My Experience Taking SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine)

By Merely Me Monday, January 12, 2009

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Okay so I can't pronounce the formal name of this over the counter supplement, nor do I totally understand the chemistry behind it, but it has been my experience that SAMe helps my depression. If you ever take a look at my profile page you will notice that I am not taking any prescribed anti-depressants. It isn't from a lack of trying. I have tried several antidepressants and found that the side effects were too much for me. I have also tried St. John's Wort which seemed to only increase my nap times. Then several years ago I heard about something through the on-line grapevine called SAMe (pronounced sameee). I am always skeptical of any treatment whether it is prescribed or not. So I researched this supplement...a lot. I looked at studies. I read first hand accounts from people who were taking it. And based upon what I found, I decided to try it myself.

What is SAMe exactly?

It is a little hard to explain. It is neither an herb nor hormone. It is a compound that our body produces naturally. In an About.com article by Carol and Richard Eustice, SAMe is defined as: "...a compound produced by our bodies from methionine. Methionine is an amino acid found in protein-rich foods. How does SAM-e work? With additional help from vitamin B-12 and folic acid, SAM-e relinquishes a methyl group from its composition to surrounding tissues and organs. Through this action, SAM-e helps with the maintenance of cell membranes, removal of toxic substances from the body, and the production of mood-enhancing neurotransmitters." So it is recommended that you take B-12 and folic acid to help facilitate the effects of SAMe.

What is SAMe used for?

Among the most popular uses include treatment for liver cirrhosis, osteoarthritis, depression, and fibromyalgia. It is primarily used to improve joint function and decrease the inflammation of arthritis as well as a treatment for depression.

How do you get it?

In Europe you get it by prescription but here in the states it is not FDA approved and is sold as an over the counter supplement. I buy mine at the local health food store. You can also purchase it on-line. Why won't the FDA bother with it? Royane Real, in her article entitled, "Is S-adenosyl-L-methionine a Miracle Cure For Depression?"

offers a plausible reason: "It's very unlikely that S-adenosyl-L-methionine will ever undergo major clinical trials like those that are used to evaluate new drugs for the FDA in the United States. The reason is that S-adenosyl-L-methionine is a natural substance and it can never be patented. That means no drug company could make big profits from it." As we all know most things do come down to money.

How much do you take?

The literature says you should probably take the smallest dosage possible to start just to see how well your body responds to it. Most of the packages I have seen start at 200 mg. You might be able to cut the pill in half to start off at a lower dose. I did begin taking the 200mg in the morning, with an empty stomach. After taking this dosage daily for several weeks then I upped it to two pills at 200 mg each twice a day. I have heard of people taking as much as 1600 mg daily for their depression.

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Comments (35) | Add comment

Paul

1/12/09 7:10pm

I appreciate hearing your personal experience with this substance, I have never heard of it before. The depth of your coverage is substantial and loaded with information, enough to have me consider trying it. Curious that it's effectiveness may subside. Perhaps we build a tolerance and require a break, or a higher dose.

Tried St. John's Wort, medieval sounding that, a long time ago. Along with a lot of drugs, most, including the Wort, were ineffective, it seemed. One, Prozac and it's similar compounds, seemed promising but had a running battle with the sewage department. I hope to learn what knowledge others have about SAMe.

An article like this is much better than trying to read those fine print pamphlets, much better written and a whole lot more interesting.

9/24/12 8:50pm

I have been taking SAM-E for YEARS.. St John's Wart was useless.. I take 400ml

in the morning. The one time I ran out while on my sailboat and couldn't get any my

friends said "after the 4 days" that I was turning into a real jerk. I don't find that it

has lost any effectiveness over time either.. Works for me and I don't have any side

effects either.

psychoward1

1/12/09 7:18pm

I tried it after extensive research. Not sure if I was still crashing off the St Johns Wort. But after I started taking the Sam-E was the only time I have ever been suicidal. So my experience was very negative.

Pat

Anonymous

1/13/09 4:04pm

thank you for sharing your experiences and good advice. I was surprised to see studies on this natural substance. As noted, not much money around for this type of study. I do think with most drugs reactions vary and one can only try if they are willing to take the risk. It is good to know that in general the risks are low here.

steve

6/ 4/09 11:59pm

firstly, be very careful reading user experiences on sam-e. depression and mental issues are very diverse and in a lot of cases people may not be truely clinically depressed and expect more from sam-e than they should. but having said that...

im a 30 year old male, suffered severely with depression over many years. I got to a point where i need to be on medication or a i cant function. But i couldnt take the side effects from antidepressants, the weight gain, sexual dysfunction and rare hair loss...

