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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tonyz on February 20, 2010, at 15:11:23
There are a bunch of postings in the archives, but not much recently. I am wondering, are there folks out there that have been using sam-e and are happy with the results. Also wondering if it has been used specifically for Major Depression.
Posted by bleauberry on February 24, 2010, at 19:58:43
In reply to Anyone out there currently using Sam-e, posted by tonyz on February 20, 2010, at 15:11:23
I've been following SAMe for a long time and have used it myself several times. The basic message is this. It definitely can work on major depression and fast. It can do so in a dose range of as little as 50mg to 1600mg. Most of the clinical studies were in the 800mg to 1600mg range. Take that much on your first day, and you'll see how potent SAMe is.
Just to clarify. Tabs are enteric coated to prevent destruction in the stomach. So if you split the smallest dose, 200mg, to get a 50mg dose, then that 50mg won't work. It will be destroyed in the stomach, right? Wrong. In theory, yes. In realtime, no. Even if the enteric coating is compromised, a feelable amount of SAMe will make it to the intestines for absorption. I've tried this several times and felt it for sure.
It pretty much knocked out my depression in two days, and does so anytime I try it.
Here is the problem though. I have not seen a single case where it continued to work past three months. Poopout, adaptation, whatever you want to call it, seems to happen within the 3 week to 3 month range.
A hospital in Boston added 1600mg SAMe to ongoing Lexapro with a group of treatment resistant patients. I don't recall the exact stats, but most of them improved significantly in a short time. Unfortuneatly, no long term followup was provided. I think it was a 6 week study.
For major depression I feel SAMe has a major role in saving lives, and lifting people from the depths very quickly. I think it is more of a short term stepping stone rather than a longterm answer. But still, for anyone feeling lost in the dark, a short term stepping stone that works fast is a welcome miracle.
I think pretty much all meds, especially the ssris, work much better with at least some SAMe onboard.
Posted by tea on March 2, 2010, at 1:52:13
In reply to Re: Anyone out there currently using Sam-e, posted by bleauberry on February 24, 2010, at 19:58:43
yeah, a lot of us trialled it back in 2003? It wored fantastic initially as you say, but aftre a while i thiink ot causede soem starnge anxiety or something?
maybe it anyone interested tries google of site:dr-bob.org SAM or similar they might come across the many posts on people trialling it.
I still have some for emergency. I never could worl out why it developed the side effects. i assume after a while it depletes something else you need or allows something to build up too high.
Posted by tonyz on March 3, 2010, at 11:54:23
In reply to Re: Anyone out there currently using Sam-e, posted by tea on March 2, 2010, at 1:52:13
I took it for about 1 year and doc thought it was working for me, but then it stopped tried raising the dosage, but I was concerned about taking it with other drugs so had to go another route. The poop out described in one of the posts in this thread is interesting - I had not heard of that before. As part of the methylation process there are some by products that may accumulate so it may be necessary to take certain b-vitamins and trimethyglycene and and maybe co-q10 (trying to remember if there was a connection with homosteine). I would have to research this again to be sure.
For me it may have been a little activating and effected my sleep - not sure.
Posted by tea on March 3, 2010, at 15:43:21
In reply to Re: Anyone out there currently using Sam-e, posted by tonyz on March 3, 2010, at 11:54:23
I did a google..some stuff here
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050414/msgs/493523.html abd look in thread at bottom. It's probably as you say. We went into it in a fair amount of detail ( I even went and studies biochem at uni"-), but I don't think all the pathways are as yet "discovered" that you need, and also its just too complicated for me ( and probably most people or computers)..so I gave up.
Sowmehere in this thread I describe my first packet of SAMe and how it really helped but as I tapered off , I fel worst than b4 starting
But It's a great backup.
i think I got more packets and I can't recall, but I think I also had a similar poop out after a couple of months as others. Tried most of that stuff you mention with it I think? Sorry..memory poor now
Jan
Posted by tonyz on March 3, 2010, at 15:59:46
In reply to Re: Anyone out there currently using Sam-e » tonyz, posted by tea on March 3, 2010, at 15:43:21
Thanks for your posting Jan; you may just not have taken enough SAM-E. For major depression a range of around 1600 mg/ day is recommended. When you came off it it sounds like you came off too quickly. I am by no means an expert on the subject but if you goodle Maurizio Fava - he is the expert at Harvard who has conducted studies with SAM-e.
The problems as others have pointed out are the by products that can be created like homocysteine. I used to know the methylation process, but I don't remember now. Some of that stuff can be controlled with other supplements.
But in your posting you mentioned anxiety. SAM-e can be stimulating especially at the high dosages needed to alleviate major depression. I'm not sure if that effects everyone or not or how to control.
There is also the cost. You mentioned you used the Natrol brand, I prefer Nature Made, it is available at Costco for around $40 for 80 tablets I think. You can bank the points on the Nature Made website and they will send you a coupon.
Anyway just my 2 cents, thanks for your reply
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