Why inositol supplementation may help to recover side effects induced by mood stabilizers and anticonvulsant drugs

1Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
2The Experts Group on Inositol in Basic and Clinical Research (EGOI), Rome, Italy
3R&D Department, Lo.Li. Pharma, Rome, Italy
4UniCamillus – Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Rome, Italy
5A.G.Un.Co. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Center, Rome, Italy

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION. Lithium, valproic acid and carbamazepine are the most used mood stabilizers and anticonvulsant drugs. They share the depletion of myo-inositol in the central nervous system as mechanism of action. However, such therapies may expose patients to several side effects that negatively influence their quality of life, leading to a poor compliance and a poor prognosis. Gathering scientific evidence explaining why myo-inositol supplementation may recover side effects without dampening the central therapeutic action of these drugs is the purpose of this review.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. We reviewed literature searching through different databases. We used different keywords, including mood stabilizers, anticonvulsant drugs, mechanisms of action, inositol depletion, bipolar disorder, and epilepsy.

RESULTS. We reported all the most common complications in patients taking lithium, valproic acid or carbamazepine related to inositol depletion in peripheral tissues. Interestingly, the efficacy of myo-inositol supplementation in recovering the adverse effects occurring during the treatment corroborates its use in such patients.

CONCLUSIONS. Concerning the chronic use of these drugs, it is intriguing to explore the role of myo-inositol supplementation to recover, or altogether avoid, the emerging side effects without dampening the central therapeutic action, thanks to a dosage that poorly crosses the blood brain barrier.

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Publication history:

Submission date: Sept 30th, 2022
Revised on: Oct 03rd, 2022
Accepted on: Oct 07th, 2022
Published online: Oct 17th, 2022

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