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Dietary supplement

Inositol Capsules 500 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by NOW

Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Inositol Capsules 500 mg is a dietary supplement by NOW with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos), anxiety and panic, depression and mood.Based on those ingredients, 86 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Inositol. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Inositol Capsules 500 mg by NOW

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: inositol at 500 mg per capsule. Inositol is a compound your body makes naturally and also gets from food; it plays a role in cell signaling and metabolism.

The capsule also includes inactive ingredients (rice flour, hypromellose, stearic acid, and silicon dioxide) that help deliver the dose.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: cellular health and membrane function.
  • We looked for evidence on: Anxiety, Depression, Metabolic syndrome, Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Panic disorder, Insulin sensitivity — and 2 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Inositol is rated "Possibly Effective" for Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Inositol is rated "Possibly Effective" for Metabolic syndrome.
  • Also on file: Inositol is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Anxiety, Depression.

Inositol is possibly effective for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and metabolic syndrome, and possibly effective for reducing preterm labor risk. For anxiety, diabetic nerve damage (neuropathy), and depression, the evidence rates it as possibly ineffective — meaning current data doesn't support its use for those purposes.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Inositol

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Inositol is generally well tolerated at typical doses. The most common side effects when taken by mouth are diarrhea, gas, and nausea — usually mild and digestive in nature.

When inositol is combined with omega-3 fatty acids, some children in studies reported cold and allergy symptoms. One case report described a man with bipolar disorder who developed manic symptoms after consuming multiple cans of an energy drink containing inositol plus caffeine, taurine, and other ingredients over a few days; it's unclear whether inositol alone was responsible.

There isn't enough reliable safety data in pregnancy and lactation to say whether it's safe. The product was sometimes studied in pregnant people, but use only under medical supervision.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you're pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Inositol

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Inositol.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 86 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

If you take antidiabetes drugs — insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas, or any other glucose-lowering medication — double-check with your pharmacist or doctor before adding inositol. It can lower blood sugar further and raise your risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Inositol may be worth considering if you have PCOS or metabolic syndrome and want a natural option, but it's not proven for anxiety, nerve damage, or depression. If you take any diabetes medication, check your specific drugs first — the risk of low blood sugar is real.

Pregnant or breastfeeding? Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Oct 24, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Inositol Capsules 500 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand NOW
Barcode (UPC) 733739004758
Net contents 100 Veg Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 24, 2024
DSLD ID 314394
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegan, Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Kosher, Gluten Free, Dairy Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Inositol Capsules 500 mg by NOW, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Veg Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Veg Capsule(s)
Servings per container
100
UPC/BARCODE
733739004758
IngredientAmount% DV
Inositol500 mg--

Other ingredients: Rice Flour, Hypromellose, Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Usage: Take 1 capsules daily as needed.

Formula

Inositol is a non-essential member of the B-complex family with dietary sources from both animal and plant foods. The form of inositol used in this product is myo-inositol, the most abundant form of this nutrient. Inositol is found in all cell membranes, with the highest concentrations in the brain and central nervous system, where it plays an important role in neurotransmitter signaling. Insitol is also critical for the proper action of insulin, lipid metabolism, and for the maintenance of cellular calcium balance.

Myo-inositol form

Triangle K Kosher

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Precautions

Caution: For adults only.

Consult physician if pregnant/nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.

Keep out of reach of children.

Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.

Formulation

Natural color variation may occur in this product.

Cellular health Supports healthy membrane function

Non-GMO

Vegetarian/vegan

Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients.

FDA Statement of Identity

A Dietary Supplement

Seals/Symbols

Triangle K Kosher

GMP Quality Assured

General Statements

Vitamins Family owned since 1968.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place after opening.

See for yourself

Inositol Capsules 500 mg by NOW label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Inositol Capsules 500 mg by NOW

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Veg Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container100 Amounts shown are per serving.

Inositol

Interacts with
86 drugs
500 mg per serving

Inositol is a sugar alcohol made naturally in the body and found in many foods, and it is sold as a supplement (often myo-inositol) mainly for PCOS, m...

Inositol monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Rice Flour, Hypromellose, Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Inositol Capsules 500 mg by NOW Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Inositol Capsules 500 mg?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
86Drugs
86 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Inositol Capsules 500 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Inositol1 drug type · 86 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking inositol with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Clinical research shows that inositol lowers blood glucose levels and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in patients with diabetes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence A
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Inositol Capsules 500 mg, from the product label.

