Can you take SAM-e with St John's Wort? was MAO Inhibitor to St. John's Wort?

[Guest guest]

, Val

<valejoie wrote:

>

> Can you take SAM-e along with with St John's Wort? Val

>

> JoAnn Guest wrote:

> > St. John's Wort or Sam-e may be beneficial. I wouldn't

> > be hesitant to do so. This would be so much better than

restarting the zoloft. When ever one resumes taking one of these

drugs, the problems resume ten fold! That would not resolve the

problem, in my opinion, only worsen it! 5- HTP or trytophan may be

also be useful at this time, and encourage him to eat more high

protein organic foods, such as organic eggs (this is a wonderful

mood stabilizer) and complex carbs such as organic

> > potatoes. B-6, in large amounts is one of the best mood

stabilizers of all time.

>

 

Hi Val,

Unfortunately there are no studies to validate taking this

particular combination as a treatment for depression or other

perceived mental disorders. Dr. Michael T. Murray has another

treatment protocol for those who need additional help. he claims

that the herbal gingko biloba enhances the effectiveness of St.

John's Wort.The following paragraph is taken from an article

on his website

 

www.doctormurray.com.

 

 

" Depression requires a comprehensive treatment plan.

 

In cases of depression that have not responded to St. John's wort

extract alone where no other identifiable cause of depression could

be found, I have used supportive therapy.

 

If the patient is over the age of 50, supportive therapy consists

of " Ginkgo Phytosome " (80 mg three times per day).

 

Researchers began studying the antidepressive effects of Ginkgo

biloba extract as a result of the improvement in mood noted by

patients suffering from decreased blood flow to the brain

(cerebrovascular insufficiency).

 

Several studies were conducted to determine if Ginkgo biloba extract

was, in fact, an antidepressant. In one of the more recent double-

blind studies, 40 patients (ages ranged from 51 to 78 years) with

depression who had not benefited fully from standard antidepressant

drugs were given either 80 mg of Ginkgo biloba extract three times

daily or a placebo.

By the end of the 8th week study, the total score of the Hamilton

Rating Scale for Depression in the Ginkgo biloba extract group had

dropped from 14 to 4.5. In comparison, the placebo group dropped

from 14 to only 13.

 

This study indicated two things:

 

Ginkgo biloba extract can be used with standard antidepressants

and/or St. John's wort extract and

(2) it may enhance their effectiveness.

I prefer the Ginkgo biloba extract bound to phosphatidylcholine

(Ginkgo Phytosome) to un-bound ginkgo.

 

In younger patients I tend to favor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) -

the direct precursor to serotonin.

 

5-HTP has shown impressive results as an antidepressant agent in

numerous double-blind studies including head-to-head comparison

studies with standard antidepressant drugs.21-23

 

Currently, 5-HTP is only available through compounding pharmacists.

To find a compounding pharmacist in your area, call the

International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists 1-800-927-4227.