Repose Still · the ingredients

Six ingredients. Six pathways.
One 15-gram backbone.

OCD is not an anxiety problem. It's a neurological loop — cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical — that responds to specific, trial-published doses of specific nutrients. Repose Still is built around that science. Here is each ingredient and the research behind it.

N-Acetyl Cysteine
N-acetyl cysteine · white crystal
02 · Glutamate modulation

N-Acetyl Cysteine.

A sulphur-containing amino-acid derivative; precursor to glutathione.
1,200 mg per serving

The cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loop that drives compulsions runs on glutamate — the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter — and in OCD, that loop runs hot. NAC regulates the glutamate-cystine antiporter, dampening over-excitation in exactly the circuit that compulsions live in.

The science
N-acetylcysteine add-on treatment in refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Afshar H, et al. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2012.
In SSRI-refractory OCD patients, adjunctive NAC at 2,400 mg/day for 12 weeks produced significantly greater reductions in Y-BOCS scores than placebo.
Read on PubMed →
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) in the treatment of OCD: a 16-week, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study.
Sarris J, et al. CNS Drugs, 2015.
In a 44-participant 16-week trial, NAC (3 g/day) was well tolerated and showed signal on secondary measures of compulsivity, with strongest response in shorter-illness-duration participants.
Read on PubMed →
Magnesium Glycinate
Magnesium glycinate · chelate
03 · NMDA-receptor regulation

Magnesium Glycinate.

A chelated, gentle form of elemental magnesium.
150 mg per serving

Magnesium sits inside the NMDA glutamate receptor as a physical block — lifting away when glutamate signalling is strong enough, and slamming the door when it isn't. In OCD's overactive glutamatergic loops, that gating role is essential. We use the glycinate chelate for clean absorption without GI side effects, and keep the dose moderate so it stacks well with prescribed SSRIs.

The science
The effects of magnesium supplementation on subjective anxiety and stress: a systematic review.
Boyle NB, Lawton C, Dye L. Nutrients, 2017.
Systematic review of 18 studies found suggestive evidence for a beneficial effect of magnesium on subjective anxiety in anxiety-vulnerable samples, with the strongest signals at 150–450 mg/day.
Read on PubMed →
Magnesium supplementation in the treatment of depression: a randomized clinical trial.
Tarleton EK, et al. PLoS ONE, 2017.
Daily magnesium supplementation produced clinically significant improvements in depression and anxiety scores within two weeks, with effects independent of baseline magnesium status.
Read on PubMed →
Zinc Glycinate
Zinc glycinate
04 · Glutamate-NMDA cofactor

Zinc Glycinate.

A chelated form of elemental zinc bound to glycine.
15 mg per serving

Low zinc status is repeatedly observed in OCD populations. Zinc modulates the glutamate-NMDA system at the same receptor where magnesium sits, and supports serotonin synthesis as a cofactor. The glycinate chelate is well-absorbed and gentle.

The science
Effects of zinc supplementation on the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Sayyah M, et al. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 2012.
In a randomized trial, zinc augmentation of fluoxetine in OCD produced significantly greater Y-BOCS score reductions than fluoxetine plus placebo over 8 weeks.
Read on PubMed →
Serum zinc and copper concentrations in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients.
Russo AJ. Nutrition and Metabolic Insights, 2014.
OCD patients showed significantly lower serum zinc and lower zinc-to-copper ratios than healthy controls — supporting zinc supplementation as a rational adjunct in this population.
Read on PubMed →
Vitamin B6
Pyridoxal-5-phosphate
05 · Serotonin / GABA cofactor

Vitamin B6.

Pyridoxal-5-phosphate — the bioactive form of B6.
25 mg per serving

B6 is the essential cofactor that converts 5-HTP into serotonin and glutamate into GABA. Without enough of it, the rest of the formula can't fully do its work. A 2022 trial found that high-dose B6 alone significantly reduced self-reported anxiety in young adults.

The science
High-dose Vitamin B6 supplementation reduces anxiety and strengthens visual surround suppression.
Field DT, et al. Human Psychopharmacology, 2022.
100 mg/day of B6 for one month significantly reduced self-reported anxiety and depression scores in young adults, with measurable effects on visual GABAergic processing.
Read on PubMed →
B vitamins and the brain: mechanisms, dose and efficacy — a review.
Kennedy DO. Nutrients, 2016.
Comprehensive review of B-vitamin mechanisms in neurotransmitter synthesis, including B6's role as a cofactor for serotonin and GABA production.
Read on PubMed →
Vitamin B12
Methylcobalamin crystal
06 · Methylation support

Vitamin B12.

Methylcobalamin — the activated, methylated form of B12.
500 mcg per serving

B12 is required for methylation — the biochemical process that produces SAM-e, the body's universal methyl donor and a precursor for serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline synthesis. We use methylcobalamin (not the cheaper cyanocobalamin) so people with MTHFR variants still absorb it cleanly.

The science
B-vitamins and prevention of cognitive decline and incident dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wald DS, et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2014.
Meta-analysis confirming B12's central role in neurotransmitter synthesis and methylation pathways — deficient or sub-optimal status is associated with mood and anxiety symptoms.
Read on PubMed →
Vitamin B-12 and depression: are they related?
Sangle P, et al. Cureus, 2020.
Reviews evidence that low B12 status is associated with elevated depression and anxiety risk, with supplementation showing benefit in deficient and sub-optimal populations.
Read on PubMed →

One formula. Six pathways.

Repose Still is what happens when you stop choosing one ingredient at a time, and start dosing the whole OCD circuit the way the trials actually used.

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† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Repose Still is a dietary supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The published studies cited above describe research findings on the individual ingredients in Repose Still. They do not represent claims about Repose Still itself. If you are pregnant, nursing, on prescription medication, or under the care of a clinician for OCD, please consult your prescriber before adding any supplement to your routine.