natural anti-depressants

[heatherblue]

Hello,
I started taking SAM-e about 2 weeks ago and i am not feeling better yet.  How long does it take for this to work?   :-(   I quit drinking alcohol 6 months ago and as a result, i have realized that i am a depressed person.   it SUCKS.   i am crying all the time and just not wanting to do ANYTHING.   i sleep all day and if i want to stay awake, i have to drink a TON of coffee.   A friend of mine is taking 5htp and he says that it is really helping him.  can you take the two together or should i give the SAM-e more time?  it is really affecting my work production, or lack thereof.
This is so tough to deal with... almost makes me want to go back and drink.  but i am not going to.

any other alternative medications?   i do not want to take prescription drugs, but if these natural things do not work, i am going to have to.  
thanks

[Applecore]

I took the L5HTP 100 mg for 2 months and SAMe also .  I didn't think the SAMe did much for me but the L5HTP did help.  It wasn't strong enough for me though I am now getting off of it slowly. It is a very good way to put seratonin in your body.  It has no real side effects except you will eat less and it will affect you sexual life.  I have lost about 15 lbs taking l00 mg 3 times a day.   I don't know what to tell you except that it did work for me but not enough and I don't know what the SAMe did and it is expensive.  I didn't want to take prescription drugs either  but I am now.  I have only been on them for 5 days so I don't see any real difference yet and I am weaning off of lorazapram also.  I also have thyroid problems and it is not stabile so for me and for you there are other problems to consider.  Are you doing to a doctor.  Don't try this on your own because L5HTP can be problems for you at higher doses than what I was taking.  I didn't know that.  I read conflictly reports on the internet.  I am going to a holistic doctor and a ps ychiatrist and a therapist and an endo.   I will be praying for you to find the right thing to get you out of this depression for I now how bad it is but try to put forth as possitive  words to yourself as possible and if you don't have a relationship with the Lord Jesus ask Him to help you and He will.    linda

[Applecore]

I took the L5HTP 100 mg for 2 months and SAMe also .  I didn't think the SAMe did much for me but the L5HTP did help.  It wasn't strong enough for me though I am now getting off of it slowly. It is a very good way to put seratonin in your body.  It has no real side effects except you will eat less and it will affect you sexual life.  I have lost about 15 lbs taking l00 mg 3 times a day.   I don't know what to tell you except that it did work for me but not enough and I don't know what the SAMe did and it is expensive.  I didn't want to take prescription drugs either  but I am now.  I have only been on them for 5 days so I don't see any real difference yet and I am weaning off of lorazapram also.  I also have thyroid problems and it is not stabile so for me and for you there are other problems to consider.  Are you doing to a doctor.  Don't try this on your own because L5HTP can be problems for you at higher doses than what I was taking.  I didn't know that.  I read conflictly reports on the internet.  I am going to a holistic doctor and a ps ychiatrist and a therapist and an endo.   I will be praying for you to find the right thing to get you out of this depression for I now how bad it is but try to put forth as possitive  words to yourself as possible and if you don't have a relationship with the Lord Jesus ask Him to help you and He will.    linda