Depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness and worthlessness interfere with day-to-day functioning for weeks or longer. As of 2011, there is no exact cause known for depression. Treatments mainly involve the use of prescription drugs called antidepressants. But antidepressant medications have their own side effects. An alternative treatment for depression is a natural medication called S-Adenosyl-L- methionine. Consult to your doctor before taking this medication to treat depression.
SAMe Function
S-Adenosyl-L-methionine, more commonly known as S-adenosylmethionine, or SAMe, is a chemical found naturally in almost every tissue and fluid in the body. SAMe triggers the body to increase the level of serotonin in the brain, according to a study published in November 2002 in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Serotonin is a brain chemical that helps regulate your mood, social behavior and sleep cycle. Low serotonin levels may influence your mood in ways that lead to depressive disorders
Findings
SAMe at a dosage of 200 to 1600 mg per day is superior to placebo in alleviating depression, according to a study published in 2002 in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Researchers also suggest that SAMe may accelerate the effect of conventional antidepressants with few side effects. In addition, SAMe begins to work within a few days, in comparison to antidepressants, which tend to take six to eight weeks.
Dosage and Side Effects
Initial dosage of SAMe for people with depression may range from 800 to 1600 mg per day, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Divide your supplements into two doses, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. Avoid taking the supplement at night as it may cause side effects such as nausea, gas, headache, restlessness and dry mouth. People taking SAMe should also take a multivitamin that contains vitamins B-12 and B-6. Talk to your health care provider before taking SAMe supplements.
Interactions
Use of SAMe with antidepressant medication, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, may cause side effects such as anxiety, headache, rapid heartbeats, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, shivering and restlessness. Talk to your doctor before using SAMe with prescription antidepressant drugs.
References
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe): From the Bench to the Bedside---Molecular Basis of a Pleiotrophic Molecule; B. Teodoro; November 2002
- "Psychoneuroendocrinology"; The Double Edged Sword of Neural Plasticity: Increasing Serotonin Levels Leads to Both Greater Vulnerability to Depression and Improved Capacity to Recover; I. Branchi; April 2011
- "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" ; Role of S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine in the Treatment of Depression: A Review of the Evidence; D. Mischoulon et al.; November 2002
- The University of Maryland Medical Center: S-adenosylmethionine
