SAMe was not different from placebo and established antidepressants .
The exception was that compared to imipramine , fewer participants experienced troublesome adverse effects when treated with parenteral SAMe .
BACKGROUND Depression is a recurrent illness with high rates of chronicity , treatment-resistance and significant economic impact .
There is evidence in the literature that S-adenosyl methionine ( SAMe ) , a naturally occurring compound in the human body , has antidepressant efficacy .
This product may be an important addition to the armamentarium of antidepressant agents .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of SAMe in comparison with placebo or antidepressants for the treatment of depression in adults .
Efficacy of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in speeding the onset of action of imipramine
A double-blind clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of S-adenosyl-L-methionine ( SAMe ) in speeding the onset of action of imipramine ( IMI ) . SAMe is a naturally occurring substance that has been shown to possess antidepressant activity with a rapid mode of onset and minimal side effects . Sixty-three out patients with moderate to severe depression were included in the study . After an initial 1-week placebo period , only 40 patients entered the active treatment phase . During the first 2 weeks of the trial , half of these patients received 200 mg/day of SAMe intramuscularly , while the other half received placebo . Simultaneously , oral IMI was administered to all patients at a fixed dose of 150 mg/day . The onset of clinical response was determined by evaluating patients every second day . By the end of week 2 , the parenteral treatment was suppressed and IMI was adjusted according to individual needs . Depressive symptoms decreased earlier in the patients who were receiving the SAMe-IMI combination than in those who were receiving the placebo-IMI combination
SAMe was not different from placebo and established antidepressants .
The exception was that compared to imipramine , fewer participants experienced troublesome adverse effects when treated with parenteral SAMe .
BACKGROUND Depression is a recurrent illness with high rates of chronicity , treatment-resistance and significant economic impact .
There is evidence in the literature that S-adenosyl methionine ( SAMe ) , a naturally occurring compound in the human body , has antidepressant efficacy .
This product may be an important addition to the armamentarium of antidepressant agents .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of SAMe in comparison with placebo or antidepressants for the treatment of depression in adults .