[ad30]

Hi,
This is embarrassing. I have sa & depression since forever, I tried several supplements , non seems to work (5htp, st john's wort, b-complex). I don't use prescribed medications. Few months ago i tried SAMe 400mg once or twice a day , and it did help my mood slightly, which is GREAT! , any improvement is great at this point . . Anyways, from the first time i used it i noticed i was having a lot of gas, with the oddest , most awful odor . i tried several brands (Jarrow Formulas , Nutral Life, Doctor's Best) and they all had the same problem, at some point i stopped taking it, then my depression got worse, so i went back. i googled this issue , and i could not find anything related with this awful odor.

has anyone experienced this ?? any solution ? i really want to continue using it .

[CANDC]

Hi ad30. Welcome to Psych Central. You are not alone. Many people complain about this.
google "how does st john's wort work flatulence" and there are many hits.

Here is one explanation

However, at therapeutic doses, inositol frequently causes flatulence

Many people here at PC find they can share these feelings and what they are going through with the confidence that people go through similar things and can empathize. So many forums are offered as well as Chatrooms (after you have 5 posts or comments on others posts). Depression chat meets on Thursday night at 9pm EST and Anxiety Friday at 8PM EDT EST.

You can also be an active member in other ways like supporting others in their questions, reading articles and posts http://forums.psychcentral.com that are applicable to your area of concern.

Please feel free to private message me or any of the Community Liaisons by left clicking on the name in blue to the left of their post) for questions or just to share.

[vital]

Originally Posted by ad30

....
has anyone experienced this ?? .

No, but your description makes me think that maybe you have gut problems. Did you know that gut problems can cause mental problems?

http://forums.psychcentral.com/4262681-post105.html

- vital

I had not heard of this happening, but if you do an internet search for SAM-e and gastrointestinal symptoms, there are lots of results.

SSRI antidepressants also often cause flatulence and other gastrointestinal symptoms when you first start taking them. It usually goes away or gets better after a few weeks.

I hope that someone who has more knowledge about this will post an answer.

I would probably continue taking the SAM-e and maybe add some probiotics and folic acid. I imagine it comes down to how much it helps your mood.

Question: do you take the SAM-e first thing in the morning 30 minutes before you eat or drink anything? (Just wondering if it still has that restriction.)

[ad30]

I think there has been some misunderstanding. Other supplements i mentioned do not cause any problems , but they were ineffective.
As for SAMe, the problem is not just the flatulence, which is not very frequent , but it's the odor, which is abnormally awful.

and yes on the label it says you have to take it on an empty stomach .

and yes on the label it says you have to take it on an empty stomach .

and are you doing that?

I was just trying to say that the problem might go away with time. I wasn't clear from your post how long you've been taking it (longest period of time without a break) since stopping it for weeks or months would probably put you back in the situation of your body getting adjusted to it.

When I've had gastrointestinal problems from meds, if it was a side effect that was going to go away, it usually didn't last more than 4-6 weeks. That's just my own personal experience, though. It can also depend on your diet. You could try adding digestive enzymes like this to see if that helps.