Ive started taking sam-e at 800mg nature made brand, and five days into it i am experiencing a true antidepressant effect comparable to other antidepressants ive been on in the past. im only on sam-e no other suppliments so it is definately attributed to this supplement. im over the moon that ive found something that i can use that doesnt have the side effects of the other drugs. so far so good. im going to put my dose up to 1200 per day as my depression is rather severe but if u suffer from anything like depression or anxiety its definately worth considering.

Mira

11/ 7/09 8:18am

Try Puritan Pride-with buy 2 get 3 free you'll have 150 400mg pills for 70$.

bob

12/16/09 2:06pm

bestsame comes out cheeper they have a buy one get one free

Anonymous

12/30/09 8:42am

My daughter was severely depressed for almost six months. She couldn't go on prescription antidepressants because of the side affects and because of the weight loss. (We tried them all) She is very tiny (101 pounds, 5'6) and after a few months, this route was proving disastrous. Someone suggested having her take 12 grams of Inositol...(yes folks, the 'recommended dosage' on the bottle is 1/4 tsp a day...about 600 MG) so she was taking over twelve times the recommended dosage. (we bought powder...a lot cheaper)

All we read said that it took about four weeks to work. AFter about three and a half weeks had passed she suddenly said one day that for a few moments something had happened to her that she had never experienced. She said that she felt like she had broken through a dark, hovering cloud. Since the 'high' and 'break through' only lasted about an hour, we did not attribute it to the Inositol. Two days later the 'high' came again...and this time it lasted about three hours.'

Little by little, as the weeks went on she broke through the cloud more and more. We are on our 6th week now and there has been SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT. Long term...I don't know. But the improvement has been enough, that we, personally, can now document the antidepressant benefits of Inositol. It's only been six weeks. This has been a magic bullet (so far) for her.

I will try to keep posted on future improvements....if there are any.

methionine maker for animals

3/ 5/10 2:57pm

That means no drug company could make big profits from it." As we all know most things do come down to money.

Not really a valid point. There is only one maker of SAM-e for human consumption - in Italy - and they have the market locked up. And is cheaper to buy generic scripted anti-depressants than SAM-e.

There are lots of studies regarding SAM-e. The results are not compelling on an overall basis but some individual results are spectacular.

Merely Me

3/ 5/10 3:50pm

No doubt about it, SAM-e is expensive...it is about a buck a pill at least. But it works for me. I have been very happy with my experience and with very little side effects.

Thank you for your comment.

Beach Man

3/28/10 5:21am

methionine maker for animals stated in pertinent part:

"There is only one maker of SAM-e for human consumption - in Italy - and they have the market locked up."

That is absolutely not true. As far back as 2004 there have been SAM-e products for human consumption manufactured in India available in the United States. The Life Extension Foundation wrote about them as "defective" SAM-e products which had entered the U.S. market, and compared two of them to the better quality Italian made products in a convenient chart at the end of the article. You can read it here: http://search.lef.org/cgi-src-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=0&page_id=6519&query=SAMe&hiword=SAMES%20SAMe%20

If the Life Extension SAM-e doesn't interest you, another excellent Italian made brand is Doctor's Best available at vitacost.com:

http://www.vitacost.com/Doctors-Best-Double-Strength-SAMe-400#IngredientFacts

Under the title, "Supplementing with SAMe", note the following:

"... The Italian SAMe used in Double-Strength SAMe 400 [also in the 200 mg strength - see below] is processed to yield the highest percentage of the active pure S,S form on the market."

Be sure to read the reviews at:

http://www.vitacost.com/Doctors-Best-Double-Strength-SAME-400/pd-section-pr#ProductReviews

Note that it's also available in the 200 mg strength; click the Link for the 200 mg product on the page.

iherb.com also carries it, and has some interesting Reviews - 279 of them:

http://www.iherb.com/Doctor-s-Best-Double-Strength-SAM-e-400-30-Enteric-Coated-Tablets/4732?at=0

To read the 279 Reviews, click on the Link next to the red stars just under the prices. Also see the Link for the 200 mg product if that is what you prefer.

