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Over the years, a modest literature has suggested that S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) may have moderately effective antidepressant properties (e.g., JW Psychiatry Dec 19 2002). This molecule, a methyl donor to many neurotransmitters, is available in over-the-counter preparations. Researchers now report the first-ever, randomized, controlled trial of SAMe's efficacy and tolerability as an adjunctive treatment for patients with major depressive disorder that is not responding to treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs).
In the National Institute of Mental Health–funded, 6-week, single-site trial, 73 patients received either SAMe (target dose, 800 mg twice daily) or placebo added to their prior stable medication (most commonly, escital…