Depression Panic Attacks Bi-Polar Anti-Depressants

"Only 70% of patients respond to current treatments for panic disorder, and many discontinue drugs because of side effects. 'Inositol]...has previously been found superior to placebo in the treatment of depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder."

The medical scientists tested inositol against the drug Luvox (t.m.). Both Prozac and Luvox are classed as SSRI*drugs. After administering inositol to one group of patients and Luvox to the others for panic disorders, they found that "...scores were similar for both treatments.

"In the first month, inositol reduced the number of panic attacks per week by 4.0 compared with a reduction of 2.4 with fluvoxamine 'Luvox, t.m.]. Nausea and tiredness were more common with fluxoxamine...Because inositol is a natural compound with few known side effects, it is attractive to patients who are ambivalent about taking psychiatric medication..." Footnote 1.

In another test comparing inositol with placebo against bi-polar disease (depression,) "...On the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, eight (67%) of twelve inositol-treated subjects had a 50% or greater decrease in 'their depression scores] compared to four (33%) of twelve subjects assigned to placebo.

"Inositol was well tolerated with minimal side effects...The tolerability and the 'natural substance' aspect of inositol may be particularly appealing to subjects with bipolar depression." Emphasis added. Footnote 2.

"Inositol...was reported to have therapeutic effects in depressive patients and to be effective in two animal models of depression...

"Inositol countered the exaggerated immobility of 'animals] in the forced swim test, without affecting control animals. Data support our previous suggestion of inositol as a potential antidepressant." Emphasis added. Footnote 3.

The (t.m.) indications above refer to trade mark.

*Selective Serotonin Re-uptake inhibitors.

1. Journal of Psychopharmacology, vol. 21, 2001, Ben Gurian U. of Negev, Isreal.
2. Bipolar Disorders, vol. 2, 2000, U. of Pitts. School of Medicine, Pa.
3. Depression & Anxiety, vol. 15, Ben Gurian U., Isreal.

Other references were omitted for brevity, but they included studies from World Journal of Biological Psychiatry & Archives of Internal Medicine, vol. 164, 2004, the latter of which concluded, "A substantial number of adequately treated patients did not respond to antidepressant 'drugs.]" Soybeans anyone?