Posted by adamie on July 20, 2001, at 13:12:31
In reply to ST. JOHN's WORT and SAMe: anyone tried these?, posted by Janelle on July 20, 2001, at 0:59:33
> These are so-called "natural"/alternative things to take for depression as opposed to the pharmaceutical psy-meds. I'm wondering if anyone out there has had any experience with either St. John's Wort and/or SAMe, and if so how was it, and do these take awhile (how long) to kick in? Thanks.
Hi Janelle. St John's wort has been proven inaffective in major depression. It can be effective for mild to moderate depression. I personally have no experience with it.
I have done a lot of research on sam-e earlier because I wanted to take it. I got some ordered from the US since it's not sold here in Canada. Sam-e supossedly works for any type of depression. From what I read including personal experiences from other people it can work within 5 days or a few weeks. The dosage for major depression is 1200mg to 1600mg of sam-e a day. I took 1600mg for 5 days and it didn't work for me. I had no side effects but it didn't work eighter. Maybe I didn't take it long enough. I certainly didn't have anymore. It has worked for some people so I feel it's deffinetly worth a try. Also it has to be taken at least 1 hour before eating. And 1.5 hours or more before eating.
And also for the sam-e to be effective it has to
be taken with vitamins. 800 folic acid, 1000 b12, and some b6. The vitamins are supossed to be taken with food, not with the actual sam-e.And also if you buy sam-e you need to make sure you buy a reliable brand. Some brands have been proven to actually have no sam-e in them at all. The brand has to have tablets which are entric coated. If not then they dissolve in the stomache where they are useless. The brand most reliable according to many is Nature Made. Also GNC brand is said to be reliable. There was another but I forgot what it was. The Nature Made brand comes in blister packs. Sam-e itself is quite expensive but if it gives someone relief then I feel it would deffinetly be worth it. The price is often $1 per 200mg tablet. But some places have it for low price such as Costco and Sam's Club.
Some people who take higher doses of sam-e such as for major depression make mention of side effects. I forgot what these were.
But they are said to be usually mild. I really wish sam-e worked for me. I took less sam-e earlier. Before the 5 days of 1600mg I took maybe 800mg for 3 days and I think it deffinetly helped a bit unless I was just having an up period in my depression. So it could have been a coincidense but I was really convinced the sam-e helped me that time. I wish it had worked the second time. I may try sam-e again soon because my dad will be bringing some from the US.Also sam-e is very safe to take along with anti depressants.
poster:adamie
thread:71011
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010720/msgs/71066.html