Depression Blog.com

Haven't seen anything on internet related to my SAM-e problem...headaches. I started a low grade headache as soon as I started taking SAM-e. If I consume any alcohol, the headache is a lot worse. I stopped taking SAM-e & the headaches went away. After a couple of weeks I decided to start taking it again. Within 10 minutes I had a low grade headache again which stayed with me throughout the night. Has anyone else experience headaches while taking SAM-e?

My neighbor is taking sam-E for mild depression and thinks it's great. I don't have depression but have very low blood-levels of serotonin; also extreme, uncontrollable irritability and occasional confused speech (both of which I never had before I got chronic fatigue/yeast syndrome a few years ago, but that's another story...). Zoloft did a great job for all of this — the irritability disappeared and I had no more brain fog — but it made me fat, so I went off it and tried the sam-E. Since then, not only have the irritability and speaking difficulty returned (the other day I broke the turn signal off my car — just got pissed off and tore it off the steering column — a $500 part, never mind the labor...), but also I've had dizziness and stomach-aches for the two weeks I've been on the sam-E. Today's the last day of my experiment!

I have heard very positive comments about Sam-e from people that came off antidepressants and went on Sam-e. The friends I know that are taking it start on 200 mg twice and day and increase it according to their needs up to 800 mg a day. I do not know what the ISO stands for on the label but the representative for this product told all those at the conference we were at to make sure that it says ISO right under where it says Sam-e. I have been on Prozac but stopped it due to side-affects 3 weeks ago and will try Sam-e only because I have not heard of any negative side effects from many I know taking it. Does any one know how long one should be off prescription antidepressants before starting Sam-e? Thanks,

started taking SAM-e about a week ago and have noticed an significant uptike in my anxiety level if this continues Ill have to back off taking 800 mgs

I noticed the effects the first day. Taking 200 mg of SAM-e, within 20 minutes I felt exremely sleepy, unable to focus along with a sudden but brief swell of anxiety. The sense of "well being" is there but not worth the side effects I mention.

Yes, I had headaches too. And I found myself to be VERY irritable and impatient. Won;t take it again.

I've noticed an extreme tightening in my chest since I started 400.mg SAM-e a week ago. It's strange..almost like a feeling of doom. I keep thinking if I take this medication long enough this side effect will go away. I think I'll give it another week but I can't stand longer than that. Has anybody kept taking it with this feeling and the bad side effect finally diminished?

I began taking Sam-e for A.D.D. and depression.
When I started taking it my thoughts and emotions were so out of control, I wasn't productive in the least. Now, I have been taking them for 2-3 month's and I feel somewhat "emotionally constipated" almost as if I were on a chemical anti-depressant. I can feel emotions inside, but I can not convey them in any logical manner, also my memory has been totally non-existent. "Fleeting emotions"

Started sam-E 100mg two days ago, have had a low-grade headache the whole time, and now today a few gas pains. No idea if these symptoms will go away as time progresses - still searching the Internet for answers.

My doctor suggested trying Sam e for chronic leg
ache. After one week of taking 200mg a.m. and
p.m. I felt vey depressed. After ten days I
experinced irrational behavior, extreme mood
swings and felt like I was losing my mind. The
only change I'd made in my routine was taking
Sam e. When I checked the side effects I learned
it was also used and an antidepressant. It had
the opposite effect for me!

since i have been taking sam e i have had several headaches .

I have been taking Same e for over month now. It has given me a ton of energy and more excitment about live. I don't just sit around dreading everything anymore. I feel happier and more content. sorry to hear some of you have not had the same fortune as I. I SWEAR by it!

I really wanted SAM-e to work and so far am very disappointed.
I've been taking it for two weeks and have had a noticable rise in anxiety and a complete inability ot concentrate. In addition - I've had nightmares almost every night.
I had high hopes because I'm tired of turning to prescription drugs (have used celexa, zoloft, effexor, luvox, wellbutrin).

I started taking Sam-e along with 5HTP and do not see any difference in how I feel. Still very depressed and high anxiety. I'll give it some more time before seeking other treatments. What are your experiences?

