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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by anita on February 4, 2000, at 22:49:51
Hi all,
I'm doing ok on St. John's Wort 1500mg/day, but I was thinking of adding SAM-E to see if it would help with depression more and particularly with energy. Has anyone taken this combo? I'm wondering if SAME might be effective at a lower dose than the one used in clinical trials (1600mg/day?) if used in conjunction with SJW because I probably couldn't afford to take more than 800mg/day of it. Does it seem worth a try?
thanks,
anita
Posted by JohnL on February 5, 2000, at 2:45:39
In reply to SJW + SAM-E?, posted by anita on February 4, 2000, at 22:49:51
> Hi all,
>
> I'm doing ok on St. John's Wort 1500mg/day, but I was thinking of adding SAM-E to see if it would help with depression more and particularly with energy. Has anyone taken this combo? I'm wondering if SAME might be effective at a lower dose than the one used in clinical trials (1600mg/day?) if used in conjunction with SJW because I probably couldn't afford to take more than 800mg/day of it. Does it seem worth a try?
>
> thanks,
> anitaSure it's worth a try. I found SAMe 400mg to be useless. But 800mg definitely helps. It is slightly energizing. It helped my sex drive too. I haven't used SJW + SAMe alone, but I have taken them both together in combination with 20mg Prozac. The combo was a lot better than any ingredient on its own, with no adverse reactions of any kind. It's generally not recommended to try novel unknown combinations like this, but I have done so, always approaching with a sense of caution and very low doses to start with. I think it's wise to dip one's toes in the water first before jumping in. But SJW + SAMe sounds perfectly fine to me, simply based on my own experimentation. JohnL
Posted by Cam W. on February 5, 2000, at 8:47:41
In reply to SJW + SAM-E?, posted by anita on February 4, 2000, at 22:49:51
> Hi all,
>
> I'm doing ok on St. John's Wort 1500mg/day, but I was thinking of adding SAM-E to see if it would help with depression more and particularly with energy. Has anyone taken this combo? I'm wondering if SAME might be effective at a lower dose than the one used in clinical trials (1600mg/day?) if used in conjunction with SJW because I probably couldn't afford to take more than 800mg/day of it. Does it seem worth a try?
>
> thanks,
> anitaAnita - I remember SAM-e when it was called by another name about 17 or 18 years ago. It didn't catch on then and probably won't now. St.John's wort is probably more effective and polypharmacy, even with (or especially with) herbals is not a good idea until we know all the longterm physiological effects of such combinations. No clinical trials of these 2 products has been done, to my knowledge. Sincerely - Cam W.
Posted by CarolAnn on February 5, 2000, at 14:42:00
In reply to Re: SJW + SAM-E?, posted by Cam W. on February 5, 2000, at 8:47:41
>>> Anita - I remember SAM-e when it was called by another name about 17 or 18 years ago. It didn't catch on then and probably won't now. St.John's wort is probably more effective and polypharmacy, even with (or especially with) herbals is not a good idea until we know all the longterm physiological effects of such combinations. No clinical trials of these 2 products has been done, to my knowledge. Sincerely - Cam W.>>>from CarolAnn: I thought I read somewhere that clinical trials had been done in Europe, at least with SAMe??? I'm not sure though.
Posted by JohnL on February 6, 2000, at 4:06:40
In reply to SJW + SAM-E?, posted by anita on February 4, 2000, at 22:49:51
There are tons of clinical trials on SAMe. But none in combination with SJW. I agree with Cam that it is questionable to use combinations that haven't been studied or well understood. But for that matter, most of the prescription combos we use commonly haven't been studied either and are not well understood. Even the best explanations of how antidepressants work are still just theories. If we wait for certain combinations to be studied and approved, we might be waiting a long long time. When I think of combos of MAOIs+stimulants+TCAs used commonly in the old days, something like SJW+SAMe sounds pretty tame in comparison.
Posted by Scott L. Schofield on February 6, 2000, at 9:54:33
In reply to Re: SJW + SAM-E?, posted by JohnL on February 5, 2000, at 2:45:39
> > I'm doing ok on St. John's Wort 1500mg/day, but I was thinking of adding SAM-E to see if it would help with depression more and particularly with energy. Has anyone taken this combo? I'm wondering if SAME might be effective at a lower dose than the one used in clinical trials (1600mg/day?) if used in conjunction with SJW because I probably couldn't afford to take more than 800mg/day of it. Does it seem worth a try?
> Sure it's worth a try. I found SAMe 400mg to be useless. But 800mg definitely helps. It is slightly energizing. It helped my sex drive too. I haven't used SJW + SAMe alone, but I have taken them both together in combination with 20mg Prozac. The combo was a lot better than any ingredient on its own, with no adverse reactions of any kind. It's generally not recommended to try novel unknown combinations like this, but I have done so, always approaching with a sense of caution and very low doses to start with. I think it's wise to dip one's toes in the water first before jumping in. But SJW + SAMe sounds perfectly fine to me, simply based on my own experimentation. JohnL
Not to change the subject too much...
Yesterday I saw a feature story on the local NYC news about SAMe.
Two "experts" were interviewed: one who was advocating its use in depression, and the other for its use in arthritis (unspecified). Both conveyed their confidences in the efficacy of SAMe for these indications. The news story also detailed a series of assays performed on the various brands of SAMe frequently sold. Of these, Solgar, GNC, and Nature's Way (?) all contained more SAMe than was listed on the label. The others contained less or none at all. When interviewed, one company representative explained that SAMe breaks-down rather quickly, so that the additional amount helps to offset what might be lost during the time it sits on the shelf.- Scott
Posted by Tom on February 7, 2000, at 11:50:52
In reply to SJW + SAM-E?, posted by anita on February 4, 2000, at 22:49:51
> Hi all,
>
> I'm doing ok on St. John's Wort 1500mg/day, but I was thinking of adding SAM-E to see if it would help with depression more and particularly with energy. Has anyone taken this combo? I'm wondering if SAME might be effective at a lower dose than the one used in clinical trials (1600mg/day?) if used in conjunction with SJW because I probably couldn't afford to take more than 800mg/day of it. Does it seem worth a try?
>
> thanks,
> anitaSJW did absolutely nothing for me. SAMe worked well for a while, but I had to keep ramping up on the dosage, and that's where the problems start. The cost for SAMe is more expensive than the cost of a new AD at the most greedy pharmaceutical company. It did work for me though, it has no side effects (for me), has been studied extensively in Europe, and probably could be easily taken with SJW. Try them one at time, go slow, and good luck.
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