Also there are several Chinese manufacturers of SAM-e whose products are readily avialable on the internet. However, the quality of the Chinese products has yet to be determined:

http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?SearchText=S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine&Type=&Catld=100003017&IndexArea=product_en&Country=&sq=y

zoe

4/ 6/10 2:27am

zoe

i have suffered with serious depression since i was a child with suicide attempts as young a 9 years old, eating dissorder half my life. i am now 24, engaged and just hd twin girls i should of been happy id got over my bulimia while pregnant as i didnt want 2 hurt them. but the moment i gave birth came the postnatul depression i couldt bond with my babies could not cope. was convinced my parntner didnt love me anymore n was just a big fat ugly mess cryin all the time. so i had 2 be put on anti-deppresants (lexapro) which allthough made me happier had 2 many side effects weight gain n loss of sex drive n drowsiness, not great 4 a 24 year old mother of twins so i started reasearching natural mood enhancers n the best 1 i came up with was sam-e i ordered it straight away and did a lot more research on it. it seemed 2 only have possitive responsis with mild stomach upset as side effect which i get sometimes but its not that bad. some people complained of heart racing and anxiaty attacks but i think these people are obviously sensitive to the drug and just need low doses, everyone is different so you must start low working up 2 what your body needs and can cope with. i take 800mg twice a day (morning and before dinner) i am happy most of the time now more than with the anti-depressant as i felt more numb emotionally on that. the sam-e makes me see and feel things realisticly i have a good life surrounded by people i love and that love me, i could hardly see this before. i cant believe there isnt more hype about this suppliment as it is amazin and its changed my life hopefully forever. im finally happy, have energy 2 do things, and no longer feel the need 2 binge on comfort food so my eating dissorder is going away 2! i have even lost weight (back 2 post twin pregnancy weight) as ive had more energy and incentive to exercise.

my dad n brother also suffer with depression, i now have them on this 2 and they are also happy with the results!

if you are truly depressed and need 2 be medicated 2 function, give sam-e a try i feel that if it worked 4 me it will work 4 enyone!!!

managing in MN

5/15/10 2:01pm

Thank you for sharing your experience. Your article is very helpful to me. I have been taking SamE in place of prescription meds but wanted to learn more. The information out there is scattered and incomplete. Your article was one of the most complete and well-rounded. Thank you again.

Kathy - managing in Minnesota

managing in MN

5/15/10 2:10pm

Just wondering. You posted your article over a year ago. You were back on the SamE. Are you still on it? Are you feeling OK? How have been these last 15 months? Would love to know.

Thanks!

Anxious in Iowa

6/ 8/10 10:31am

Please help me. I am off Paxil for 6 months now, and all of a sudden am feeling quite anxious and paranoid. I don't want to go back where I was before paxil and I don't want to go back on Paxil because of weight gain and sexual blahs. Can SAM-e help me?

Merely Me

6/ 8/10 6:05pm

Hello

I just saw this comment! Yeah I am still taking the SAM-e...and it works beautifully for me. I am taking 400 mg a day...some people take more. I feel stable and...productive. There are other elements in my life which are helping as well but...I feel this supplement is good for me and for easing my depression. Do I still get depressed? Sure...but it is short lived and I do not sink to the depths as I used to.

Hope this helps some!

managing in MN

6/ 8/10 10:47pm

Thank you for replying. I've only been taking the Sam-e for a couple of months, so I was curious about its ability to maintain effectiveness over time. Additionally, it was so good of you to share your hardship and experience that I was hoping you were still doing well. Glad you are!

I started at 200mg/day, which didn't do much, then upped it to 400mg/day. This seems to improve my mood and attitude significantly. Sleep and exercise are very important factors in the equation for me as well... if I don't get enough of both of these negative, depressing thoughts revisit me. However, since being at 400mg/day of Sam-e I recognize what's going on and can deal with it. That in itself is awesome to me!

THANK YOU again for sharing. You've helped me and many others I'm sure. Take care & best wishes, Managing in MN

Merely Me

6/ 8/10 10:54pm

Oh good! I am so glad it is working for you. I had taken 200 mg to start as well and then it didn't seem to work after some months...so I stopped taking it for some time...and re-started and upped it to the 400 mg...and this is a perfect dose for me.

It is great to hear feedback on this...I don't think many people know about SAM-e. So thank you for sharing!

