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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Neo on November 21, 2002, at 11:27:48
Hi,
A sam-e trial has a great cost and if you increase your dosage the cost is the greatest!
But if an AD works well, i think, that most part of us could be able to support a great trial cost.But if a drug like this is ineffective you lost a lot of money, lot of time and you'll became more depressed than before!
Could you report any efficacy in SAM-e monotherpy?
What do you think about this stuff?
Could you post any particular about its supposed effects?Thanks very much for discussing about!
Take care!
Bye.
Posted by Bill L on November 21, 2002, at 12:42:43
In reply to SAM-e = money and time wasting?, posted by Neo on November 21, 2002, at 11:27:48
Neo, It generally is not the way to go if you are looking for monotherapy. Richard Brown, A Columbia University (New York) psychiatrist wrote a popular book on SAM-e. He uses it on some patients in his own practice.
He likes the fact that it has less side effects than some of the other AD's. But he does not generally use it as the only drug. He usually gives SAM-e to augment a prescription antidepressant.
SAM-e is very expensive. Although the starting dose is 400 mg, the dosage generally needs to be increased to 1200 - 1600mg for major depression. I have heard very few success stories with SAM-e either in monotherapy, or in combination. In contrast, there are very many success stories with prescription antidepressants.
I have tried SAM-e in the past. The AD that I currently take, Lexapro, is much more effective for me and a lot cheaper than SAM-e.
Posted by Tabitha on November 23, 2002, at 5:49:59
In reply to SAM-e = money and time wasting?, posted by Neo on November 21, 2002, at 11:27:48
When I tried it I got stomach pain at the lowest dose and gave up on it fairly quickly. I was trying it in combination with 5-HTP, which is also supposed to increase seratonin. It had no noticeable effect on my depression. My trial failed, but it was kind of half-hearted. I'm not very tolerant of stomach upset.
Posted by ST on November 25, 2002, at 20:18:15
In reply to Re: SAM-e = money and time wasting?, posted by Bill L on November 21, 2002, at 12:42:43
I know a few people who are markedly better because of SAM - e, but I do want to hear from more people. Supposedly, Nature-Made (Or Nature-Rite...can't remember!) first brought it to the US and has done the most research of any of the other distributors. Supposedly, the SAM -e pill should be individually wrapped and not touching the other pills or your skin. It's efficacy is greatly reduced if it gets compromised. The people I know with success used this brand.
But I really want to hear more success stories before I try it. And can people out there let me know what brand or distributor your SAM -e came from? Thanks!
Sarah
Posted by ST on November 28, 2002, at 22:54:18
Hi,
I just posted something to this effect, but my post dissapeared!
Has anyone tried SAM - e (in a stabilized form, like Nature-Made) for 6 months or more. I'm dying to know how it works for more than a few weeks? I checked the archives and it seems that people who have just started SAM - e write quite a few posts and then stop. Could this possibly mean that their lives have become so full and their depression is lifted so that don't have time to search for answers on this board?! I hope so! Please, even if you've been on it a month, please write.
I'm on my second day at 200 mg. I'm bi-polar 2 and I also take 250 Serzone, 400 Wellbutrin and 500 Depakote.
Thanks,
Sarah
Posted by Tabitha on November 29, 2002, at 0:28:14
In reply to SAM-e:Anyone out there taking for 6 mos or more?, posted by ST on November 28, 2002, at 22:54:18
> Hi,
> I just posted something to this effect, but my post dissapeared! ...Hi, just wanted to let you know that posts get moved from the active window to the archives periodically. You can find older posts by using the archive links at the top of the page.
Tabitha (filling in for Dr Bob)
Posted by colin wallace on November 30, 2002, at 8:19:34
In reply to SAM-e:Anyone out there taking for 6 mos or more?, posted by ST on November 28, 2002, at 22:54:18
> Hi,
> I just posted something to this effect, but my post dissapeared!
> Has anyone tried SAM - e (in a stabilized form, like Nature-Made) for 6 months or more. I'm dying to know how it works for more than a few weeks? I checked the archives and it seems that people who have just started SAM - e write quite a few posts and then stop. Could this possibly mean that their lives have become so full and their depression is lifted so that don't have time to search for answers on this board?! I hope so! Please, even if you've been on it a month, please write.
> I'm on my second day at 200 mg. I'm bi-polar 2 and I also take 250 Serzone, 400 Wellbutrin and 500 Depakote.
> Thanks,
> SarahHi Sarah,
I took Sam-e for around 4 months with some great results- it would have an almost instant effect on my depression, even at 200mg/400mg.
Unfortunately, I began taking it with Sertraline, which led to hypomania (I believe I'm bipolar 11 aswell).I wasn't taking a mood stabilizer at the time.
Since this hypomanic episode(caused by Zoloft)I have not been able to tolerate Sam-e.The hypomania somehow altered my subsequent med. reactions.Col.
Posted by Bill L on December 2, 2002, at 9:42:59
In reply to SAM-e:Anyone out there taking for 6 mos or more?, posted by ST on November 28, 2002, at 22:54:18
I read a book on SAM-e. I thought that it was not recommended for bi-polar. Maybe I'm wrong. You better check on that.
SAM-e works for some people either by itself or in combination. But for a lot of people, it does not work. Also, it is very expensive. Most people need between 1200 and 1600 mg per day.
Posted by ST on December 2, 2002, at 21:11:57
In reply to Re: SAM-e:Anyone out there taking for 6 mos or more? » ST, posted by colin wallace on November 30, 2002, at 8:19:34
Thanks, Colin!
