The antidepressant properties of S-adenosylmethionine, an endogenous
methyl donor, were studied in inpatients who met the DSM-III criteria for
major depression. Nine patients given intravenous S- adenosylmethionine and
nine given low oral doses of imipramine were compared in a double-blind
design for 14 days. The S-adenosylmethionine produced superior results by
the end of the first week of treatment. By the end of the second week, 66%
of the S-adenosylmethionine patients had a clinically significant
improvement in depressive symptoms, compared to 22% of the imipramine
patients. Side effects appeared to be fewer with S-adenosylmethionine than
with imipramine during the last 5 days of the study.Abstract Teaser