Have any of you tried SAMe?
It doesn’t help against anxiety, which is my main problem right now. But the fact that it is my main problem, and not depression, is squarely because of SAMe.
I always feel bad that so many people could be helped by SAMe, and don’t know about it. It’s a natural supplement that increases the levels of all neurotransmitters some - and it may lift dopamine more than others. In winter I am in bed most of the day, unless I take SAMe. Within a week I’m out there, doing things - much like the people in Awakenings. If I stop, I’m back in bed.
It is not for everyone. Some people, a large minority, feel worse on s-adenosyl-methionine. But you know within a week, ten days max.
The University of Utrecht in the Netherlands is conducting research on it, giving it to patients with childhood trauma (check.) They feel it’s especially useful for such patients, because apparently trauma can mess up DNA methylation. SAMe addresses that. The patients in the 2 year trial are getting 1200 mg a day, in 3 doses.
That’s too expensive for me, and I take 400 mg a day.
I use this one:
nl.iherb.com/pr/nutralife-t...
Read the reviews and see how it helps people. Incidentally, it also helps with joint pain. And may have other health benefits.
As I say, I feel bad that so many people don’t know about it. I guarantee you, if this was patentable it would have made it into the psychiatrist’s office long ago.
To know whether it might help you, you’d ideal have to find out if you’re a so-called undermethylator (it will help) or overmethylator (it will make you feel worse.) You can look symptoms of both up on the internet - but the issue isn’t straightforward at all. I have a lot of symptoms on both lists, and so will most people.
It is better absorbed without food but I have to take it with food, or I get stomach issues. Your mileage may vary - in the past I never had stomach issues with it, now I do, big time (but not if I take it with a meal.) 400 mgs a day keeps me out of bed. Past, really awful winter, I even went to the gym almost every day, got up early etc. Does not happen without SAMe.
The pills should be in blisters, as the ones I take, are. Taking a cheap alternative won’t work, it has to be quality. The pills shouldn’t be stored in a warm place, that degrades them quickly. I keep them in a cool place (don’t know if the fridge is ok) and don’t stock up for long periods.
If you’re on an SSRI: SAMe is known for augmenting the effect of the SSRI (if you’re an undermethylator, anyway.) Here and there you’ll find advice against taking them together, as this might cause serotonin syndrome. I have, long ago (been taking it for 15 years) written to a professor who specialised in SAMe, among other things, and asked if I should be concerned about the combination. He said no, combining an SSRI with SAMe will not cause serotonin syndrome. I combined it with citalopram 60 mg without a problem.
I really hope this will help some people. Let me know if you try it, and how it works out.
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