I am on a mood stabilizer, so I'm hoping this
SAM-e trial works out. I'm not feeling hypomanic, but rather am sleeping very long hours and feel foggy most of the day. Did you experience this?Sarah
Posted by ST on December 2, 2002, at 21:20:13
In reply to Re: SAM-e:Anyone out there taking for 6 mos or more?, posted by Bill L on December 2, 2002, at 9:42:59
Aaaah...right now I'm only taking 200mg.
Yes, I'm bipolar 2, but am also on a mood stabilizer. Even traditional ADs run the risk of making a bipolar hypomanic without a mood stabilizer in the mix. So far, no hypomania...thanks for the feedback!
Sarah
Posted by colin wallace on December 3, 2002, at 3:36:56
In reply to Re: SAM-e:Anyone out there taking for 6 mos or more? » colin wallace, posted by ST on December 2, 2002, at 21:11:57
> Thanks, Colin!
>
> I am on a mood stabilizer, so I'm hoping this
> SAM-e trial works out. I'm not feeling hypomanic, but rather am sleeping very long hours and feel foggy most of the day. Did you experience this?
>
> Sarah
Hi Sarah,No, just the opposite for me in fact- Sam-e made me alert and energised for the day, and even interfered a little with sleep.This is apparently the more common reaction.It would have a very noticable and beneficial effect on my mood (not enough by itself to tackle my previously severe depression though).I know some people do well combining Sam-e and an SSRI, but as Bill L rightly mentions, most seem to have to take higher doses, which becomes cost-prohibitive. Only way forward is to experiment!
Col.
Posted by Angel1 on December 3, 2002, at 6:00:41
In reply to Re: SAM-e:Anyone out there taking for 6 mos or more?, posted by Bill L on December 2, 2002, at 9:42:59
Hi All,
I have just recently added Sam-E to my mix of 75mg Norpramin(desipramine) and 20mg buspar.
It gives me tons of energy and I feel more social and outgoing. I take 400mg on an empty stomach in the morning and sometimes add 200mg in the afternoon. It does interfere with sleep if you take it too late in the afternoon. A good brand to take is by Nature Made(my favorite) and 2nd is
Source Naturals. I too have a book about it and it says for depression you should take 1600mg a day, but for me that would probably be too much. I
have only been taking it for about 2 weeks so I'm still experimenting with different dosages. It's expensive but worth it to me to improve my quality of life. Yesterday, my friend from work offered me some "adrenergy" for adreanl gland support which also seems to be good for energy.
Anyway, try some Sam-e. There are really no side
effects noted yet, exept maybe a little sleep disturbance if taken too late in the day. Research it...get some info about it and check it out!!! It is one step closer in your quest to feeling well. Oh, I guess I should add that I am unipolar depression.....chronic dysthymia with bouts of major depression on top of that.
Good luck to all!!!
Posted by Bill L on December 3, 2002, at 8:52:22
In reply to Re: SAM-e: I LOVE SAM-E!!!!!!!!, posted by Angel1 on December 3, 2002, at 6:00:41
Angel1, I am really glad it is helping you. From what I have read about SAM-e, I think that once one finds a dose that works, the dose generally does not need to be increased over time. So I think there is a good chance that the 400mg will continue to work for you for a long time.
Nature Made is suppose to be a very good brand. Discount clubs such as Costco and BJ's have better prices than Walmart, KMart, Target, and other stores for Nature Made SAM-e. I think that once you find a brand that works, you should stick to it because another brand might not work as well for you.
Posted by me so tiny on December 10, 2002, at 3:43:49
In reply to SAM-e:Anyone out there taking for 6 mos or more?, posted by ST on November 28, 2002, at 22:54:18
> I checked the archives and it seems that people who have just
> started SAM - e write quite a few posts and then stop. Could
> this possibly mean that their lives have become so full and
> their depression is lifted so that don't have time to search for
> answers on this board?! I hope so!Maybe. Or, maybe, they tried SAM-E and it was terrible, they gave up on it, felt ripped off and embarassed, and never posted again. Or maybe they tried SAM-E and they became paralyzed, comatose, or they just died. It's probably not a good idea to infer things based on people's not posting.
Posted by me so tiny on December 10, 2002, at 4:05:03
In reply to Re: SAM-e: I LOVE SAM-E!!!!!!!!, posted by Angel1 on December 3, 2002, at 6:00:41
> I have only been taking it
> for about 2 weeks so I'm still experimenting with different
> dosages.I know SAM-E is supposed to work more quickly than most ADs, but I would urge caution. Every time I start a new antidepressant, there's all sorts of effects, usually some initial euphoria, maybe down for a while, insomnia, stomach, agitation, muscle soreness, all sorts of stuff, mostly in the first week but dragging on for a few weeks after.
After about a month, the actual drug itself kicks in and I feel the real effects. All that other stuff is placebo effect and depends on all sorts of variables, mostly what I think the drug is supposed to do, mixed in with various fears, anxieties and stuff. (One med tech told me to stop reading about the side effects of a drug before taking it, otherwise i'll just make them all happen.)
Also, my body and my mood changes all by themselves all the time; insomnia goes up or down, hangover, disappointment or elation because of this or that. If I'm thinking of the drug, I blame it on the drug. Otherwise I just say I'm bummed or hung over or happy or whatever.
OK so maybe sam-e kicks in after a week. I'm still not going to believe any effects until the one-month mark and stuff has settled down a bit.
No kidding - I saw a drug where they were bragging about their double blind test. The people taking the drug got cured 75% of the time, whereas the placebo group only got cured 50% of the time. Yeah - 50% of the placebo group got fooled into curing themselves all in their heads. This was a stomach medicine; it's even easier to imagine symptoms from antidepressants.
Yet another reason to do all this in consultation with a real pdoc. You think it's expensive, but not nearly as expensive as goofing around with the wrong drugs for a year of your life.
This is the end of the thread.
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