I found this site while doing a search on SAM-e and side effects. I started taking SAM-e today in the hopes that it would help with a painful, problem joint. After about an hour, I felt slightly dizzy and extremely anxious. It is now 5+ hours later, and I still feel anxious, a little dizzy and sort of disoriented. I'm happy for everyone that finds relief with SAM-E, and I am dissappointed that it is apparently not for me...

Hello All,

I've been taking SAM-e for about 4 days now. I went to the gym and did cardio yesterday and noticed that I cannot seem to catch my breath fully and there is sort of a tightness in my chest. At first I thought it might have just been from overexertion, but I've never had this before and I workout all the time. It seems a little dangerous. I'll stay on it for another day and then I'm done if I still feel this way. I know some other people have had tightness in the chest, but has anyone had trouble with their breathing too?

I started using SAM-e, because I suffer from depression and panic disorder. I was hopeful after talking with my therapist that SAME-e would be a natural alternative to an SSRI, but SAM-e has made me more anxious than usual. When I am on it, I feel like I am crawling out of my skin. My chest also feels tight. I read that in Europe it is a prescription drug, and I think that it shoud be classified as one here as well.

My wife took Sam-e for almost two months, going from 200 to 1600 mg/day. She started getting incredible painful stomach cramps, even went to the ER once. She was seen and treated for various GI disorders, but what eventually made her pain go away was when she stopped taking Sam-e. She's been off it for a month and her stomach pains have not returned (and she's not taking any other medicines, either)

I have also experienced headaches, almost like a migraine, with Sam-e. Has anyone found that they disappear after a while or with lower dosage, (I'm taking 400)? I like the other effects.

Hello! ....I have recently had a BAD experience with SAM-E... having insomnia, anxiety, fear, shakiness, and restlessness (especially restless thoughts). This stuff kicked in super-fast for me.

I'm a young woman wanting to brighten my energy, motivation, and mood; I have a slender build. I was actually angry because the box of the JARROW brand I bought suggested 200 -OR- 400 mg; so I did 200 mg and EVEN on 200 mg once a day... five days passed, and then the anxiety kicked in. This brand markets themselves as the strongest molecular composition, and I believe them! Worries and insecurities became magnified so much! Scary! Of course, I hadn't been taking very good care of myself/my body at all.

Anyhow, I stopped taking the Sam-e about 7 days ago now, and am just now starting to feel some relief, only after great focus....

**I feel some discomfort on one side my neck, like there's something going on with my swallowing, but that started a little before SAM-E, I think. Anyway, was planning to ask my doctor about it. It *feels* related to breathing, but not so sure because I have the tightness and oversensitivity to how well I'm breathing. (Could be psychosomatic)

****Does anyone have info on how long it took you to feel "back to normal" again??? If it had to be a choice, I feel I would rather have my low, slightly depressive state, than the anxiety!!!

***Please go into this carefully - I suggest starting at 50mg, seriously!

Best and Blessings to all of you... N.

P.S. Very interested in hearing others feedback, keep it coming!

Have been taking sam-e for about 3 months now. Feel "happier" and less intense at work but have other side effects that seem to have increased. I have tendency to have irregular benign heart beats, these have increased in last 3 months. I continue to have sleepless ness. Wake up in the middle of the night and think and worry about trivial things. This has increased since I took sam-e. I love the mood improvement but these side effects that seem to be attributable to SAM-e have convinced me to cut back and maybe eliminate using it.

Well,sorry to say " i'm having the same sucky
types of experiences as most of you!"Sucky!
I've only begun taking it 4 days ago and for the past 11 mo. I have been breast feeding.This is what I blame my anxiety and panic attacks on.
Hormones.Any now,To add to my anxiety,I now have
had to fight to get what seems like two hours of sleep and quit dreaming.I usualy dream all night every night.Though I'm not ready to quit trying,I am tierd and moody.
I am not a quiter!"Yet!"And i'll check in next week.

Wow! Glad I found this site. I have been taking SAM e for about l0 days, and have experienced the chest tightness,can't fully catch my breath (feels like I'm revved up physically, but my blood pressure is normal), and have a stomach ache every day so far. Benefits are good mentally, and I plan to cut my dosage to l00 mg daily and hope side effects subside. I feel more like my old self before depression, and interests are starting to come back, along with mental energy. At least I know where the stomach ache and chest tightness are coming from (along with what feels like swollen glands and a soreness when swallowing sometimes).

