Depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is a mental illness characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness or pessimism. While everyone experiences brief periods of sadness, the sadness associated with major depressive disorder can last for months with no apparent cause. The most common treatments for major depressive disorder are doctor-prescribed medications and therapy. A dietary supplement called s-adenosylmethionine, or SAMe, is also effective in relieving the symptoms of depression, according to Mayoclinic.com.
What is SAMe?
SAMe is a molecule that occurs naturally in the body's tissues. The molecule is made from two components: adenosine triphosphate and methionine, a sulfur-based amino acid. In addition to depression, SAMe is also used as an anti-inflammatory and a pain killer, especially with osteoarthritis. Your body uses B vitamins and two chemicals called methionine and choline to produce SAMe.
How SAMe Works
SAMe triggers the body to produce more serotonin, according to Supplement Watch. Serotonin is a brain chemical, or neurotransmitter, that regulates your mood and your sleep cycle. Serotonin is a major factor in depressive disorder, and many traditional antidepressant medications are designed to increase serotonin levels in the brain. In a study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," patients with major depression were given SAMe for six weeks while another group was given the antidepressant drug imipramine. SAMe was shown to be as effective as the antidepressant drug with fewer side effects.
Dosing
The initial therapeutic dosage of SAMe is 1,600 mg per day, split into two to four doses, for up to three weeks. At the end of the three-week period, reduce the dosage to 400 to 800 mg per day depending on the severity of your symptoms. The University of Maryland Medical Center also recommends taking SAMe with a multivitamin or B-complex supplement that contains B-6, B-12 and folate.
Side Effects
The University of Maryland cautions that large doses may cause an abnormally elevated mood, anxiety and insomnia. You may also experience gastrointestinal upset such as nausea and gas. SAMe can also increase manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder.
Considerations
SAMe may cause a potentially dangerous condition known as serotonin syndrome when combined with certain drugs, such as dextromethorphan and tramadol. SAMe can also increase the side effects of antidepressant drugs.
Depressive disorder is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition, as people with the disorder can experience suicidal thoughts. Consult your physician before using SAMe and do not use it in place of traditional care.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health: Depression
- Supplement Watch: S-adenosyl-L-methionine
- University of Maryland Medical Center: SAMe
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Efficacy and Tolerability of Oral and Intramuscular S-adenosyl-L-methionine 1,4-butanedisulfonate (SAMe) in the Treatment of Major Depression...; R. Della Chiale et al.; November 2002
