Rating: 
Summary: Book and especially the supplement SAM-e helped depression
Review: As a high-functioning professional who has suffered from recurring, only partially remitting depression for about 30 years, I was totally amazed when SAM-e supplements (combined with a low dose of Prozac) suddenly helped me. I heard about it from my shrink, who suggested it somewhat tenatively. So I read the book. The book is somwhat simplistic, and I would have preferred a more detailed, scientific analysis. But the bottom line was that SAM-e seemed safe and worth a try. To my surprise in 2 days, at suggested doses of 400 mg a day, I felt at least 50% better. I have since gone up to 800 mg a day with no side effects, only an almost complete wipe-out of the depression. Believe me, I have tried all the prescription and non-prescription remedies in the universe before this, including Prozac by itself. A cloud has lifted off of me. I just hope that others can have the same relief. I hope to hear from you if you have tips, warnings or anecdotes to share.
Rating: 
Summary: Choose to stop depression with SAM-e
Review: Depression affects fifty percent of the population. Every other one of us will suffer from some form of depression at some time. It can wreck relationships, take away your joy, and can be a terrible way to suffer in silence.Depression in fact stems from a combination of chemical imbalances and environmental factors. SAM-e is a safe, over-the-counter, natural supplement that promises to help you beat depression quickly, easily, and safely. SAM-e is not a drug, herb or a vitamin. It is a substance already present in our bodies. By restoring this substance to an optimal level, you can see dramatic improvements in your mood. Modern prescription antidepressants are harsh drugs, which can have intolerable side effects. The author shows how clinical trials have shown SAM-e to have fewer side effects than a placebo (sugar pill). The positive results will also only take a few days to appear. If you want to try a program to get out of the depression cycle, you can try a number of things. These ideas are a combination of what I have learned and are also the basic ideas sprinkled throughout this book. 1. Make a commitment to being happy. 2. Take the bad feelings and tell yourself you don't want to feel this way. 3. Replace the negative thoughts about the past with happy ones about the future. (Hope) 4. Exercise and take your vitamins. 5. Find an activity that makes you feel good and keeps your mind busy. 6. Give something back to your community. Volunteer, help a child learn to read or cook a meal for a friend. 7. Be in control! Decide what you are going to do about a problem instead of complaining about it. 8. Focus on the good in your life instead of depressing issues and negative thoughts. 9. Eat the right foods! Cooking can be very therapeutic. 10. Get a pet! How can you be sad with a puppy or kitten bounding about the house! 11. Join a group, church or club. Get involved with positive, happy people. Avoid negative, depressing people who do not support you emotionally. Soon those people will learn to be more positive if they want a piece of your time. 12. Take 200 - 400mg SAM-e a day. (GNC brand it the best and you can take up to 800mg if needed) 13. Practice relaxation techniques such as Yoga. 14. Go for a massage. 15. Try light therapy if you have SAD. 16. Nurture your Spirit, that is how you will find true Joy. It is a very good idea to read this entire book. About ten percent of depressed individuals should not treat themselves and should be under a doctor's supervision. There does however seem to be help for postpartum and postmenopausal depression as well. If you are taking St. John's wort, you may want to switch over to SAM-e. St. John wort causes photosensitivity and therefore has a side effect. If you feel any of the following symptoms, this book may hold the secret to a cure: 1. Feeling empty. 2. Feeling sad. 3. Negative thoughts about the past, present and future. 4. Feeling tense and nervous. 5. Loss of interest in life. 6. Feeling guilty or worthless. 7. Difficulty concentrating. 8. Sleep problems. 9. Change in appetite or lack of hunger. 10. Feeling sluggish. 11. Suicidal thoughts - seek professional help immediately! This book is filled with information on a variety of antidepressants and the reasons why they may be harmful. In my opinion, why take something with side effects, when you can take something which is natural and is already something your body uses on a daily basis. I say, take this along with your daily vitamins, it could change your whole outlook on life. It is an expensive supplement, but you happiness is priceless. Please do consult your doctor before going on this program, especially if you have other health concerns. An effort made for the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves. --Lydia M. Child One cannot get through life without pain....What we can do is choose how to use the pain life presents us. --Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.
Rating:
Summary: A terrific overview of both depression and the use of SAM-e
Review: Despite an overly enthusiastic title, this is an enormously helpful and balanced book for patients and clinicians interested in the management of depression, and, more uniquely, on the use of SAM-e for its treatment. While alot is being written on SAM-e at the moment, Dr. Brown and his co-authors are clearly the experts. They offer a sophisticated, yet readable guide to identifiying depression, and in choosing the appropriate treatment strategies, including treatments other than SAM-e. A practicing psychiatrist myself, I would and have recommended the book to patients and colleagues interested in using this new treatment approach for milder forms of depression.
Rating:
Summary: Tried others but SAM-e works.
Review: Having tried a variety of antidepressants and suffered too many side effects, I feel relatively knowledgeable about treatment options. I happened upon this book and found the information very accessable. Dr. Brown and his associates have presented a well researched and well organized book. I would recommend that others with low level depression that is too hard to shake off but who are hesitant about taking prescription meds to give SAM-e a try. Read over his book and find out for yourself. There are sites that offer this product, however i have settled on iHerb because of the documentation offered as well as the variety of brands and dosages. Read, research and try for yourself what I mean.