Anxious in Iowa

6/ 8/10 10:35am

Please help me. I am off Paxil for over 6 months now, and feel myself sliding back to where I was when I started it over 6 years ago.

I don't want to go back there. I also don't want to go on Paxil again because of the weight gain and sexual dysfunction.

Can SAM-e help me?

Merely Me

6/ 8/10 6:11pm

Hey there

So you are not taking anything right now? You know...it really does depend on a lot of things. There are antidepressants which do not cause so much of the weight gain and sexual dysfunction. I wrote a post about this....and Wellbutrin was one medication that the literature said did not have as many of these side effects. And the literature also talked about Paxil being the worst for some of these side effects. Everyone is different so there is no guarantee that another antidepressant would not have side effects for you. And let me stress...this decision is between you and your therapist. Your doctor is the best person to advise you on any choices you make as far as medications go.

SAM-e works for me but for some folk...I have a feeling it may not be strong enough. I really have no idea...I can only report how it works for me.

Hope this helps some. Let us know what you decide.

Anxious in Iowa

6/ 9/10 9:14am

Thank you for the feedback. I am off on a vacation for 10 days and will try the Sam-e when I return. Things are better (today) but I think The Sam-e is something I want to try.

It is so helpful just to know this outlet is here and that others can share and care. Thank you!

looking for balance

1/ 1/12 4:25pm

I took Welbutrin for three years, and it did some good things for me depression-wise. I changed to zoloft last year because the W started to really make my anxiety disorder worsen over time, and had a serious "clogging" effect on my bowls I could no longer live with. However, I really missed that W gave me more energy, I actually lost weight, and my sex drive was GREAT. Better than it ever was. I really missed that when I left it and started the zoloft, which put a real damper on that, and made me gain about 20 pounds, and made me more sleepy... Over time, my anxiety is much better, but depression has creeped in. I just added a low dose of Sam-e to see if it helps with that, and my joint pain.

Thanks for this forum.

;)

Looking for the sun

1/ 2/12 1:18am

I was taking 400mg/day and I noticed a real increase in my anxiety level so I backed off to 200mg/day but that dose isn't helping my depression. Any ideas?

Sarah

1/ 1/13 8:18pm

Hi, Read "Healing Anxiety and Depression" by Daniel Amen. They have scanned people's brains and found that there are diffferences in what areas of people's brains are over- or under-active in depression and anxiety and that certain antidepressants and natural supplements work for different kinds of depression and anxiety (they list 7 kinds). There is a questionnaire in the book that lets you know which type(s) you have. When I did this questionnaire I could understand why St John's Wort and 5-HTP hadn't worked for me and as Prozac wasn't one of the recommended medications that made sense of why I ended up feeling like a zombie on that. SAMe worked for me, but I stopped taking it when pregnant because it hasn't been proven safe for 1st or 2nd trimester. When I was taking it, there were a couple of times I ran out for between 1 and 2 weeks as hadn't ordered it online in time and then I started to feel more depressed and anxious. I wasn't expecting this to happen, at least not so quickly, so don't think that I was imagining it. In the book, there are also some amino acids (building blocks of protein) mentioned that can help some people. I noticed one comment here was from someone who felt SAMe had helped but not enough so taking some other supplements might be the answer. When I did the questionnaire it turned out I fit into two categories, so to try the natural supplements, I could take SAMe and a couple of other things. In the past I had good results just with the SAMe, but maybe I would have had even better results by adding other things. I hope this helps some people.

Helen

6/30/10 1:25pm

I am in the same boat as you. Numerous anti-depression meds and not good results. I just started taking SAMe for combo depression and firbomyalgia. I already feel the slight energy boost.

Thank you for the objective view of this wonderful supplement. Too bad it's still expensive :(

Chose to Live

10/22/10 12:36pm

I suffer from depression too. I have tried SAMe once and I cut the pill in half to 100mg. It scared me because my mind/thoughts became quiet; I have never in my entire life experience my mind being quiet. I never took any more after that. It was important for me to figure out what brought on this depressed feeling and what was motivating it to stay, whether it was my childhood and/or past or something physical. I needed to know so I can--fix it or fix me.

