Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 836895

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Electroconvulsive Therapy???

Posted by maoi_wowee on June 27, 2008, at 22:55:57

Anyone here have experience with ECT? I have been on dozens of meds and am really reaching the end of my rope so ECT seems like a logical next step. After 15 years of antidpressants with limited success, is it time to try ECT?

Also, how would I find a center that gives ECT in NYC???

Thanks!!!

 

Re: Electroconvulsive Therapy??? » maoi_wowee

Posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2008, at 0:56:20

In reply to Electroconvulsive Therapy???, posted by maoi_wowee on June 27, 2008, at 22:55:57

Are you suicidal if not I'd keep trying med EMSAM was a good one for a lot of folks on here. Sorry your nardil pooped out. Phillipa

 

Re: Electroconvulsive Therapy??? » maoi_wowee

Posted by IAMtheWalrus on June 28, 2008, at 8:31:08

In reply to Electroconvulsive Therapy???, posted by maoi_wowee on June 27, 2008, at 22:55:57

> Anyone here have experience with ECT? I have been on dozens of meds and am really reaching the end of my rope so ECT seems like a logical next step. After 15 years of antidpressants with limited success, is it time to try ECT?
>
> Also, how would I find a center that gives ECT in NYC???
>
> Thanks!!!

I've had ECT and would recommend it only as a last resort. Have you tried Remeron/Effexor combo? Stimulants? Or Lithium and/or thyroid augmentation. Unless you are suicidal, i would try different combos before you jump on the ECT bandwagon. However, if you are suicidal, then i would recommend trying ECT-it works for a lot of people. Best wishes.

-W

 

Re: Electroconvulsive Therapy??? » maoi_wowee

Posted by Racer on June 28, 2008, at 9:39:30

In reply to Electroconvulsive Therapy???, posted by maoi_wowee on June 27, 2008, at 22:55:57

Before you look into ECT, look into rTMS, which seems to be effective and somewhat more benign.

Also, IATWalrus is absolutely correct -- any such decision should not be made lightly, and should be the last resort. If you have a bad reaction, or find you cannot finish the treatments, you may find yourself feeling much worse. In fact, I'd go so far as to consider it only if your doctor suggests it.

There are so many medications out there, so many possible combinations, that most of us have not come within visual range of having tried "all of them." (SLS has posted that he's tried something like sixty medications over the years -- and I have never seen him sounding as though he'd given up, or thought there was nothing left to try.) There are combinations out there that require imagination on the part of the doctor, and on the part of the patient. Have you heard about short courses of low dose dexamethosone? How about adding thyroid supplements, or lithium? There are almost certainly options out there you haven't considered yet.

And if you're getting towards the end of the easily available medications, how about therapy? It won't be as easy as taking a pill, and it won't be as immediately effective, but it can still help a great deal. If you haven't been in therapy lately, I strongly recommend trying it before you even consider ECT. If nothing else, you can process your feelings and your potential options with the help of a professional.

Good luck.

 

Re: Electroconvulsive Therapy???

Posted by bleauberry on June 28, 2008, at 20:14:41

In reply to Electroconvulsive Therapy???, posted by maoi_wowee on June 27, 2008, at 22:55:57

People who do not improve sufficiently with antidepressants are possibly not being diagnosed correctly or treated appropriately and it is not unusual for them to do better with other drugs instead. I think what most doctors and patients fail to see is the clues their drug failures have provided them. As just one example, if someone has failed most or all of the ssris, well, that is a pretty good clue serotonin is not a big player. If failed most reuptake inhibitors of any kind, that also is a clue. Maybe there's inflammation going on instead of monoamine shortage. Maybe there's bipolar even if it doesn't appear that way. Clues.

I would like to know, why is it the best antidepressant response I got was first from a mercury/lead chelation agent (DMSA), and then later from an antibiotic (doxycycline)? Someone else Memantine. Doctors need to be more creative and just try stuff. If a whole ton of psychiatric meds are not working, well, that is pretty strong clue, yeah? There's something else going on.

If the researchers in the STARD program can get something like 80% of patients into remission by just blindly following a step by step protocol of trying one drug or drug class after another, then your doctor should be able to also.

After my experience with it, I am not fond of ECT. It works well for some people, though probably not as well as statistics lead you to believe. I was assured memory loss was minor and temporary. Not. It was severe and permanent. Worse, it didn't work and the final bill was $12,000.

 

Re: Electroconvulsive Therapy???

Posted by Merge on June 28, 2008, at 21:31:18

In reply to Electroconvulsive Therapy???, posted by maoi_wowee on June 27, 2008, at 22:55:57

I had ECT 5 years ago and while it wasn't an awful experience, it didn't help at all. I would not put yourself through something that intensive (and expensive) before trying a new/different combination of meds.

 

Re: Electroconvulsive Therapy???

Posted by Zyprexa on June 29, 2008, at 19:29:06

In reply to Electroconvulsive Therapy???, posted by maoi_wowee on June 27, 2008, at 22:55:57

Have you tired anti-psychotics or mood stabilizer, or other stuff? Or just anti-depressants? I've taken ECT, a lot of them. They just seemed to erase my memory. I would avoid them if possible. Or maybe just a few.

 

Re: Electroconvulsive Therapy??? » maoi_wowee

Posted by Crotale on July 4, 2008, at 9:34:40

In reply to Electroconvulsive Therapy???, posted by maoi_wowee on June 27, 2008, at 22:55:57

I've been having ECT lately and it's worked quite well without any cognitive side effects and after very limited success with meds. However based on what you have said I think you aren't there yet. Seriously: there are still a lot of things you haven't tried yet. Can you tell us more about your symptoms? Do you have bipolar d/o? Anxiety/panic? PTSD? etc.? More information about stuff like comorbidity might make it easier for people to recommend stuff. And I would think/hope that you could find a pdoc in NYC who is willing to try new and/or experimental stuff.


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