Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Overview

Inositol (WA 32; very low effect size, low evidence, medium trust) has insufficient evidence for PTSD, with no reliable plain-language summary available. N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) (WA 44; low effect size, low evidence, medium trust) has one small study in veterans with PTSD and past substance use where NAC plus therapy reduced depression and PTSD symptoms and craving frequency versus therapy alone, without changing substance use.

Overall supplement evidence for PTSD is very limited. The heatmap and evidence reviews below provide trial detail.

Effect graph

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Relevant supplements

Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.


N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)	★★★★★	Low
Inositol	★★★★★	Very Low / None

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Studies

Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.

2 supplements for and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)View supplement →

Reconsider purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeLowEvidenceLowTrustMedium

Evidence Review

It’s not clear if N-acetylcysteine (NAC) helps veterans with PTSD.
In one small study, veterans with PTSD and past substance use who took NAC twice daily for 8 weeks along with therapy had fewer depression symptoms and less PTSD symptoms compared to therapy alone.
NAC also greatly reduced how often and how much they craved substances, though it didn’t change the strength of cravings or actual substance use during the study.

Browse 1 study

RCTA Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Pilot Trial of N-Acetylcysteine in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorders2016n=35

An 8-week pilot RCT of 35 veterans with PTSD and substance use disorders found NAC (2400 mg/day) significantly improved PTSD symptoms and craving versus placebo.

Effect: Benefit
Dose: 2400 mg/day
Participants: 35

View on PubMed