NOW

See all NOW products
Name
NOW FOODS
Street Address
395 S. Glen Ellyn Rd.
City
Bloomingdale
State
IL
ZipCode
60108
Web Address
nowfoods.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Inositol Capsules 500 mg by NOW: Common Questions

Does Inositol Capsules 500 mg by NOW interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Inositol Capsules 500 mg has a known interaction with 86 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Inositol Capsules 500 mg contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Will inositol help my PCOS?
Inositol is possibly effective for polycystic ovary syndrome, meaning there's some evidence it may help, but it's not a proven treatment. Talk to your doctor about whether it fits your care plan.
Can I take this if I'm on metformin or other diabetes medication?
You need to check with your pharmacist or doctor first. Inositol lowers blood sugar, and combining it with diabetes drugs raises your risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your doctor may want to monitor your glucose or adjust your dose.
What are the side effects?
The most common ones are mild: diarrhea, gas, and nausea. When inositol is combined with omega-3s, some children in studies reported cold and allergy symptoms.
Is it safe during pregnancy?
There isn't enough reliable data to know for sure. Inositol was studied in some pregnant people, but safety isn't fully established, so use only under medical supervision. Talk to your doctor before taking it if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Will it help with anxiety or depression?
No — the evidence rates inositol as possibly ineffective for both anxiety and depression. It's not a proven treatment for those conditions.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Inositol Capsules 500 mg is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Inositol Capsules 500 mg label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Inositol Capsules 500 mg’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Inositol Capsules 500 mg's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 14 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Inositol 14 references
  1. Palatnik A, Frolov K, Fux M, Benjamin J. Double-blind, controlled, crossover trial of inositol versus fluvoxamine for the treatment of panic disorder. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2001;21:335-9.. PubMed
  2. Allan SJ, Kavanagh GM, Herd RM, Savin JA. The effect of inositol supplements on the psoriasis of patients taking lithium: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Br J Dermatol 2004;150:966-9. PubMed
  3. Machado-Vieira R, Viale CI, Kapczinski F. Mania associated with an energy drink: the possible role of caffeine, taurine, and inositol. Can J Psychiatry 2001;46:454-5. PubMed
  4. Kamenov Z, Kolarov G, Gateva A, Carlomagno G, Genazzani AD. Ovulation induction with myo-inositol alone and in combination with clomiphene citrate in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients with insulin resistance. Gynecol Endocrinol 2015;31(2):131-5. PubMed
  5. Matarrelli B, Vitacolonna E, D'Angelo M, et al. Effect of dietary myo-inositol supplementation in pregnancy on the incidence of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus and fetal outcomes: a randomized controlled trial. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2013;26(1 PubMed
  6. Mukai T, Kishi T, Matsuda Y, Iwata N. A meta-analysis of inositol for depression and anxiety disorders. Hum Psychopharmacol 2014;29(1):55-63. PubMed
  7. Farren M, Daly N, McKeating A, Kinsley B, Turner MJ, Daly S. The Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus With Antenatal Oral Inositol Supplementation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Diabetes Care. 2017;40(6):759-63. PubMed
  8. Zheng X, Liu Z, Zhang Y, et al. Relationship Between Myo-Inositol Supplementary and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94(42):e1604. PubMed
  9. Crawford TJ, Crowther CA, Alsweiler J, Brown J. Antenatal dietary supplementation with myo-inositol in women during pregnancy for preventing gestational diabetes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(12):CD011507. PubMed
  10. Maurizi AR, Menduni M, Del Toro R, et al. A pilot study of D-chiro-inositol plus folic acid in overweight patients with type 1 diabetes. Acta Diabetol. 2017;54(4):361-65. PubMed
  11. Leppink EW, Redden SA, Grant JE. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of inositol in trichotillomania. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2017;32(2):107-14. PubMed
  12. Lam S, Mandrekar SJ, Gesthalter Y. A Randomized Phase IIb Trial of myo-Inositol in Smokers with Bronchial Dysplasia. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2016;9(12):906-14.
  13. Wozniak J, Faraone SV, Chan J, et al. A randomized clinical trial of high eicosapentaenoic acid omega-3 fatty acids and inositol as monotherapy and in combination in the treatment of pediatric bipolar spectrum disorders: a pilot study. J Clin Psychiatry. PubMed
  14. Vitale SG, Corrado F, Caruso S, et al. Myo-inositol supplementation to prevent gestational diabetes in overweight non-obese women: bioelectrical impedance analysis, metabolic aspects, obstetric and neonatal outcomes - a randomized and open-label, placebo-

See these in context on the Inositol monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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