SAM-e supplement for depression - effect on eyes?

[eyes78]

Does anyone have any experience with SAM-e for depression and does it have the possible side effect of dry eyes?

Backstory:

I stopped taking my Prozac a few months ago. I took it only every few days (yes I know that is not how it was prescribed). But I noticed, after a while, that the days (and maybe day after) I took a dose, my eyes were worse. So I just stopped taking it (again, I know, bad idea w/o telling Dr.)

Anyway, fast forward to 8 days ago. Dry eye flare up. Couldn't live with it anymore so went to ophthalmologist 4 days ago. She prescribed Lotemax, Doxycycline, Restasis.

I think the Lotemax was really helping because by yesterday, my eyes were practically perfect.

3 days ago, I decided I should go back on the Prozac. Took one every morning for the last 3 days, including today.

Today, my eyes are in pure hell. Burning, stinging, horrid hell. The only way I can get tears is to yawn or to keep my eyes open for long enough that they reflex-tear (which at this point is about 5 seconds)

So, sorry, Prozac. I think it's you. (obviously not the sole cause of my dry eyes but definitely a factor). I just can't take it any more.

I will be under the care of a psychiatrist soon and I will discuss with him, too, BUT, the reason for my post is - does anyone have any thoughts on SAM-e, depression, and dry eyes?

Thank you so much.

[DCRdryeye]

Hi eyes78, depression is a horrible thing to go through. The SSRI antidepressants are not known to have a side effect of causing dry eyes, but there are always exceptions. The older tricyclic antidepressants do list dry eyes as a side effect. SAM-e is a methylator and does improve mood, but only mildly, so it's for mild depression. SAM-e on its own is not enough for severe depression. Work with your upcoming psychiatrist, perhaps try a different drug for depression that won't have an affect on your eyes. Also consider the lifestyle options such as exercise, diet, relaxation (walking, meditation, etc)...every little bit helps

[eyes78]

Hi eyes78, depression is a horrible thing to go through. The SSRI antidepressants are not known to have a side effect of causing dry eyes, but there are always exceptions. The older tricyclic antidepressants do list dry eyes as a side effect. SAM-e is a methylator and does improve mood, but only mildly, so it's for mild depression. SAM-e on its own is not enough for severe depression. Work with your upcoming psychiatrist, perhaps try a different drug for depression that won't have an affect on your eyes. Also consider the lifestyle options such as exercise, diet, relaxation (walking, meditation, etc)...every little bit helps

Thanks for your advice. I feel like I'm always "the exception". I remember once asking my Dr. to switch me from Paxil to something less sedating, so he gave me Zoloft. Horrible dry eye side effects occurred. When I told my Dr, he literally did not believe me because "no one gets dry eyes from Zoloft".

I appreciate you response and I will do some research before my upcoming appt.

[spmcc]

I don't know if this is possible (esp with Prozac 20mg) but you could try a smaller dose (or split the pill). I'm not sure if Prozac comes in 10mg or 5mg however. Yes, I agree with DCRde, talk to your doctor about all of this. There could be another brand that you can tolerate on a small(er) dose.

I too have "over-reactions" to certain meds esp wrt my eyes. For instance, any "sleep aid" (e.g., Tylenol/Advil for night/PM, gravol etc.) and NSAID (e.g., naproxen) makes my eyes much drier. And I would add antihistamines to that list except that I've found one that doesn't make me extra dry. Unfortunately, to figure all this out, I had to try the med... and then try a lower dose to see if it also hurts/helps.

Sorry, I don't have any experience with SAM-e.

Good luck.

[Mawsky]

I do not take this medication, but like you I have noticed what seems like a reaction to many things and my eyes being worse. I never really know if it is the thing I've been taking, or doing or just a flare up, until I try again and same thing happens. I think that many things have the ability to cause dry eye exacerbation, wish it were more clear cut sometimes, because I think there are things that I've given up that may not have to, because I just happened to flare up. I had a bad cold last fall and was taking Musinex and I'm convinced it caused my eyes to flare up bad, so I had to stop, took some time before they felt better tho. Def. Talk with your Dr. let him or her know whats happened both times, there may be something else which can help you but without the "eye" side effects. Best of luck to you.

[eyes78]

Thank you. I will talk to my Dr. ASAP. I am back on Paxil 20mg/day. I took that for about 13 years a while back. During that time I had eye issues, but it's impossible to say what the cause was, could have been multiple - contacts, allergies, PRK, etc. All I can say is that I wasn't miserable, so that's something.

All I know is I HAVE to take something for my depression & anxiety. When that gets bad, my eyes follow suit. :-(

[mvallence90]

Eyes78, I completely feel you pain here as I feel I'm in the same boat. My dry eyes issues (Posterior Bleph, MGD, Ocular Rosacea, Lagopthalmos, Keratoconus) have left me completely isolated for 3 years now and I suffer from depression and more servery anxiety. My eyes never had any issues until Keratoconus began (which is only mild in my case) but I noticed all the dryness come when I started taking the anti-depressant Lexapro 3 years ago. Since then my life has been a dry eye nightmare with it dictating everything I do. I got off the Lexapro after a year and a half as I just couldn't take how bad it made my eyes feel even though it improved my depression/anxiety.

Now ever doctor, psych and dry-eye specialists all give me a pretty similar answer that these medicines are not the cause of my dry eye and It can't be making things worse. I've tried 3 more anti-depression tablets since, 2 SSRI's and one SNRI and still the same, making my dry eye symptoms worse.

Its such a horrid position to be in because I know I'm anxious and depressed but this is mainly due to my eyes, which drugs to help the former seem to make the latter worse. Hope I'm making some kind of sense but It's about what we feel when we take these drugs and no matter how many doctors tell me this can't be possible, it is because its happened everytime I've been on an anti-depressant.

[eyes78]

I hear you. Psychiatrists in general just don't seem to understand how much the eye problems affect us, nor do they believe us when we say we feel a certain SSRI makes them worse. I am going to see a new psychiatrist soon; hopefully I'll get a good one.