# Inositol [WebMD](https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-299/inositol) [^2] [Cleveland Clinic](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/25173-inositol) [^3] Inositol is a sugar made in the body and found in foods. It can be found in nine forms. Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol are most common in supplements. [^2] Inositol might balance certain chemicals in the body to help with mental conditions such as panic disorder, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It might also help insulin work better. [^2] People use inositol for metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and for reducing the risk of preterm birth. It's also used for insomnia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses. [^2] When taken by mouth: Inositol is possibly safe for most adults when used for up to 10 weeks. It might cause diarrhea, gas, and nausea in some people. [^2] As medicine, inositol has most often been used by adults in doses of 1-4 grams by mouth daily. It's often taken together with 200-400 mcg of folic acid daily. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition. [^2] ### OTHER NAME(S): [^2] 1,2,3,4,5,6-Cyclohexanehexol 1,2,5/3,4,6-inositol (1S)-inositol (1S)-1,2,4/3,5,6-inositol Antialopecia Factor (+)-chiroinositol cis-1,2,3,5-trans-4,6-Cyclohexanehexol Cyclohexitol Dambrose D-chiro-inositol D-Myo-Inositol Facteur Anti-alopécique Hexahydroxycyclohexane Inose Inosite Inositol Monophosphate Lipositol Meso-Inositol Méso-Inositol Monophosphate d'Inositol Mouse Antialopecia Factor Myo-Inositol Vitamin B8 Vitamine B8 ### Unverified info a sugar naturally found in certain foods, known to improve mental health amongst a plethora of other different benefits (improved insulin sensitivity, reduced metabolic syndrome, improved fertility with women and PCOS) [^1] [^1]: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8YUpPFF/ [^2]: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-299/inositol [^3]: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/25173-inositol