S-adenosylmethionine for Depression User Reviews

• Mic...
• August 8, 2020

"I'm a 50-year-old male who has suffered with depression and anxiety all my adult life. I have probably tried most of the prescription medication available. My experience has found that all the prescription medications, the side effects in the end outweigh the benefits. I have experimented with many non-prescription drugs and finally found, for myself anyway, these combinations to work better than prescription medications. My personal research has taken a decade. 1. SAM-e has elevated my moods, energy, and rid me of anxiety. No other drug has managed to do this. 2. Lithium Orotate 5mg. 3. 5-HTP, 400mg taken in the evenings along with 4. Melatonin 0.3mg as I have always had issues with sleep. This combination will take at least 6 weeks as I did need to titrate the SAM-e as a high dose too soon will cause some anxiety and a feeling of the jitters. It has been three months and I feel like I did when I was a child with no issues, depression, or anxiety. This has changed my life."

• Idd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2020

"I really wanted SAM-e to work for me as I've been struggling with severe anxiety and mild depression for years. Taking it, however, made me feel like I was going crazy. I felt like I was rapidly circling through manic and depressed episodes throughout the day, going from extremely happy and energetic, have thoughts rush through my head to feeling super bad and extremely anxious. I didn't know what to do. I've actually impulsively gotten on a plane to Scotland. Honestly, it was such a weird experience. Maybe the extreme effect came from an underlying mood disorder, who knows, but I'm never taking SAM-e again, and I just thought I should share my experience."

• Smi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2020

"Due to COVID and unable to move at this time, I have anxiety and getting more depressed daily. I had bought SAM-e 200mg ages ago but somehow forgot to take it?! It was brought to my attention that it works, so I started taking it and the result was nothing less than astonishing. My spirits lifted, I feel calm and so much happier. It was that awful sadness that was getting me down. So good to feel I can cope with the problem now. Take it before breakfast with tea only. It works fast and has no side effects."

• Der...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 23, 2019

"Careful with this stuff, guys and gals. I believe it helped cure my depression. I took it for almost 2 years and only stopped cold turkey due to sudden severe GI discomfort. After I stopped, depression never returned, thank goodness. However, seemed to have kidney issues since started taking it. Now, about 5 years after stopping, having some significant kidney issues. I know this is common with several meds, but had no warning sign since it’s not FDA approved. Proceed with caution is all I say. God bless."

• ban...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2020

"I’ve been on it for a week. I definitely feel like it’s lifted my depression some. I’ve been moderately to severely depressed for the last 3 years. I feel good, but the side effects are no joke. First day I took it, I felt dizzy, was sweating profusely, and vomited. The stomach pains were a 10 on a pain scale. I took it again the next day with plenty of water and on an empty stomach. The stomach pain was less, but still a solid 7. By day 3, the stomach pain was just uncomfortable. It’s been about a week now, but today I took it on an empty stomach and my stomach pains have been sharp for the last six hours and I feel nauseous almost all the time. The side effects are not worth working through so I’m going to switch to something else."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2020

"Today was day 2 on SAMe, which I was taking for depression. I feel like it is starting to work. I don't feel the same sadness all day. I am hoping that I continue to get better. I hate this feeling of sadness and some certain images that pop into my head periodically throughout the day, really scaring me. I have never experienced depression before until this year after my 25-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer. I feel broken. The doctor prescribed me Effexor & Lexapro, but both made me terribly sick. It actually made me worse off, my mind was going crazy. I really hope SAMe works for me, I'm desperate."

• Ser...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 11, 2018

"I've been taking SAMe close to two years now. I was taking a 400mg dose about twice a day on an empty stomach before I was pregnant and have now been back to it again. I find not only does it help with my mood, I feel very motivated to get things done. I can actually finish a task. I work in a health supplement store so I had tried nearly everything to help with my random bouts of depression. It's also great for liver and joints. I make sure to always take it on an empty stomach with some sort of caffeinated beverage. I love it! I need to research long-term effects because I feel like I will be on this stuff for life."

• Blu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2018

"At the recommendation of my doctor, I started taking SAM-e for depression. She recommended 400 mg, 2x a day without food. I had to immediately stop the PM or before-bed dose as it was too activating for me. I have sleep issues as well and noticed that after taking it, I was waking up several times a night and staying awake. I stayed on the AM dose for about three weeks and eventually had to stop that dose as well due to increased anxiety, panic, and agitation. It sounds from the other reviews like this is a great supplement for those who do not have co-occurring anxiety."

