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S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAMe), a natural compound, is a methyl donor to many neurotransmitters, proteins, and lipids that have been implicated in the pathophysiology of mood dysregulation. Numerous older studies, many with design flaws, have found it to be an effective antidepressant, superior to placebo, and equivalent to imipramine. In a new, multicenter, randomized, manufacturer-supported, 2-part, Italian study, researchers compared the 6-week efficacy of oral SAMe (1600 mg) with that of oral imipramine (150 mg) in 281 patients and compared the 4-week efficacy of intramuscular SAMe (400 mg) with that of oral imipramine (150 mg) in 295 patients; all patients had DSM-IV major depression.
Both studies showed similar effects for SAMe and imi…