Posted by Ron Hill on April 15, 2002, at 12:29:34
In reply to Can SAM-e work in one day? (Ron Hill?), posted by Cindylou on April 14, 2002, at 20:02:01
Cindylou,
Great to hear! I'll respond, line by line, to your post:
> Out of sheer desperation, I tried one 200 mg tablet of SAM-e today.
>
> I felt better.
>
> I actually had enough energy/motivation to clean the kitchen ... a RARE occurrence.Good for you!
> I'm thinking this MUST be a placebo effect reaction (especially since the recommended dose is 1200-1600 mg), but if anyone thinks there may be something to this SAM-e for me, let me know.
I suspect the effect you feel is real. For people like you, me, Colin Wallace, and many others on this board who are hypersensitive to medication, 200 mg/day is about the correct dose. If I were you, I'd stay at 200 mg/day for at least a week or two before going up to 400 mg/day. Maybe all you need is 200 mg/day. The higher doses may cause some anxiety.
> Ron, I noticed from your earlier posts that you find benefit from only 200 mg SAM-e. Is this still the case for you?Yes, I am still taking 200 mg/day and obtaining very good results. If fact, I'm considering a trial at 100 mg/day.
Cindylou, since at least one pdoc thinks you may be bipolar, please be on guard for signs of hypomanic behavior while taking SAM-e. Are you completely off Lamictal at this point in time? As we have discussed before, SAM-e can induce hypomania (or mania) in BP patients without a mood stabilizer fully in place. At the same time, I realize that you have reason to believe that you are not bipolar. All I'm saying is please be on the look out for hypomania symptoms.
Also, remember the importance of B-6, folic acid, and bioactive sublingual B-12 (methylcobalanin), at all times but especially when taking SAM-e, to prevent the build up of homocystiene. See article below:
Supercharged SAM-e: B Vitamins, Folate Increase the Supplement’s Effectiveness
by ImmuneSupport.com Staff
12-01-1999 - Homocysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid involved in several important methyl and sulfur transfer reactions, and is actually beneficial in small amounts. When homocysteine levels begin to rise in the body, excessive accumulation of homocysteine in the body fluid compartments is normally prevented by degradation through two enzymatic reactions called transsulfuration and remethylation. These two processes have to be functioning for homocysteine to be kept in control and for SAM-e to function in the body. Importantly, these same enzyme reactions cannot occur without proper levels of folate, vitamin B 6 (pyridoxal 5- phosphate), and vitamin B12 (cobalamin). If you take SAM-e to promote better health (lighter mood, comfortable joints and a detoxed liver), you also need adequate levels of B vitamins and folic acid to help the SAM-e do its job.
When the body has proper levels of folic acid, Vitamins B6 and B12, the enzymatic break-down of homocysteine occurs either through remethylation, which converts it into methionine, the SAM-e building block; or through transsulfuration, which turns it into glutathione, a powerful antioxidant.
But when those processes become sluggish, the homocysteine levels in the body begin to rise. Large homocysteine levels left unchecked in the body, become an invitation to disease, including heart attack, stroke, cancer, birth defects, depression and perhaps CFS and FM.
A published Swedish study showed results of which demonstrate consistently high homocysteine levels and low concentrations of vitamin B12 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients meeting established clinical criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia.
Those taking SAM-e should be aware that the healthy benefits they experience are not due to SAM-e alone. SAM-e may be the “team leader” however, folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 are crucial members of the team that contribute to its success. It is only by incorporating the entire team that one can achieve the victory of better health and well-being.
Source:
Evarts, Jeremy Lucius. “New Study Links Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to Low Vitamin B12 and High Homocysteine in Cerebrospinal Fluid.” Healthwatch, August 1998.
Cowley, Geoffrey and Underwood, Anne. "What is SAMe?" Newsweek, July 5, 1999.
Brown, Richard, M.D., Bottigileri, Teodoro, Ph.D., Colman, Carol. Stop Depression Now. New York, 1999.
Please keep us posted regarding your SAM-e trial.--Ron
poster:Ron Hill
thread:103077
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/103135.html