• sup...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2019

"Within a week of taking 400 mg s-adenosylmethionine twice a day, I experienced a deep sense of clarity, peacefulness, freedom from sadness, increased energy, and an overall significant improvement of my depression. However, after about a month further, the effects oddly seemed to fade. I’ve since tried 800 twice a day without much recurrence of that clarity. Regardless, it was worth a few side effect-free weeks of peace. I highly recommend giving this a try, especially because of the remarkably low occurrence of side effects."

• Lyd...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 9, 2020

"Having suffered from anxiety and depression for almost two decades, I have been through a number of treatments. I had SAMe given to me by my naturopath to treat the severe anxiety. My dose is only 200g, and I always take it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to avoid GI and sleep issues. I was instructed to take this for a few weeks every day until I felt my anxiety was gone, meaning my levels were up, and then to stop taking it until I thought my symptoms were starting to return. For me, that means one or two days in a row taking it, once or twice a month. It’s an expensive medication, so this works well for me. I have felt something akin to anxiety while taking it, like my mind moving faster than I could keep up with, but this is rare and generally a sign for me I’ve got enough in my system. Additionally, I take zinc and magnesium daily, and this combination has returned my quality of life, and I’m no longer on prescription medications."

• TBo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2019

"After 20 yrs of antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds, I decided to give Sam-E (s-adenosylmethionine) a try. It really helps with moderate depression. Does not help with anxiety. Tried it for several months until I realized it was giving me panic attacks and insomnia."

• Mnd...
• August 23, 2017

"I have suffered from severe depression for over 7 years. I was on a prescription medication and found once I turned 26 that my insurance would no longer cover that prescription. It had been the only pill I could get to work, but without insurance, I couldn't afford the $250 a month for these pills. Then I found SAM-e. It has helped keep my mood stable and kept my depression symptoms at bay. Plus, $60 a month is way more affordable. I hope this continues, and I will be a SAM-e customer for life."

• Ken...
• July 28, 2020

"Took s-adenosylmethionine, and it makes me feel okay for around an hour, then the rest of the day is filled with heightened anxiety. Have tried it several times, and the effect is always the same. Not for me."

• Kat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 6, 2021

"Depression and anxiety plagued me until taking this 15 years ago. First heard about Sam-E (that's its short name) on PBS. It's a strong supplement one needs to understand. I began at 400 mg daily, then went to 600 mg, which helped, but ultimately I landed at 800 mg - perfect. (Shocked to hear people start above 1000 mg. Seems like too much too soon from my research, but I'm no doc!) Fortunately, no side effects for me. It can interfere with falling asleep, so always take it in the morning. Also, take it on an empty stomach, then no food for 30 minutes. Make this med routine; don't stop it cold turkey because of possible withdrawal symptoms - quick onset depression or anxiety attacks. Take the enteric-coated version only. Sam-E is pricey, so take advantage of the drug stores' buy-a-box, get-a-box-free. This has been used in Europe for decades, long before in the States. When I researched it 15 years ago, all info and reviews were from Europe - great info!"

• 302...
• July 7, 2017

"I sometimes have mood problems, which I believe are related to blood sugar issues because when I am careful to not consume refined sugars, I feel much better. I also experience joint pain because of the decades of physical labor. I have been taking SAMe for more than 15 years, 200 mg every morning before breakfast. It affects me in a subtle way. It seems to pick my mood up a bit. I can't take it at night before I go to bed because it makes my brain overactive and I can't sleep. Lately, I've been searching the Internet for information about the long-term side effects because I am a little worried about taking this substance regularly for such an extended period of time. The dosage is low (200 mg daily), but still, 15 years is a long time."

• Car...
• March 13, 2021

"Best supplement ever for my type of depression (dysthymia/anxiety/ADD; the type where you have no motivation, can sleep all day instead of insomnia, etc.). I also have mild/moderate CFS. It's like I'm missing this in my body. Works in 1 week for me, but I am very sensitive. 200 doesn't do a lot, 1000 made me very anxious, 400-600 seems to be the sweet spot. HOWEVER :-( : After 6 weeks or so, the antidepressant effect goes away. Also, after a few months of use, I started to feel nauseous (I take it in the morning before food, and for the first 2 hours my stomach is a bit upset). When I stopped once, I felt awful, btw. I would highly recommend tapering off. Nevertheless, I can't live without this anymore. It still works amazingly for my ADD/concentration, and I am less lethargic, need less sleep. My next step is trying to add saffron to the mix. I think it works best for people who need both serotonin and dopamine/norepinephrine. I take Now Foods brand."