Wow! Glad I found this site. I have been taking SAM e for about l0 days, and have experienced the chest tightness,can't fully catch my breath (feels like I'm revved up physically, but my blood pressure is normal), and have a stomach ache every day so far. Benefits are good mentally, and I plan to cut my dosage to l00 mg daily and hope side effects subside. I feel more like my old self before depression, and interests are starting to come back, along with mental energy. At least I know where the stomach ache and chest tightness are coming from (along with what feels like swollen glands and a soreness when swallowing sometimes).

Wow! Glad I found this site. I have been taking SAM e for about l0 days, and have experienced the chest tightness,can't fully catch my breath (feels like I'm revved up physically, but my blood pressure is normal), and have a stomach ache every day so far. Benefits are good mentally, and I plan to cut my dosage to l00 mg daily and hope side effects subside. I feel more like my old self before depression, and interests are starting to come back, along with mental energy. At least I know where the stomach ache and chest tightness are coming from (along with what feels like swollen glands and a soreness when swallowing sometimes).

I have been reading the comments here... and see a very close similarity with wellbutrin side effects. This may show that these symptoms rise when the dopamin action is intensified. However with wellbutrin these extreme experiences : anxiety , hard breathing, chest tightness...tend to slowly tapper off within 2-4 weeks. I wonder if it is the same with Sam-e. I am taking 200 mg a day now ,hoping it will eventually replace my wellbutrin. I will update everyone in about 2 weeks.

a.

I have read your comments to date with interest. (I apologize for any spelling errors in advance.) I am being treated for major depression, and am taking an SSRI (Cymbalta 60 mg) and a crossover drug (Trazadone 50 mg). When I first saw my doctor, my complaint was lack of sleep over worry, to the point of total exhaustion. He prescribed Trazadone, that was increased by 50 mg every few weeks, until reaching 200 mg., taken before bed. That worked, but the mental fog set in. As my situation became worse, he put me on the SSRI as well, to be taken in the morning. This worked pretty well, and I slowly reduced the trazadone down to 50 mg. before bed. However, the SSRI had me still in a fog, and I was sleeping 10 hrs. a night, and I felt very lethargic. I started studying about this stuff a bit, and read some research that indicated that when seratonin is increased, dopamine can naturally decrease. This study also cited several cases where adolescents had actually exhibited a psudo "frontal lobe syndrome" from SSRI's. Another study that I saw corrolated frontal lobe activity to dopamine levels. As I understand it, frontal lobe activity is realted to the ability to plan, to memory, the ability to relate outcome of events to actions, a segemnt of emotion processing, rem sleep, and other critical mental process. Based on what I had read, my symptoms seemed to suggest that I might be suffering from lowered dopamine levels. What prompted me to write this, was the previous entry on Wellbutrin. From what I have read, Wellbutrin does indeed raise dopamine levels. However, my doctor has had mixed results prescribing it because of the side effects, mostly related to elevated dopamine levels. I had considered Wellbutrin to raise dopamine levels, but I believe that it also affects other neurohormone levels, and changes with neurohormone levels can result, under some circumstances with other drugs, in life-threatening hyper- or hypotensive episodes, or seratonin syndrome, so I was severely limited in the drugs that can be taken with SSRI's. I wanted to test my theory that I was suffering from low dopamine, and wanted something to raise my dopamine, without significantly affecting norepinephrine or seratonin. Also, I figured that if I was low on dopamine, then I wouldn't get the side effects of elevated dopamine if I could restore dopamine to normal levels while still taking the other drugs. My Internet searches were slim. SAM-e was one of the few seemingly relatively benign drugs that I might try. So, I did, and to my amazement, it worked! The fog cleared within three days, I had plenty of energy, my sleep went to 8 hrs., my appitite backed off of simple carbohydrates (which had increased on SSRI's) and my mental clarity was better than it had been since before becoming depressed. I actually got up to 1600 mg/day with amazing results. However, it wasn't long before I started experiencing severe and crippling stomach pain. As this is not generally known to be a side effect of SAM-e, when I went to my doctor, he did not want to disclude a possible ulcer. However, I suspected SAM-e, and started reducing the dosage. I also switched brands to Jarrow, and am now at 800 mg/day. At this dosage, the positive effects are not as strong, but still very much present, and the stomach pains have subsided. I have found almost no research om using SAM-e to counter bad SSRI side effects, but did see a study from a hospital in MA where SAM-e was shown to have significant effect in individuals not responding to SSRI's. In any case, this has been a near miracle in my life, and suggest that if you are on SSRI's with side effects similar to mine, that you discuss SAM-e with your doctor. (SAM-e did NOT overcome the bad sexual side effects of SSRI's, but did overcome just about everything else.)

