S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe)
S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is a hepatic nutritional supplement.
Group
Hepatic nutritional supplement
Mechanism of Action
Participates in methyl transfer and supports hepatic glutathione availability.
Dose Rates
Dogs
| Use / stage | Dose | Route | Schedule | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hepatic support | 20 mg/kg | PO | Every 24 h | |
| Size-based hepatic supplement | Reference only | PO | Reported gives 90 mg for small, 225 mg for medium and 425 mg for large dogs without numeric weight boundaries. | |
| Acetaminophen toxicity adjunct — Loading | 40 mg/kg | PO | Once | |
| Acetaminophen toxicity adjunct — Maintenance | 20 mg/kg | PO | Every 24 h | Up to 7 days |
| Hepatic support | 18 mg/kg | PO | Every 24 h | Reported Denosyl daily basis, adjusted to a suitable intact tablet. Give at least 1 hour before food; do not break the coating. |
Cats
| Use / stage | Dose | Route | Schedule | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hepatic support | 90 mg/animal | PO | Every 24 h | Cats up to 5 kg. |
| Acetaminophen toxicity adjunct — Initial | 180 mg/animal | PO | Every 12 h | Up to 3 days |
| Acetaminophen toxicity adjunct — Maintenance | 90 mg/animal | PO | Every 12 h | Up to 11 days; Follows first 3 days at the higher amount. |
| Hepatic support | 18 mg/kg | PO | Every 24 h | Reported Denosyl daily basis, adjusted to a suitable intact tablet. Give at least 1 hour before food; do not break the coating. |
| Hepatic support | 20 mg/kg | PO | Every 24 h | Alternative for hepatic lipidosis or other liver disease; proven bioavailable product. |
Indications
- Hepatic support
- Adjunct oxidative hepatotoxicity management
Interactions
- Tricyclic antidepressants may increase serotonin-related toxicity; clomipramine interaction reported experimentally.
Adverse effects
- Transient gastric upset.
Toxicity
Acute excess most often causes GI upset; specific veterinary overdose evidence is limited.
Preparations
| Preparation | Form | Strength | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denosyl 90 mg coated tablet Do not split or disrupt coating. Whole tablets only. | Tablet | 90 mg / tablet | PO |
| Denosyl 225 mg coated tablet Do not split or disrupt coating. Whole tablets only. | Tablet | 225 mg / tablet | PO |
| Denosyl 425 mg coated tablet Do not split or disrupt coating. Whole tablets only. | Tablet | 425 mg / tablet | PO |
Monitoring and Administration
Give 30-60 minutes before food. Administer water after feline tablets to promote swallowing. Do not break enteric-coated tablets; protect from moisture.
Monitor hepatic injury. Acetylcysteine is the more reliable primary acetaminophen antidote.
In dogs older than 8 years, 18 mg/kg/day was associated with improved cognitive scores in a study; route is not explicit in the supplied description and no separate calculable cognitive regimen is assigned.
Denosyl intact-tablet daily guide: up to 5.5 kg, 90 mg; 5.5-11 kg, two 90-mg tablets or one 225-mg tablet; 11-16 kg, 225 mg; 16-29.5 kg, 450 mg; 29.5-41 kg, 675 mg; above 41 kg, 900 mg. Printed boundary overlaps are not silently resolved; two 90-mg and one 225-mg alternatives are not equal mass doses.
SAMe deteriorates with moisture and acidic/aqueous exposure; keep intact coated tablets tightly sealed and dry.