ECT

I am rather new to the boards and guess I just need to vent and get opinions. This will be my 17th ECT treatment today and I honestly do not think they are working, but everyone keeps telling me to go and give it more time.

My psy. doc told me 2 sessions ago that I should have seen a difference by now so should probably quit BUT my after last ECT I had a great day, so now he says keep going.

I got home from it and made myself to housework and other things and I think that is what made me feel so good. By Saturday I had crashed again into a major depression. I have BP2 so pretty much dealing with the depression and no "highs". After he heard that then he decided I should keep going????

I asked him if he really though it was the ECT or me being proactive and trying some CBT on myself (which I should do everyday anyhow). I have been working very hard on changing my outlook on life and being more positive and even my husband says he thinks that is what is helping me and not the ECT. The rest of my family and doctors keep telling me to go.

Afraid to keep going, afraid to stop. There are some negative issues with it (memory loss, disorientation, etc.). I told them I would go a few more times.

Has anyone else gone for a large number of times with no positive outcome. How do you know when enough is enough?

I also take depakote (losing my hair and slightly over acceptable level (101) but psy. says that is ok), clonazepam and seroquel.

Thanks for listening.

My pdoc is taking me off of Lamotrigine before I go for ECT because it's an anti-convulsant. ... At least I think that's why.

Just wondering about the Depakote


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For me, when it worked I knew it worked...for me by the 3rd session . There was never any doubt it worked. Now I had to stop way to early for my wishes due to severe memory loss, but perhaps it's not the best sign if you can think of anything that has improved. If it helped at all on any level, I'd keep going if you aren't having side effects.

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For me, ECT started working fairly quickly both times I went through it. For my husband it took a bit longer, probably around 15 or so when we started finally seeing improvement, so it can vary. But personally, I wouldn't give it too much longer than what you've done if you don't see improvement fairly soon.

I've had over 50 treatments in the past year. By the fourth session or so, part of the psychosis went away but it came back soon after. In two weeks is my last treatment.

I have unipolar depression, by the way.

You may want to PM newgal2 . She's also done ECT for bipolar depression.

I had 21 sessions in the fall. It did not start working until around the 13th session. Then it worked beautifully and has kept working. For me it's basically the only thing I respond to when in a deep depression/mixed state.

Are you having unilateral or bilateral? Unilateral does not work for me. Bilateral is worse for my memory but it works. Honestly if you are not feeling even slightly better by the seventeenth session, I would stop treatment. I don't think the side effects and Possible brain damage are worth it if it's not working. I'm willing to take it because it works so well but if it didn't I would have bailed.

I cannot take the depakote the night before because it is an antiseizure, but I am on it every day besides the night before. I would double check to see if you should be taken off it always!!!

Bilateral was waaaaay to much for me. Went to right unilateral. I decided today I am not going to do any more, but the doctor said I can resume anytime if I get worse again. Fingers crossed.

You can't just stop taking Lamotrigine, or you risk seizures even with no history of seizures. Or the dreaded lamictal rash.

My pdoc is tapering me off it in preparation. That and Lithium.

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I wish I could take lithium. It worked pretty well on a fairly low dose which is unheard of for me, but it made me have muscle spasms in my hands and eyes. My eyes would just go crazy. Dare I say, it was kinda cool, but I wouldn't want it permanently.