Posted by Dj on February 21, 2000, at 4:08:26
In reply to Following up on Cam W. JohnL's SAMe thoughts..., posted by DJ on February 20, 2000, at 22:15:14
> John-L,
>
> As usual you write eloquently, passionately and compassionately. However, you don't take into account the placebo effect which the NY Times magazine had a great article about a couple of months back. That can easily account for the differences in opinion, on top of quality differences.
>
> I went down to Bellingham, Washington to get some when I first heard of it back in May or so, as I was in major depression including musco-skeletal pain (which made SAM-E that much more attractive because of its supposed anti-arthritic benefits), and it was unavailable in Canada yet. I bought a couple of packages from GNC, which if I can believe their web sites and brochures (which is always highly in doubt with any self-promotions) uses outside labs for testing.
>
> Long story short, no noticable benefit despite lots of hope & a highly skeptical nature (comes from being the son of alawyer/judge). Perhaps, I didn't try heavy enough dosages or give it enough time. Perhaps I didn't believe enough.
>
> I learned about it originally from a Newsweek cover story and a reference in Psych. Today. It was the fourth largest selling supplement in the U.S.A. at the time, though most folks had never heard of it months before...certainly a giant marketing job was done on it. Smells like snake oil to me...which is fine, if it works for ya...
>
> As much as I value your insights, my experience, observations and Cam W.'s training in pharmacology mixed with his equally passionate, compassionate and eloquent writings would lead me to lean toward his camp and a belief in the placebo effect which is powerful, when harnessed with the power of media.
>
> DJ
>
> > There are dozens of controlled studies showing SAMe effective in all types of depressions. There are now anecdotal reports popping up from a lot of family doctors and psychiatrists who have allowed their patients to try SAMe. They are reporting being surprised by the benefits. Especially in difficult cases. But just like anything else, we also hear of other people who weren't helped with SAMe. I think, as with all treatments, it all depends on what the underlying malfunction is and how closely SAMe influences that malfunction. How it works we may never know for sure.
>
> > There are two camps on SAMe. One views it as worthy. The other views it as hype. Which camp it falls into in your world depends completely on a >personal trial.DJ - I didn't leave out placebo effect, as after all this time it is presumed to be implied. I do believe in placebo effect in a great many instances and I believe that it should be instituted in a great many for of our traditional treatments, unethical as it seem. Give me randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies any day to prove the efficacy of any agent, and I will still nit-kit your study for methodological errors. My conclusion, if a treatment works in one person, no matter how it is tested; it worked and that is good enougth for me (but I will still watch for relapse)
Thanks for keeping me honest, DJ. Sincerely - Cam W.
poster:Dj
thread:22812
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000220/msgs/22875.html