Posted by Bill L on November 21, 2002, at 12:42:43
In reply to SAM-e = money and time wasting?, posted by Neo on November 21, 2002, at 11:27:48
Neo, It generally is not the way to go if you are looking for monotherapy. Richard Brown, A Columbia University (New York) psychiatrist wrote a popular book on SAM-e. He uses it on some patients in his own practice.
He likes the fact that it has less side effects than some of the other AD's. But he does not generally use it as the only drug. He usually gives SAM-e to augment a prescription antidepressant.
SAM-e is very expensive. Although the starting dose is 400 mg, the dosage generally needs to be increased to 1200 - 1600mg for major depression. I have heard very few success stories with SAM-e either in monotherapy, or in combination. In contrast, there are very many success stories with prescription antidepressants.
I have tried SAM-e in the past. The AD that I currently take, Lexapro, is much more effective for me and a lot cheaper than SAM-e.
poster:Bill L
thread:128615
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021116/msgs/128619.html