Rating:
Summary: sam-e worked for me
Review: I took Dr. Brown's advice and used sam-e. I had had some success in treating my chronic depression with wellbutrin, but oppressive feelings of sadness, and self-destructive ideation, remained. One week of 200mg sam-e two times daily and the oppressive feelings began to lessen. In two weeks the bad feelings had remitted completely. Though effective, sam-e was mild in its action -- I did not feel that I had been clubbed by a mega-drug. Feeling well, I am able now to have better insight into life problems linked to my long depression -- and I'm able to work on repairing family relationships that had been damaged. I recommend that anyone suffering from depression try sam-e. Reading Dr. Brown's book is an excellent way to learn about this substance.
Rating: 
Summary: SAM-e sort of works for me, but it's incomplete
Review: I tried SAM-e over a four month period (September-December 2001)and found it to be somewhat, but not completely effective in relieving my anxiety and depression. At first, for a few weeks at least, I felt that SAM-e was giving me a moderate antidepressant-type relief for the constant tension I seem to carry around in my body. However, after this time, I either adjusted to SAM-e or its effects became less noticable to me and I started to feel like it was not working. I had that same feeling each time I stopped and started SAM-e over the four month period. For me, SAM-e is more effective than St. John's wort, kava, and Omega-3s, though I'm not sure how it compares to 5-HTP, as my experience has been mixed with that stuff. However, SAM-e has not been as powerful and effective on me as SSRIs in its antidepressant effect. But, SAM-e appears to have no SSRI-like side effects, which is certainly pleasant. And, according to Brown and others, SAM-e may even have some health benefits. In terms of Richard Brown's book, I found it to be OK, nothing special, nothing I haven't read (or tried) before about/for treating depression. He briefly discusses SSRIs, MAO inhibitors, tricyclics, St. John's wort, cognitive behavioral techniques, diet, essential fatty acids, exercise, yoga, and meditation. These things are all helpful, but are presented in greater detail in other books. And, in light of my experience with SAM-e, maybe Stop Depression Now is tad bit over-optimistic about this stuff as a miracle drug. Also, I still didn't feel like the studies Brown quotes in this book were large enough or done on a long-term enough scale to know if SAM-e is truly safe or not. It sounds good and Brown is convincing, but my experience with SAM-e has so far told me otherwise.
Rating:
Summary: SAM-e sort of works for me, but it's incomplete
Review: I tried SAM-e over a four month period (September-December 2001)and found it to be somewhat, but not completely effective in relieving my anxiety and depression. At first, for a few weeks at least, I felt that SAM-e was giving me a moderate antidepressant-type relief for the constant tension I seem to carry around in my body. However, after this time, I either adjusted to SAM-e or its effects became less noticable to me and I started to feel like it was not working. I had that same feeling each time I stopped and started SAM-e over the four month period. For me, SAM-e is more effective than St. John's wort, kava, and Omega-3s, though I'm not sure how it compares to 5-HTP, as my experience has been mixed with that stuff. However, SAM-e has not been as powerful and effective on me as SSRIs in its antidepressant effect. But, SAM-e appears to have no SSRI-like side effects, which is certainly pleasant. And, according to Brown and others, SAM-e may even have some health benefits. In terms of Richard Brown's book, I found it to be OK, nothing special, nothing I haven't read (or tried) before about/for treating depression. He briefly discusses SSRIs, MAO inhibitors, tricyclics, St. John's wort, cognitive behavioral techniques, diet, essential fatty acids, exercise, yoga, and meditation. These things are all helpful, but are presented in greater detail in other books. And, in light of my experience with SAM-e, maybe Stop Depression Now is tad bit over-optimistic about this stuff as a miracle drug. Also, I still didn't feel like the studies Brown quotes in this book were large enough or done on a long-term enough scale to know if SAM-e is truly safe or not. It sounds good and Brown is convincing, but my experience with SAM-e has so far told me otherwise.
Rating: 
Summary: It didn't stop if depression for me.
Review: No miracle cure here folks. I've been treated and diagnosed as having severe and long-term depression and Sam-e didn't help at all, even 800 mg. (max amount) a day. I was desperate after bad side effects with Paxil. Currently trying newest treatment, Effexor, to some success but no side effects. Give it a shot if you want. But I don't think the book does a great job explaining why it should work, especially when on Sam-e packages it mentions "joint healing capabilities." Not cheap either. Approach with extreme skepticsm please.
Rating:
Summary: Very Helpful, Especially for Those Who Have Been Depressed!
Review: The book is good. It help to explain how to use SAM-e. It is SAM-e that is the miracle worker!
For those who have lived with depression, SAM-e is a real spiritual lift. Never knew life could be like this!
No, the problems do not change or go away. But your ability to deal with them improves. And if you add some good self-help books and therapy, life can really be worth living. And worth fixing what is wrong in your life, too!
If you know some one who is depressed, get this book and read it! It will enable you to be more helpful. But don't be pushy or play therapist.
Just help your friend get the help they deserve and need.
God bless!
Rating:
Summary: Very Helpful, Especially for Those Who Have Been Depressed!
Review: The book is good. It help to explain how to use SAM-e. It is SAM-e that is the miracle worker!
For those who have lived with depression, SAM-e is a real spiritual lift. Never knew life could be like this!
No, the problems do not change or go away. But your ability to deal with them improves. And if you add some good self-help books and therapy, life can really be worth living. And worth fixing what is wrong in your life, too!
If you know some one who is depressed, get this book and read it! It will enable you to be more helpful. But don't be pushy or play therapist.
Just help your friend get the help they deserve and need.
God bless!
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