Can "Sammy" Lift Your Spirits? It's prescribed in Europe, and now it's here.

If you're suffering from depression, meet SAM-e-pronounced "Sammy." Used in Europe since the 1970s to treat depression, it's available in the US for the first time as an over-the-counter supplement. SAM-e (short for S-adenosylmethionine) is a natural substance. But to boost SAM-e levels, you need supplements.

The Evidence In clinical studies, 400 to 1,600 milligrams (mg) of SAM-e a day were as effective at reducing depression as prescription antidepressants. But here's what's special about SAM-e: It causes far fewer side effects than prescription antidepressants routinely do. And you get results within 4 to 10 days. SAM-e supplements are believed to work by boosting production of mood-lifting brain chemicals such as serotonin. Richard Brown, MD, a psychiatrist at Columbia University in New York City and an enthusiastic SAM-e supporter, has been prescribing it for his depressed patients for 5 years and has found that it works.

The Bottom Line SAM-e can be more expensive than prescription antidepressants. (See "Cost," below.) But if you've suffered any side effects from those drugs, SAM-e appears to be a safe, effective alternative. *