Currently I'm taking 1200 mg/day of Sam-e.
I started with 800 mg, and at first I had some stomach heartburn, and some of the shortness of breath. But after about 3 weeks now, both of these problems seem to be lessening. I take it on an empty stomach to get more of an effect.
At this dose, I'm noticing it is keeping depression at bay, and I'm quite alert. So far, so good. I'll see what happens after taking this for another week or two. (Beware of some irritability).

I'm reading through the comments here and they almost sound fake, haven't heard so many negative comments about Sam-E on any other site. I have been taking it for a week and went from crying every day, sleeping until 2pm and not being able to do simple things like clean my house or pay the bills to being almost completely focused and on top of things. Yes, I have a couple of side effects similar to conventional antidepressents (stomach upset, insomnia). The chest pains you are having are probably just anxiety from the increasing levels of neurotransmitters, and will go away. This has worked quicker than any other antidepressent!

Just to provide my feedback too. I've suffered from depression for years and tried multiple prescription antidepressants (Effexor and Lexapro). But always with he hopes to get off them.

Sam-e seemed like it has proven to do the trick for many. I started with a low dose; 100mg twice a day for a week, then up to 200mg twice a day for about two weeks. I understood that it was strong stuff and thought it would be best to start slow and work my way to what would hopefully be a proper level. Right away I found that I began having more dreams (good and bad ones) and that I seemed to wake earlier and was a bit restless. I did not really feel the extra positive energy that I hear about, yet I did experience a bit of tightness in the chest. I figured that I would then try and go to the 800 mg a day and see how that did. I've been doing this for just over two weeks now and have more tightness in the check and what I think is serious anxiety as well. I think I am going to stop, because the results I am experiencing are not positive...very disappointing for me.

I have been freaking out with many family and job issues right now, and I really don’t think this sam-e is helping.

Can anyone advise about getting off of it? Should I taper down, if so how slowly? Or can I just stop it? Thanks.

This stuff makes me feel better than I have in a LONG time. I am perimenopausal, and had been suffering from extremely high levels of anxiety and hormonal sadness before I tried this product. I started out taking 1200 mg a day (at three intervals) but have since backed dowm to 2 400mg tabs per day. I have a high threshold for physical pain, so I am rarely troubled by headaches, stomachaches, etc. (having the "ignore them and they'll go away" philosophy, so I don't have any painful maladies to report...just a better sense of emotional well-being than I've had in a very long time, which I'd trade a tummy ache for ANY day, if that were even a factor for me).

I just started taking SAM-e today, so I'll have to wait to see what happens. However, no one here has mentioned taking vitamin B complex along with the SAM-e. It is supposed to help metabolize the chemicals correctly. I am taking both, and will try to write back in a week or so....

I have been taking SAM-E 400 mg for about 3 weeks.
I have been taking 1 cap a day.
I started taking it as a liver supplement.
Nothing felt for about 1 week but following 3 weeks were nightmare even last 10 days I stopped taking it. I had severe dizziness that was caused by high blood pressure. I have perfect blood pressure 80 x 120 but these days it was about 90 x 150. It started to vanish after I stopped taking it but not before 1 week or so. Any way should be taking very carefully.

BEWARE AWFULL SIDE EFFECTS WITH ONLY 70 MG
First I had headaches, then stomach pain, than my headaches turned to migraines, not even my migraine prescription helped, and I had terrible stomach pain and nausea with vomiting! Also had shakiness, fast heartbeat, bad dreams, was snappy and had pain while swallowing! I only took less than 100 mg/day for 5 days and day after day I felt sicker and sicker like I am taking poison! And this is the only site with negative comments about sam e. I dumped the whole bottle, it is worse than antidepressants! I will try 5 htp next.

