Psycho-Babble Alternative Thread 789217

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TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety

Posted by Gary Engel on October 14, 2007, at 17:12:49

Anyone know if this is used sucessfully for GAD with depression. My GAD is the bigger problem. It all started when my brother died in front of me back in Dec. 2006. Have always suffered from Panic D/O, but was able to function as an RN x 14 yrs in high stress areas without difficulty. Now, I've been out of work since March due to all of this. I can't tolerate SSRI's, Tricyclics, and even mood stabilizers seem to make me sick. All of these meds increase my anxiety 4 fold. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Gary

 

Re: TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety

Posted by Racer on October 14, 2007, at 17:12:49

In reply to TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety, posted by Gary Engel on October 10, 2007, at 9:49:13

rTMS is like an ECT for the new millenium, but the other options you've listed involve major surgery and are less reversible than medications. ECT and rTMS may also have longer lasting effects than medications.

Frankly, I wouldn't recommend any of those options until you've had adequate trials of medication at adequate dosages. That hasn't happened yet, from what you've written, so I'd have to recommend you give medication a fair try before moving on to surgical alternatives.

 

Re: TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety

Posted by Netch on October 14, 2007, at 17:12:50

In reply to TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety, posted by Gary Engel on October 10, 2007, at 9:49:13

Gary, you could be sufffering from PTSD.
If that's the case you could try Propranolol.
It's especially effective if you suffer from hypervigilance.

/Netch

 

Re: TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety » Netch

Posted by Phillipa on October 14, 2007, at 17:12:50

In reply to Re: TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety, posted by Netch on October 10, 2007, at 9:59:00

Good suggestion and maybe talk it out in theraphy or on the psychology board just a thought. Phillipa

 

Re: TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety » Phillipa

Posted by Netch on October 14, 2007, at 17:12:50

In reply to Re: TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety » Netch, posted by Phillipa on October 10, 2007, at 12:17:47

I agree... therapy would probably be quite helpful if it's PTSD

Netch

 

Re: TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety

Posted by twinleaf on October 16, 2007, at 1:02:40

In reply to Re: TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety » Phillipa, posted by Netch on October 14, 2007, at 17:12:50

I have severe PTSD, and the combination of TMS and psychotherapy has been very helpful. Although no-one knows exactly what TMS does, there is quite a lot of evidence that it reverses some of the physiological changes in the brain (temporarily), such as restoring equal blood flow to the left hemisphere, decreasing the HPA axis over-activity (too much cortisol looping back into the brain), and encouraging more cell-growth in the hippocampus. I can't tolerate the SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclics or APs either, so this has been a good alternative- side-effect free, although painful while you are getting it. There is a good chance it will be approved soon. The other two options involve surgery, a lot of adjustment of the electrical current, and some side effects. With VNS, there's a problem with hoarseness while trying to speak when the current is on. I think it is supposed to be as long as a year before you know whether it is helpful. So far, I haven't seen any definite reports that it's really successful.

 

Re: TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety

Posted by psychobot5000 on October 20, 2007, at 17:01:51

In reply to TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety, posted by Gary Engel on October 14, 2007, at 17:12:49

Hi Gary,

Some of the other posters' suggestions sound to me like good ideas, but I did want to add a thing or two on the type of treatments you were asking about. The first is that, as I understand it, VNS does now seem to have some pretty good evidence behind it. ...But since it is an expensive (25,000$, all told, I believe) and invasive procedure, it occurred to me that CES (Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation) might be something along similar lines to look into.

It's basically running a Microcurrent TENS through your head for maybe 20 minutes a day. The devices cost a few hundred dollars, and can apparently be useful for sleep, anxiety, and depression, working in kind of a similar manner to VNS or TMS. It's a very old techique, but has never hit mainstream, and never had the money behind it to do large studies.

http://brainblogger.com/2006/12/25/cranial-electrotherapy-stimulation-a-non-drug-neuromedical-treatment/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranial_electrotherapy_stimulation

 

CES for Anxiety

Posted by Jimmyboy on November 1, 2007, at 12:58:05

In reply to Re: TMS, DBS, Vegas Nerve Stim for Anxiety, posted by psychobot5000 on October 20, 2007, at 17:01:51

Interesting, has anyone tried or had success with CES treatment ofr anxiety?


JB


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