Yes, I have been thinking about you, and that arthritis.

You know I have great success for my arthritis from using SAMe for the past 10+ yrs. It in fact fixed my knee 90% (I still get twinges but no swelling) and so I avoided a knee replacement.
At that time 10 yrs ago, the MRI and xrays indicated my left would "go" in 5 yrs and it never happened as yet! I had a steroid shot in the knee after the MRI was mostly normal, and that was it. I started the SAMe then as insurance. Back then it cost $1.50 a 200mg pill and now is down to about 30 cents. A huge reduction.

I use NatureMade, and started at 200mg a day on an empty stomach in the early morning, and raised it by 200mg every other month or so until I was at 600mg daily. I used it that way for years. I stopped it 2 yrs ago, when I started some expensive things and I guess I shouldn't have. So now I am back on the SAMe at 200mg a day so far as I feel like I am relapsing some. NatureMade has buy one get one free at all 3 big pharmacies, CVS, Walgreen's and RiteAid...they rotate the sales. It is easy to save big bucks this way. Also NatureMade has a rebate point program of $7.00 refund with 500pts. The SAMe typically gives 500pts for 3 boxes or so. So you can apply that to the next purchase, etc. Costco now has SAMe at very low prices too. SAMe is moisture sensitive and should be blister packed if you choose another brand. It must be packaged this way for best shelf life. I stick with NatureMade because they created the oral dosage form from the injectable that was used in Europe. In Italy and other countries SAMe was given typically by doctors to patients in injectable form. It is not stable orally, but NatureMade figured out how to do it...so I stick with them.

Studies have shown SAMe as effective as NSAIDs after 6weeks in patients. It is a slow but steady acting anti-inflammatory and the only side effects typically are insomnia, or hyper feelings in the beginning. SAMe also protects the liver, and enables neurotransmitter synthesis. So you can really feel better in several ways. But go slowly, as in the beginning it can be quite a blast. Younger people get that effect more than older people I have seen, as well. You can take it every other day, if needed, if you get that hypomanic effect in the beginning.

It is something to consider...and now that it is so much more affordable it is doable too. Many people avoided it because of the cost, etc back when.