took another 200 mg while waiting the two hours for my dr appointment.

My mood was good upon return. Later some period of akithesia before bed.
I was however able to get to sleep if not readily, at least without taking anything for sleep.
I am pleased.

Thanks again to you and to Lara.

Hi there Theta!

That's really great news. I read about your trip to the big city :) I'm sorry I didn't have time to get to the message and send my best wishes before you left. I totally understand how big a deal that would have been.

I just hope that the trip was fruitful.

Keep up the good work. Wow, what a difference a couple of weeks makes.

If you're decreasing another medication, do you think that might be causing the restlessness?

Best wishes to you over there, Theta.
I'm very pleased you're finding some relief at last.

I just ordered some more Inositol and Flax oil and some French Lavender oil.
They had a special sample run on the Pharmagaba for $2.95US, so I was able
to get 30 days supply for just a few dollars as well.

Will see how it goes. :)