Looking to improve mood naturally? Feeling despondent? Are you in therapy, counselling and looking for a solution to help you reach the other side, stronger physically, emotionally and mentally?
SAMe (S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine) the natural mood lifter; I am a fan of SAMe in clinical practice with mild, moderate depressive symptoms and diagnoses. I wanted to discuss its prescription in a little more detail in the interest of practitioner and patient awareness. Of note, I utilise SAMe in mild to moderate depressive cases, however it has been tested against far more serious disorders. In one of several small U.S. studies, researchers at the University of California, 17 severely depressed patients were given a four-week course of SAMe (1,600 mg daily) or desipramine, a well-established antidepressant. The SAMe recipients enjoyed a slightly higher response rate (62 percent) than the folks on desipramine (50 percent).
Let me break it down for you in laymans terms.
My suggestion for prescribing SAMe; you really need to monitor dosage as the correct dosage differs for everyone, do not simply accept the manufacturers recommended dosage. Through research papers and clinic observation I have found that those prescribed a practitioner quality tablet- generally 400mg is far too much, and loads the body unnecessarily. Side effects of loaded dose can result in one feeling anxious, digestive disturbances and headaches. I recommend, chopping, biting the tablet to a 50mg dose take every Second day for a week and monitor for difference in mood, should be felt relatively quickly 24-48hrs. (taking it every 2nd day gives the patient an opportunity to monitor if it’s been effective and if side effects are present, not just synomonous with a coincidence of headache eg from dehydration,also means a slower build up into mood lifting benefit)
Whereas, tryptophan powder (also fantastic, highly recommend v.effective in all my clinic practice) however you are looking at a 14 day loading period for effect, again monitor dosage. In my clinic practice I have found tryptophan powder (converts to happy hormone serotonin instead of using SSRI’s and MAOI’s) to be extremely beneficial in those with mild to moderate depression, especially when experiencing loss. Very small dose eg ¼ tsp with water or juice in morning, dosage must not be missed. Remember SAMe has a load effect and lasts in the body much longer than tryptophan . Those with sensitive digestive systems seem to need very little SAMe.
After a week depending on feedback, the practitioner can increase the dosage by 50mg until desired effect is reached, wait a week before increasing as I am highlighting that there seems to be a loading effect with SAMe. You can reach up to 800mg-1600mg, however I have found that no more than 200mg has been needed and that was only utilised in a severe depressive case, obesity was an issue, long term sexual abuse had been an issue, they were under mental health care. I believe absorption may’ve played a factor in why higher dosage was needed, due to obesity related issues. At 300-400mg, headache and digestive issues were apparent, 200mg was enough to improve mood, increase motivation and respond to mental and physical health program.
There is little question that SAMe can help fight depression. Since the 1970s, researchers have published 40 clinical studies involving roughly 1,400 patients. And though the studies are small by FDA standards, the findings are remarkably consistent. In 1994 Dr. Giorgio Bressa, a psychiatrist at the University Cattolica Sacro Cuore in Rome, pooled results from a dozen controlled trials and found that "the efficacy of SAMe in treating depressive syndromes... is superior [to] that of placebo and comparable to that of standard... antidepressants
SAMe is a natural compound that functions as a methyl donor to many neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, dopamine proteins, and lipids involved in depression. It appears to have a faster onset than traditional antidepressants - which often take two weeks or more to work
SAMe has many other benefits supporting hepatic liver health and as a natural anti inflammatory. In a dozen clinical trials involving more than 22,000 patients, researchers have found SAMe as effective as pharmaceutical treatments for pain and inflammation. But unlike the NSAIDs, SAMe shows no sign of damaging the digestive tract. And instead of speeding the breakdown of cartilage, SAMe may help restore it. Unlike traditional drugs such as voltaren, ibuprofen, known to hinder GIT digestive health and actually breakdown collagen production long term. SAMe also has that double effect of lifting the mood of those in pain from injury to aid emotional and mental recovery.
CONTRAINDICATIONS; BIPOLAR, it may trigger manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder. I would not recommend it to those that are overly anxious or hyper manic. It works really well in those lacking motivation from depressive symptoms. Aside from that, the most serious side effect is a mild stomach upset, slight headaches. I’ve found that those with digestive disorders tend to have a reaction to SAMe and need lower dosage or perhaps utilise tryptophan powder in its place. For those GIT sensitivities please start off with a much lower 50mg dose every second day, discomfort is not pleasant whether natural medication or pharmaceutical medication.
There are many options to complement mental health care practices. Mood foods, amino acids, serotonin convertors found in clinical nutrition are one of many weapons in are arsenal against depressive symptoms. Practitioners and patients please note, Store it in the fridge highly sensitive to temperature change. Also recommend taking it in the morning with breakfast as it improves, alertness, focus, mood quiet rapidly. You do not want this type effect when you are about to go to sleep.
SAMe is Not to be used without health practitioner consultation and preferable in conjunction with allied mental health care. Please contact our wonderful clinical psychologists, social welfare workers at Talking Minds and liaise with Natural Dr Tiff to work towards your best physical, emotional and mental health needs.
Yours In Health Natural Dr Tiff
Evidence Based Natural Medicine www.epiphanyhealth.com.au
Role of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in the treatment of depression: a review of the evidence1,2,3,4
David Mischoulon and Maurizio Fava
1 From the Harvard Medical School, Depression Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. http://www.ajcn.org/content/76/5/1158S.short
S-adenosyl-L-methionine. A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic potential in liver dysfunction and affective disorders in relation to its physiological role in cell metabolism. [1989, 38(3):389-416] Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Review, Comparative Study http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/2680435
The antidepressant potential of oral S-adenosyl-l-methionine† Presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association symposium “S-adenosyl-methionine. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1990.tb05476.x/abstract
S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAMe) as antidepressant: meta-analysis of clinical studies http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0404.1994.tb05403.x/abstract
Oral S-adenosyl-L-methionine in depression
Current Therapeutic Research, Volume 52, Issue 3, Pages 478-485
M. De Vanna, R. Rigamonti http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0011393X05804242?via=sd
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 1993, Vol. 59, No. 1
Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine in Depressed Postmenopausal Women Salmaggi P, Bressa GM, Nicchia G, Coniglio M, La Greca P, Le Grazie Psychother Psychosom 1993;59:34–40 (DOI: 10.1159/000288642) http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowAbstractBuch&ArtikelNr=288642&ProduktNr=251626