PDA

View Full Version : Sam-E with Lexapro


vft2013
10-05-2015, 03:41 PM
Any reason to avoid this?
Davit
10-05-2015, 04:43 PM
Yes. You run the risk of Serotonin toxicity. It can make you manic if you are bipolar. It can also increase anxiety. It is not a MAO so can be used with SSRIs, but with caution. This is a question best for your Doctor since how dangerous depends on the dose of both.
Your body makes SAM. SAM-E is sometimes taken for Alzheimers.
vft2013
10-05-2015, 06:07 PM
Yes. You run the risk of Serotonin toxicity. It can make you manic if you are bipolar. It can also increase anxiety. It is not a MAO so can be used with SSRIs, but with caution. This is a question best for your Doctor since how dangerous depends on the dose of both.
Your body makes SAM. SAM-E is sometimes taken for Alzheimers.

Thank you. I'm just trying to do this as naturally as possible & looking for things to help. I already take relora, magnesium, D3, fish oil, melatonin & L-tyrosine. I used to take 5htp, but stopped once I got a script for Lexapro. So far, it's up & down. The only constant is the GI issues. I've made multiple other posts asking questions, but none of them ever made it to the forum.
Davit
10-05-2015, 07:14 PM
5HTP comes from tryptophan, an amino acid that competes with at least 7 other amino acids to get into your brain. Tryptophan is a common amino acid and food contains lots, but getting it into your brain is the hard part. Melatonin is made from Serotonin. SSRIs do not build Serotonin, they slow down it's use and re storage. (re uptake) There is no test for Serotonin levels because that in your brain is separate from that in your body. 95% or better is in your body.
Tryptophan has a different carrier than all the other Amino acids. Carbohydrates consumed with Tryptophan bearing food strip the carrier off the other Amino acids long enough for Tryptophan to cross the blood brain barrier on it's own. Ice cream on its own is a good food to build Serotonin.

Just some trivia.
vft2013
10-07-2015, 02:38 PM
Are there any supplements anyone has found helpful while they adjust to meds?
Davit
10-07-2015, 05:42 PM
This is a tough one because of the difference in reaction. For some folic acid helps with the nausea. For some B vitamins either help or make it worse. B12 can make it worse because it stimulates memory. Calcium and Magnesium are used my the neurotransmitters. These are usually taken with potassium. Calcium is definitely calming, it needs D3 to be absorbed. Ginger for nausea, and mint for calming. Rescue remedy or Valerian for anxiety. Lemon Balm is hard to find. Lots of water to help get rid of the meds when they break down. No Saint Johns Wort if you are taking an SSRI or an SNRI.
vft2013
10-07-2015, 06:33 PM
Any idea how to get responses approved by mods. Most of what i write never makes it on here...
Davit
10-07-2015, 07:45 PM
Your posts are too short to give them an Idea if you are spam or not and if the content is safe. Write something longer, something about you and be careful of language. If you want to use words that are expressive but not acceptable to the rules, use first and last letter and dots between. It is most likely a computer deciding and you don't fit the parameters so a human has to check.
vft2013
10-08-2015, 01:52 PM
Your posts are too short to give them an Idea if you are spam or not and if the content is safe. Write something longer, something about you and be careful of language. If you want to use words that are expressive but not acceptable to the rules, use first and last letter and dots between. It is most likely a computer deciding and you don't fit the parameters so a human has to check.
OK. I've posted a few that were pretty lengthy in other threads, including the intro forum that never made it.

I've tried to do research on Sam-E, but there's not as much info about it and contraindications with pharmaceuticals as 5htp, St Johns Wort, Kava, etc. I don't plan on being on Lexapro long term, which is why I'm on 5mg. I just had a recent period of severe stress & needed some help getting through it. I've heard the withdrawals from Lexapro are pretty awful.
Davit
10-08-2015, 02:51 PM
Cognitive restructuring can be done without meds or therapy. The higher the dose the longer and worse the withdrawal. It was never bad for me because I was low dose and the one seizure was okay except for hitting my head on the sidewalk.

I can't figure why any of your posts don't go through since you are not new anymore.