• sou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2021

"I've been taking SAM-e for two months now and noticed a slight elevation in my mood. I also want to support my liver function, which it claims to do. But after taking 800 mg once a day for eight weeks, my right kidney is in pain, and I feel worse than before taking it. Be careful with this supplement! I never had kidney issues before taking it."

• mma...
• September 18, 2020

"I tried SAM-e a few years ago after my dad died. (200-400 mg morning huge glass of water) It was amazing, worked really quick, and I found the years of intermittent depression vanished (took for a few months). I weaned off and was fine until I started perimenopause symptoms, so I thought I would try again and see if it would help the lows and highs. It's only been a week, and it has stabilized them (also taking 300 mg magnesium). It's also helped my joint pain significantly, but it hasn't helped the anxiety, and I have bad bloating. The first few days, I was agitated, dizzy, and felt a bit manic, but I remember that from last time, and it settled now after a week. I am going to keep taking it for the joint pain and the depression, even though it hasn't helped the anxiety. I just hope the bloating calms down, as I feel like it puts pressure on my heart."

• sb4...
• March 27, 2014

"I had read up on this drug before using it, and multiple sources stated that it could help with depression. I was on it for about a week before I noticed any positive changes in my mood, so I can attest to its effectiveness against combating depression. The downside for this drug is that I experienced all of the 'less' severe symptoms, and I must say that they were pretty severe. On the second day of taking the drug, I experienced dizziness to the point that I fainted in public, and that very same day I had a horrible bout of nausea and vomiting. I vomited to the point that there was nothing left in my stomach, and I was just vomiting bile and blood from my raw throat. This works great for depression, but I'm going to use something else."

• geo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 19, 2013

"I have had noticeable benefits with mood support in the years that I have been on and off of SAMe. It has helped me to be less vulnerable to depression and to better control my anxiety. I took 200 mg each morning for a few years and have now been taking 400 mg each morning for a few months now. I have not had any joint problems, but I partially attribute that to SAMe (as a preventative). I have had no side effects, and my only discouraging factor was cost, as it is not covered by insurance and is expensive at many retail outlets. I found it online for a much more affordable rate and have been able to take it consistently now."

• Tej...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 8, 2022

"No negative effects. Gradual and subtle improvement of moderate to severe depression. I started to think I was just getting better, and so I tapered back from three 400 mg per day to one or two, and I started to go back into the dark place. I'm not giddy with joy by taking 1,200 mg a day, but I am highly functioning and moderately happy."

• sna...
• February 7, 2013

"I have been depressed for almost 3 years. I feel myself fine only a couple of hours a week, and it feels good, so I have been making my research on fighting the disease without antidepressants. So, I work out, eat right, and only eat fresh, non-processed food. I made me feel less pain, and it is so delightful, but I still cannot be funny, can't just have a casual talk, and I can't learn or retell the content of what I just read. Today I started taking S-adenosylmethionine. After taking 2 200mg pills, I ate a little and went to bed, but when I woke up, I felt like I wanted to be doing something. I feel less tension, and I hope the result will repeat tomorrow. I also read that fixing your memory can help you fight depression. So, try Vinpocetine Huperzin-a."

• lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2023

S-adenosylmethionine "SAMe worked fast to elevate depression, but I am worried a placebo effect may be happening in that the speed of this supplement, as mentioned by many reviewers! I am not convinced it has a placebo effect, as it helps me. I will keep trying it and decide for sure if it is imaginary results we feel or the real thing."

• mem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2024

"Going through a breakup. This helped me stay strong and have clarity about my relationship, and that leaving was the best course of action for my health and sanity. Only negative is the gas and stomach pains. Whatever you do, don't have food in your stomach at all. Maybe a cup of tea and loads of water. First thing in the morning and don't eat until the afternoon at the earliest. I think dairy makes it the worst so probably avoid dairy at all costs. But other than that inconvenience duck me if it doesn't make life easier and rough patches a breeze."

• CJT...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2024

"I sometimes fall into a hopeless depression. I am, however, trying everything in my power to stay off of pharmaceutical antidepressants. I've taken SAMe on two separate occasions, and the results repeated themselves. The good is that it was an immediate relief. I felt instantly better in the first few days of taking it 2x a day at 400 mg. The bad is that after those few days, while continuing to take it, I took on bad side effects. My moods went totally out of flux. I normally don't drink, but this drug puts the craving in me, and I can't stop. If you are someone who is prone to overdrinking, I would tread lightly with this drug. Personally, I have found it overall unsustainable to my health, and I'm looking at other strategies besides SAMe."