Posted by Julie Ann on July 29, 2000, at 23:22:27
In reply to Re: Update on SAM-e. Really works. Prices coming down., posted by ksvt on July 29, 2000, at 16:04:17
SAMe caused a lot of bowel problems for me also. Now, I take it only with food, and I have no problems -- if I eat food both before and after taking SAMe (rather than just before or just after.)
Another side effect I have with SAMe is that it causes me to feel very fatigued. I thought SAMe was an enegizer. Anyone know why I get so fatigued from taking it?
> > Hi Scott. Sam-e is very fast acting, once you get up to the dose you need. Most "hard-core" depressants need between 800mg and 1600mg and then it is only a matter of a day or so, if I remember correctly, until it works. As I said, I went up to 1600 with no gain, only an agitated depression, but I don't remember the effects lingering it me.
> >
> > I had the same experience with provigil, that the tiredness stayed in me for a least a week after (that's why I thought it was a new generic of aderex causing it). Anyway, I am no longer sure I will try the adrafinil; I've started topomax and think perhaps my bottoming out may be due to too many different stimulents in such a short time. My pdoc doesn't think stimulents are the way to go for me (though she's given me everything I've asked for, including ritalin and dexadrine),and I'm beginning to think that maybe she's right. Once I come out of this pit, I may try it, but right now, like you, I am too afraid of any more side effects. So far I have no side effects on the topomax so I think maybe I should just stick to that for now.
> >
> > I think I could tolerate the depression if I didn't have so much work to do, that I feel like I can't do. I did a sitting this morning which went well, then slept all afternoon (my cat woke me up to be fed!) I know the depression will lift, it always has, it's just really hard to get through it. I have tons of hydocodeine here, and I'm not scared to take small amounts, but I don't want to create another problem for myself. I know my therapist is one emergency call away, so that is also helping me.
> >
> > Anyway, my thoughts are with you. You might try sam-e--you've got nothing to lose but money, and if it works for you, its definitely worth the money. But stick with Nature's Way. My friend tried another highly rated brand for bad knees--didn't work--I gave him my Nature's Way and it worked in two days--for the first time in years his knees didn't hurt him when he mowed the lawn, etc.
> >
> > Sorry Scott, that things are so bad. Trust me, I know what that feels like. Shelley
>
> I must be one of the few people who felt she suffered side effects from Sam-e. I took it for several weeks to augment Wellbutrin. I don't think I ever got higher than 400 or 600 mgs, but I felt alot of intestinal distress, stomach cramps and constipation. During the course an an annual physical, my internist suggested I stop taking it to isolate it as the cause. I did, and my intestinal problems pretty much resolved. I was happy to get off it because it really was expensive and I really didn't feel like I was getting a therapuetic effect. It's very possible I wasn't taking enough too since I know 800 mgs is generally the minimum for depression. If I decide to give it another try, and I might if the price goes down, does anyone know if there is any reason why I can't bring the dosage up very quickly? Would appreciate any info.
poster:Julie Ann
thread:41637
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000729/msgs/41705.html