HomeAnswersPsychiatrydepressionCan you recommend natural supplements to help treat depression?

Can you recommend natural supplements to help treat depression?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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Published At June 7, 2018
Reviewed AtAugust 31, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My 17-year-old son is mildly depressed. This is not a surprise since I have been suffering with depression for 40 years. Can you recommend natural supplements that he could take to boost his mood and energy?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

There are different supplements or natural products used in the management of depression. S-Adenosyl-methionine (SAM) is a metabolite of Amino acids which has mood elevation property and can be used in 200 to 1600 mg per day in divided doses. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a precursor of serotonin and used in the management of depression in doses of 100 mg to 2000 mg in divided doses. Similarly, Ginseng in doses of 1 to 2 g per day is used for management of depression. St. John's wort is a medicinal herb with antidepressants property. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with him or her and with their consent take the above medicines. It is generally well tolerated but some side effects can occur so it should not be combined with other antidepressants. It is effective, but its efficacy is low when compared to standard antidepressants drugs such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Before starting any of the supplementary, make sure that he is not taking any other medicine as there may be drug interactions. It is advisable to consult a psychiatrist before starting any supplements to confirm the diagnosis that he is suffering from. These natural products also have many side effects, so discuss it with your doctor before starting these herbal medicines. Hope this helps you. Thanks and regards.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

Can you recommend any form of SAM? There are so many to choose from and I read that they do not always work very well.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

In my opinion, 5-HTP (Hydroxytryptophan) is the first option as it has much evidence available in the treatment of mild depression. However, it will be better to start with 50 mg per day before making it 100 mg per day after a week. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with him or her and with their consent take the medicines. I would like to inform you that there is nothing which can be considered 100% effective. I hope this helps you further. Thanks and regards.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Ramchandra Lamba
Dr. Ramchandra Lamba

Psychiatry

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