Its hard to believe all of the negative things I'm reading here about sam-e. It makes me think that drug companies are frightened about the positive effects of an over-the-counter drug and got a bunch of people together to write negative things about sam-e because it really does work just as well as the prescription stuff without all of the side effects. I started using it in January of 2006 for depression. I could not afford to see a doctor and definitely couldn't afford any type of medication so I turned to this alternative. Within 4 days I was feeling better and within two weeks I felt alive again. The ONLY side effect I had from it was diarrhea and that was because I was started at 800mg a day when I should have started at only 200-400mg a day. I was on Prozac 12 years ago and it worked beautifully for me except it gave me nightmares and I couldn't have an orgasm on it so I stopped after 10 months. I have been on Paxil (it didn't work), celexa (made my joints hurt) and Wellbutrin (wasn't on it long enough to notice any effect). Sam-e worked very well for me. It didn't change my ENTIRE personality like prozac did but it kept me out of a depressed state and I felt normal.

I've been taking SAM-e for a month.

I also haven't seen as many negative comments on SAM-E as I have here. It would not surprise me at all if the MULTI-BILLION dollar pharmaceutical industry hires people to give bad press to supplements that hurt their business. Don't forget that the amino acid L-Tryptophan was almost completely banned and had its reputation permanently scarred because of a tainted batch from Asia that caused some deaths. Prior to its ban many people used it for depression with much success. This was right before SSRI's skyrocketed in popularity. It is now available again. With all the prescription and OTC drugs constantly causing deaths I wonder why this amino acid was made completely unavailable. I guess when you have billions you have a lot of influence.

Beware of where you get your information. The internet, especially blogs are quite suspect.

By the way, I've been taking SAM-E 200mgs and haven't noticed much of anything, good or bad. I just upped my dosage to see if that changes things.

I found sam e to cause further depression rather than remove it. One of the comments posted here says it has the opposite effect of what it should. I concur and am grateful to find out others experience the sam thing.

I find this to be true with other natural alternatives and wonder if this is indicative of odd brain chemistry.

I went off of Zoloft about 3 weeks ago, which i've been taking since 1992 for severe depression,at which time i started taking Sam E. I have tried every kind of antidepressant with miserable side effects and Zoloft was actually making me feel more depressed. I had tried to quit taking Zoloft several years ago and my hot flashes (hysterectomy) came back 10 fold and I was so depressed, I went back on it. I started taking Sam E the day I quit my Zoloft and right now I feel better than I have in 15 years! I have had some side effects including anxiety, restlessness, nauseau and extreme dreams, HOWEVER, they seem to be lessening with time except for the dreams. I never dreamed when on Zoloft and feel like i'm catching up!!! The heavy depressive mood that has been hanging over me is gone - Zoloft never got rid of it and it had gotten much worse in the last 4 years as a result of 2 bad auto accidents which left me in severe ongoing pain. In any event, I think Sam E is like any type of medication or supplement in that it can cause unwanted side effects but really help a portion of people. I can't believe I have been so fortunate to find something that helps me. Of course, I don't like the side effects mentioned above, but everything is relative and compared to how i was feeling on the Zoloft, i feel like i may just have a chance to move on with my life. I have several other friends Sam E has helped immensely....

Started SAM-e about a month ago. I started with just 200 mg Jarrow brand SAM-e per day. I increased to 400 mg (200 in the AM and 200 in the PM) but quickly reduced back to 200.

SAM-e has definitely helped pull me from a deep, deep despair. I skipped it for two days because I ran out and didn't get to the store, and I fell very quickly back into a deep, dark depression. Once back on it, my mood is quite good.

The side effects I have noticed are feeling a little shakey in the first hour or two after taking it, restlessness evidenced in leg bouncing, and, ironically, a little sleepiness (all in the same hour or two period after taking it), and some funny sleep related things...When it is time to sleep, it seems I drop almost instantly into a dream state. I do wake up early with anxious thoughts, though that was a feature of my depression without the SAM-e. I think it has also suppressed my appetite, because I don't seem to be able to eat nearly as much as I did before. I will have to make sure I don't lose too much weight. Right now, it is helping me feel functional, and that is worth the minor side effects.

its great I beat my depression and anxiety within 2 days