S-adenosylmethionine is a molecule that is formed naturally in the body. It can also be made in the laboratory. SAMe is involved in the formation, activation, or breakdown of other chemicals in the body, including hormones, proteins, phospholipids, and certain drugs.
SAMe has been available as a dietary supplement in the US since 1999, but it has been used as a prescription drug in Italy since 1979, in Spain since 1985, and in Germany since 1989.
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Uses
SAMe is used by mouth for depression, anxiety, heart disease, fibromyalgia, abdominal pain, osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, chronic lower back pain, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, slowing the aging process, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), improving mental performance, liver disease, and Parkinson’s disease. It is also used for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, seizures, migraine headache, lead poisoning, to break down a chemical in the body called bilirubin, or to help with disorders related to the buildup of a chemical called porphyrin or its precursors.
Some women take SAMe by mouth for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and a more severe form of PMS called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
SAMe is used intravenously (by IV) for depression, osteoarthritis, AIDS-related nervous system disorders, fibromyalgia, liver disease, cirrhosis, and for a liver disorder that occurs in pregnant women called intrahepatic cholestasis.
SAMe is injected as a shot for fibromyalgia, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Benefits
SAMe helps to support the production of neurotransmitters in the brain, which can affect mood and our overall sense of well-being, as well as cognitive performance. In depressed people, it is though that SAMe is depleted, and SAMe has been more effective than pharmaceuticals like Prozac in boosting mental health. Europeans have been using it for decades to help them feel more balanced.
SAMe also supports the DNA of mammals in a process called methylation which is responsible for many gene activities including somatic inheritance and cellular differentiation (when a cell decides to become a liver cell or a heart cell, for example). Without SAMe in sufficient quantities, our messenger RNA has a hard time communicating with our DNA, and many important processes are inhibited.
Cautions
SAMe is LIKELY SAFE when taken by mouth, given intravenously (by IV), or when injected as a shot, appropriately. It can sometimes cause gas, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, dry mouth, headache, mild insomnia, anorexia, sweating, dizziness, and nervousness, especially at higher doses. It can also make some people with depression feel anxious.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy: SAMe is POSSIBLY SAFE when given intravenously (by IV) in the short-term during the third trimester of pregnancy. An 800 mg dose of SAMe has been used intravenously for 14-20 days without any adverse effects. There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking higher doses of SAMe for longer periods of time or during the earlier trimesters of pregnancy. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking SAMe if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Children: SAMe is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth or used intravenously (by IV) in children in the short-term.
Bipolar disorder: Use of SAMe can cause people with bipolar disorder to convert from depression to mania.
Inherited disorder called Lesch-Nyhan syndrome: SAMe might make symptoms of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome worse.
Parkinson’s disease: SAMe might make Parkinson’s symptoms worse.
Surgery: SAMe might affect the central nervous system. This could interfere with surgery. Stop taking SAMe at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
- Medications for depression (Antidepressant drugs) interacts with SAMe
SAMe increases a brain chemical called serotonin. Some medications for depression also increase the brain chemical serotonin. Taking SAMe along with these medications for depression might increase serotonin too much and cause serious side effects including heart problems, shivering, and anxiety. Do not take SAMe if you are taking medications for depression.Some of these medications for depression include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Tofranil), and others. - Medications for depression (MAOIs) interacts with SAMe
SAMe increases a chemical in the brain. This chemical is called serotonin. Some medications used for depression also increase serotonin. Taking SAMe along with these medications used for depression might cause too much serotonin in the body, and serious side effects including heart problems, shivering, and anxiety. Some of these medications used for depression include phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and others. - Dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, and others) interacts with SAMeSAMe can affect a brain chemical called serotonin. Dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, others) can also affect serotonin. Taking SAMe along with dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, others) might cause too much serotonin in the brain and serious side effects including heart problems, shivering, and anxiety. Do not take SAMe if you are taking dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, and others).
- Levodopa interacts with SAMeLevodopa is used for Parkinson’s disease. SAMe can chemically change levodopa in the body and decrease the effectiveness of levodopa. Taking SAMe along with levodopa might make Parkinson’s disease symptoms worse. Do not take SAMe if you are taking levodopa.
- Meperidine (Demerol) interacts with SAMeSAMe increases a chemical in the brain called serotonin. Meperidine (Demerol) can also increase serotonin in the brain. Taking SAMe along with meperidine (Demerol) might cause too much serotonin in the brain and serious side effects including heart problems, shivering, and anxiety.
- Pentazocine (Talwin) interacts with SAMeSAMe increases a brain chemical called serotonin. Pentazocine (Talwin) also increases serotonin. Taking SAMe along with pentazocine (Talwin) might cause serious side effects including heart problems, shivering, and anxiety. Do not take SAMe if you are taking pentazocine (Talwin).
- Tramadol (Ultram) interacts with SAMeTramadol (Ultram) can affect a chemical in the brain called serotonin. SAMe can also affect serotonin. Taking SAMe along with tramadol (Ultram) might cause too much serotonin in the brain and side effects including confusion, shivering, stiff muscles, and other side effects.
Other names
Ademetionine, Adenosylmethionine, Adénosylméthionine, S-Adenosyl Methionine, S-Adénosyl Méthionine, S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine, S-Adénosyl-L-Méthionine, S-Adenosylmethionine, S-Adénosylméthionine, S-Adenosylmethionine Butanedisulfonate, S-Adenosylmethionine Tosylate, S-Adenosylmethionine Tosylate Disulfate, SAM, SAM-e, Sammy.
References
Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Adenosyl_methionine#Therapeutic_uses
NaturalSociety, http://naturalsociety.com/s-adenosylmethionine-benefits-supports-dna-energy-mood/