How I began my quest in fighting my depression without taking any prescribed medication or natural medication; I started taking vitamins and minerals; drinking juiced vegetable and some fruits; cutting out sugar, white flours and other foods that stopped up my sinuses (clogged sinuses was an indication that my body was sensitive to that food item); started listening to subliminal tapes; and I now to group therapy that is specialized in behavioral change. This regiment has been working for me, I am not going to say it is easy, because it is not--it's challenging. There have be many times when have I slip back into my old ways of copping; however learning from the behavioral group, my mistakes, and the will not to repeat has helped me to maintain this quest to become someone who is learning to love me more.

Please do not underestimate behavioral therapy it is the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my entire life; it is a place where I am emotionally vulnerable and I can not hide myself. At times I feel happy, powerful, scared out of my wits, ashamed, and at times I don't want to go on--but I do. I choose life, free from been sad, afraid and paralyzed.

I still think SAMe is a wonderful natural supplement and it does work--it's not what chose. I am pleased to know it is working for others. Oh, before I forget Vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid are necessary substances to help the metabolic process of S-adenosyl-l-methione (SAM, SAMe, SAM-e) which is found in all living cells.

I hope this information will help.

Chose to Live

10/22/10 12:37pm

jkjlkdfs

Chose to Live

10/22/10 12:48pm

Please ignore the blog titled "dfg" that I type by mistake. I was just typing garbage to see if the SAMe blog went threw--which it did. Sorry!

akouste

3/15/11 1:11pm

Hi there I am using SAME for about a month know and I see good results I am taking 400mg once a day with no adverse effect. I feel more motivated, confident and more optimistic than before with minimal agitation.

I am going to have surgery in my nose (enlarged turbinates and twisted nasal partition) I am a bit concerned if there any opposition between my SAME therapy and anesthesia or the actual surgery and recovery. I would a appreciate very much your feedback

Finally I know that I should take as well B complex vitamin but I was wondering what dosage is optimal.

Carl

9/ 2/11 1:33pm

Just thought I would give some imput on the depression circuit. I have been down this road for the last 15 years and have done the anti-depressant route. I had a remission period of about three years and it has reared its ugly head again. I have determined to not go on anti-depressants unless I have to due to the side effects. For those who do not know 5HTP with B6 will help as well as the SAMe. I have taken it for the last month and it is helping. I am just now getting information on SAMe for my back up. Those like the article writter who are taking SAMe I thought needed to know. You can bet I will keep Health Central in my library for further information. Thanks

EdnaMo

10/11/11 9:01pm

I started taking Sam-E earlier this week, 400 mg per day. My husband has severe depression and is on Cymbalta, but his meds aren't doing enough and he's reluctant to go through the agony of changing again. It's been a very tough 16 months since our son was born. I've been feeling so low lately that it occured to me the stress at home could be triggering my own depression, which I haven't felt in over 10 years. Back then I found St. John's Wort helpful, but I know there are issues with it interfering with absorption of contraceptives and other drugs, so I decided to try Sam-E instead this time. I admit I did almost no reserach. Mostly I was just determined to feel better for my son and try something easy before heading to the doctor.

I'm pretty impressed with my response to Sam-E. It took four days to feel the effects, and I feel similar to your description - even keeled, productive, resilient - good overall. Work and home tasks feel easier to tackle. I'm more mentally focused and organized, and my husband's prickliness is a whole lot easier to take. It made me realize that I've probably had mild depression myself off and on over the past 16 months, and I really wish I'd given it a try sooner.

JamieI

12/22/11 4:09am

http://naturalmedicinejournal.com/article_content.asp?article=9

Primary or Adjuvant Treatment of Depression

1/1/2011
Susan Ryan, DO, and Karolyn A. Gazella

SAMe is a viable sole treatment option for mild to moderate depression.

This is the newest study on this. Very helpful and informative. Answers the questions of why this works so well for you. Gives the pro's and the con's. Hope this helps you and others.

LOOKING FOR BALANCE

1/ 1/12 4:30pm

Hi, I notice a concern about the high cost of Sam-e, and wanted to tell people you can find the Nature Made brand at Costco, for about 39$ for 60 400mg tablets.

LOOKING FOR BALANCE

1/ 1/12 4:34pm

Hi, I notice a lot of concern about the high cost of Sam-e, and wanted to pass on that you can find the Nature Made brand at Costco, for about $39 for 60 400mg tablets.

;)

Kate

4/22/12 11:51am

I have found a similar experience with Sam-e. When I get that extra edginess that Sam-e didn't hamper I find that a Bikram Yoga class clears it out and evens me out again.

My Experience Taking SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine)

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