Posted by Jlx on September 23, 2006, at 12:20:47
In reply to Re: Sam-E and B-12, posted by clint878 on September 19, 2006, at 21:16:48
> While I realize that you weren't referring to me in your post, I thought I should say that the reason I asked here was because I was, apparently, B12-deficient before I started taking the Sam-E. That's why I was depressed in the first place. Apparently, the Sam-E exacerbated the deficiency, throwing me into a confused and disoriented state.
>
> Even though I continued the multivitamin that had 50mcg of B-12 in it, I have an absorbtion problem that didn't let me get enough B-12 from the multivitamin in the first place, let alone with the Sam-E.
>
> I've never heard of anyone before having a reaction like this, which is why I asked. Perhaps taking huge doses of B-12 prior to the Sam-E would have prevented this catastrophe. Though I started supplementation when a doctor finally realized the problem five weeks later, it was too late. As it is, unfortunately, my usefulness is probably over; it's unlikely I'll ever regain my intelligence, nor the feeling in my arms and legs.
>
> Even if I can't think clearly enough to do anything of much value at work, I can at least write letters to the FDA and spread this story across the Internet to warn people against taking Sam-E.
>
> -BrantI've taken SAM-e, 1600 mg, and it worked well, but only for a couple months. I don't remember if I was taking B12 specifically, but I probably was taking a B complex as I usually do.
I'm curious about what exactly you are attributing to SAM-e as opposed to the B12 deficiency.
It sounds like your example illustrates a pet peeve of mine -- that physicians don't look for causes of depression, and even when there ARE tests for nutritional deficiencies, they don't test for them.
It's certainly true that nutritional supplements are not always safe especially in the doses that people experiement with, particularly if they've not made the effort to inform themselves beforehand. I'm dismayed at the number of people who come here apparently looking for a magic bullet to replace their previous drug, assuming there is some equivalency. Nutritional supplements, like problems in the body itself, should be viewed holistically, not in isolation, in my opinion.
JL
poster:Jlx
thread:688017
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20060817/msgs/688434.html