![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 Babak on October 20, 2002, at 11:28:48
Hi
I think I must be the only one who is having a bad response to SAM-e or am I?
I started with 200mg twice a day, which apart from a bit of upset stomach I didn't feel anything else. Then I read that for depression the dose is supposed to be much higher like 1600mg. So I increased the dose to 1600mg. I completely knocked my out and I was in bed for most of 48 hours. So I reduced it 800 mg and to be honest again apart from feeling bloated and slightly more irritable than usual I haven't felt anything. I am also putting on weight at an alarming rate despite having only one main meal a day and feel just as lithargic as I did when I was on venlafaxine.
So I would be interested to hear from anyone else who has had a bad response to SAM-e. It is nothing like what everyone says it is.
Thanks
Posted by Roman on October 20, 2002, at 12:04:48
In reply to SAM-e, posted by Babak on October 20, 2002, at 11:28:48
I tried SAM-e for a awhile and found it somewhat helpful. However, it took some time for it to have an effect on my mood--several weeks I believe. Also, it's important to work up from a small dosage so you can tell how much you really need.
Note the following:
1) Some brands are better than others. I tried GNC, NatureMade and Jarrow. All were fine but the GNC and NatureMade were a little better. The GNC and original NatureMade preparations contained SAM-e 1,4-butanedisulfonate; which is a more stable form compared to SAM-e tosylate (Jarrow and others). Recently, NatureMade switched to the tostylate preparation as well.
2) If it's not fresh, it won't work. Check the exp. date.
3) You must take it on a very empty stomach.
4) You need to take extra B vitamins (folate and B12 especially) or it won't work. I used a B complex and an additional 1000mcg sublingual B12--worked well for me.
5) The bubble-packed products stay fresher longer and the enteric coated products are more effective (wait to disolve in lower GI).
Ultimately, I found it inadequate in relieving my depression--I switched to an SSRI. However, it did have some positive effect with almost no side effects.
Give it some time and see, it might work for you--it does for some folks.
Good luck.
Posted by Babak on October 20, 2002, at 14:50:09
In reply to Re: SAM-e » Babak, posted by Roman on October 20, 2002, at 12:04:48
Thanks Roman; I bought mine from smart-drugs.com. It is definitely having some effect but not a beneficial one. It is making me very nervous and irritable as well as giving me upset stomach. I have read so many good things about this stuff and apart from being contraindicated against bipolar/manic depression I have not come across anything negative or any bad side effects anywhere online. I am really disappointed. However just now I noticed some one else has posted something about increasing anxiety. I am going to reduce the dose from 800mg back to 400mg per day and then if it is still making me nervous I am going to have to stop.
But if anyone else has had bad response to SAM-e or knows of site warning about possible negative effects of SAM-e, please let me know.
Babak.
P.S. Melatonin to makes me nervous and gives me a headache as well. Does anyone have clue as to what might be wrong with me?
Posted by Bill L on October 21, 2002, at 13:07:53
In reply to Re: SAM-e, posted by Babak on October 20, 2002, at 14:50:09
What brand is the SAM-e that you bought from smart-drugs.com?
Posted by katz on October 21, 2002, at 21:19:47
In reply to SAM-e, posted by Babak on October 20, 2002, at 11:28:48
Hi Babak! I had a very similar experience with S-ame causing extreme sedation. It also caused some significant blurred vision. S-ame can be converted to melatonin. Perhaps this is causing the sedation. I don't know! I only know that S-ame knocks me out as do most SSRI's.
Posted by Babak on October 22, 2002, at 3:43:55
In reply to Re: SAM-e » Babak, posted by katz on October 21, 2002, at 21:19:47
Thanks Katz. At least someone else feels the same way. Finally, after five days I gave up on it yesterday.
Bill L., I didn't find any other brand on the packaging other than Smart Nutrition, a company in San Diego, CA
.
They have been around for a long time and I have used them before.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.