BOSTON—S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe), a natural compound that may boost mood by enhancing the availability of dopamine and serotonin, may also provide synergistic support for adults taking pharma anti-depressants. A new trial out of Harvard Medical School examined whether adding 1,600 mg/d of SAMe to standard treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRI) would increase response rates in adults with major depression who had not responded to SRI treatment alone.
Researchers from Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital randomized 73 adults who had not responded to their prescribed antidepressant treatment to receive either SAMe or placebo, along with their antidepressants, for six weeks. The subjects taking SAMe had significantly higher response and remission rates on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), compared to those taking the placebo. There were no differences between the groups in terms of subjects discontinuing treatment for any reason, or due to adverse events.
The research team concluded SAMe could serve as a safe, effective adjunctive treatment for adults with major depression who don’t respond to standard SRI treatment, although they noted more study is necessary. The study was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (2010;167:942-48. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09081198).