Posted by Indie on July 24, 2004, at 10:04:01
In reply to Re: SAM-e, posted by nicko on July 22, 2004, at 5:43:02
Hi Nicko,
I too just started taking SAMe for severe depression at the suggestion of my p-doc. I have read a few articles and some of them have different dosing recommendations. It seems, though, that the theraputic dose for depression is between 400 and 1600 mg/day. So if you are taking one pill per day (I am assuming you are taking 200 mg tabs) then you are not in the theraputic range at all.
Personally, I started with 200 mg 2X/day for three days and then moved up to 400 mg 2X/day. It has been less than 1 week and I think that it may just be working. Nothing dramatic, I did not wake up one day and find myself depression free but feeling a bit better, which feels like a miricle as I have been pretty severely depressed for over a year and responded to nothing (including ECT).
OK, I'll stop babbling about me. My main point is, yes, it is definately safe to start taking two tabs/day. I am definately not qualified to make dosing recommendations so I highly recommend that you do this in the care of a p-doc. However, my experience has been very positive. On day 10, assuming that my doc approves, I will move up to 400 mg 3X/day. I will keep you posted on how it goes.
Below are two references for dose recommendations.
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,818,00.html
"400-600 mg twice a day on an empty stomach (either one hour before, or two hours after a meal)"
http://holisticonline.com/Remedies/Depression/dep_nutrition2.htm#SAM
"Dosage: Because SAMe can cause nausea and vomiting in some people, it is recommended that it be started at a dosage of 200 mg twice daily for the first two days, increased to 400 mg twice daily on day three, then to 400 mg three times daily on day ten, and finally to the full dosage of 400 mg four times daily after twenty days.
Treatment for severe depression requires higher doses. Unipolar patients are given 800 mg or 1600 mg per day."
Good Luck!!
Indie
> > I can't seem to find my old posts .LOL
> >
> > Anyways I'm still on my 1200mg of SJW and 1 tablet daily of SAM-e (its been 5 days) do you think i should try 2 daily? one hasnt seem to have made any difference, besides the fact my stomach doesnt like it very much.lol
>
>
> So considering the above and its now been 7days would 2 daily be too much?
>
>
poster:Indie
thread:367682
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040718/msgs/369907.html