Double-Blind, Controlled, Crossover Trial of Inositol Versus Fluvoxamine for the Treatment of Panic Disorder
Abstract
Only 70% of patients respond to current treatments for panic disorder, and many discontinue drugs because of side effects. myo-Inositol, a natural isomer of glucose and a precursor for the second-messenger phosphatidyl-inositol system, has previously been found superior to placebo in the treatment of depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but a direct comparison with an established drug has never been performed. A double-blind, controlled, random-order crossover study was undertaken to compare the effect of inositol with that of fluvoxamine in panic disorder. Twenty patients completed 1 month of inositol up to 18 g/day and 1 month of fluvoxamine up to 150 mg/day. Improvements on Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety scores, agoraphobia scores, and Clinical Global Impressions Scale scores were similar for both treatments. In the first month, inositol reduced the number of panic attacks per week (mean and SD) by 4.0 (2) compared with a reduction of 2.4 (2) with fluvoxamine (p = 0.049). Nausea and tiredness were more common with fluvoxamine (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively). Because inositol is a natural compound with few known side effects, it is attractive to patients who are ambivalent about taking psychiatric medication. Continuing reports of inositol's efficacy in the treatment of depression, panic disorder, and OCD should stimulate replication studies.
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Most treatment-refractory studies are pharmacological in nature, both in terms of the original treatment and the alternative response.
“Instead, most treatment-refractory studies are pharmacological in nature, both in terms of the original treatment and the alternative response [5] .”
From Treating Treatment-Resistant Patients with Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia Using Psychotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Switching Trial. (2015) · cites this paper as [5]
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- Authors
- Palatnik, A., Frolov, K., Fux, M., & Benjamin, J.
- Affiliations
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL)
- Corresponding author
- Palatnik, Alex
- Frolov, Katerina
- Fux, Mendel
- ORCID
- Benjamin, Jonathan
- Venue
- Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 2001-06
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 335-339
- ISSN
- 0271-0749 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1990462691
- Cited by
- 107
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 4.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medicinal Plant Extracts Effects
- Keywords
- myo-inositol, fluvoxamine, panic disorder, agoraphobia, panic attacks, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, natural compounds, adverse drug reactions, treatment efficacy
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Analysis of Variance, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Inositol, Male, Middle Aged, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Chi-Square Distribution, Single-Blind Method, Panic Disorder, Fluvoxamine, Treatment Outcome, Cross-Over Studies
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