I started at 500mg a day for Bromelain enteric coated. The first few days, I had some stomach/intestinal upset. So I didn't increase quickly. That settled down, and might have been because of my drug induced lupus from the lisinopril I was given for blood pressure.

Also the lisinopril increased bradykinin, and I had that to deal with...angioedema..where your internal organs swell up.

Now I finished the first bottle of LEF bromelain and I am more stable. So I am going to increase to 2 a day (1000mg) and see what happens. My use is different probably from yours. But I do see a general decrease in joint pain as well. (but that may be the reduction of the lupus reaction ...can't tell yet).

I used SAMe for over 10 yrs. I had a very bad right knee and after MRI and an Ortho evaluation, I decided to do the SAMe.
It is really good. Slow on joints, but good.
SAMe was developed by NatureMade to be stable and useful orally. So I stay with them. They have a $7.00 coupon you earn with about 3 packs or so. The price has come down in a major way, and Costco is where I get mine. Start at 200mg a day for about a month to see if you get hyper from it. That is the major side effect IMO. Take it in the morning on an empty stomach, and see what happens. You can get the generic at Walgreen's or RiteAid in the 200mg to start. Within a month you should see if you tolerate that once a day.

The NatureMade coupon program is online. Just search them for details. SAMe is really good for arthritis. And it really saved me surgery for a knee replacement. But that will take some time, so be patient. Some people just can't deal with SAMe...it makes them irritable, or hyper. That cannot be predicted so you just have to try it. At least now it is not so expensive like when I started it so many years ago!