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

Abstract

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.