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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by denise528 on March 27, 2003, at 13:11:43
Hi,
I'm seriously starting to consider having ECT, the Zyprexa is about the only drug that helps me this time round and whilst I thank God for it I don't want to have to spend the rest of my life on it (that's if it doestn't stop working). Whilst Zyprexa really seems to get me out of that horrible cesspit of a hole and makes me feel better it doestn't make me feel "right" if you know what I mean. If it was like taking a course of antibiotics, where you just take it for a long period of time until your better and then come off them and you're ok, then I would but it doestn't work like that does it? So not really sure what to do next, stick with the hand I've got or twist on ECT.
I have some questions about ECT, don't know if anyone knows but I've searched and searched the internet and these questions don't seem to have been addressed.
Firstly they say that ECT buys time to find an Anti Depressant that works but if you've tried most of them already what happens then? Or does the ECT help them to work again?
Secondly, lets say ECT has made you feel better then they put you on medication, how do you know the medication is actually working if you already feel ok?
Denise
Posted by Janelle on March 27, 2003, at 13:31:08
In reply to Questions ECT.Not sure whether to stick on Zyprexa, posted by denise528 on March 27, 2003, at 13:11:43
Posted by Janelle on March 27, 2003, at 19:30:14
In reply to Questions ECT.Not sure whether to stick on Zyprexa, posted by denise528 on March 27, 2003, at 13:11:43
I have a very good friend who, after trying like 20 (yes, 20!) different a-d's, resorted to ECT, and found it very helpful, with the addition of an MAOI called Parnate.
However, she expected 1 or 2 ECT treatments to *cure* the depression, only to find that she has to go several times a month for maintenance. Also, when a session is done, she feels nauseous and amnesiac, but this passes. Well, it has affected her short-term memory, but so does Lithium.
So, to partly answer your question, the second one in particular - if ECT has made you feel better, then they put you on medication and you STOP the ECT, if you start to feel worse you know that you still need the ECT, most likely in combination with the medication.
I hope this helps and has not confused you more!
Posted by Krissy P on March 27, 2003, at 23:05:22
In reply to Questions ECT.Not sure whether to stick on Zyprexa, posted by denise528 on March 27, 2003, at 13:11:43
Hi Denise,
Zyprexa was the only med I was on when I did ECT and my doc actually took me off of it-I think he knows it is a horrible med.
Anyway, ECT is usually used as a last measure when all other medication routes have failed. It happened to me and I had 9 treatments.
I would love to answer anymore questions you have. Make the decision that is best for YOU and of course talk to your doc about ECT-who will perform it, if it is necessary, etc
May I ask what all meds you have tried for depression alone?
Hang in there, hope to hear back, Kristen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> Hi,
>
> I'm seriously starting to consider having ECT, the Zyprexa is about the only drug that helps me this time round and whilst I thank God for it I don't want to have to spend the rest of my life on it (that's if it doestn't stop working). Whilst Zyprexa really seems to get me out of that horrible cesspit of a hole and makes me feel better it doestn't make me feel "right" if you know what I mean. If it was like taking a course of antibiotics, where you just take it for a long period of time until your better and then come off them and you're ok, then I would but it doestn't work like that does it? So not really sure what to do next, stick with the hand I've got or twist on ECT.
>
> I have some questions about ECT, don't know if anyone knows but I've searched and searched the internet and these questions don't seem to have been addressed.
>
> Firstly they say that ECT buys time to find an Anti Depressant that works but if you've tried most of them already what happens then? Or does the ECT help them to work again?
>
> Secondly, lets say ECT has made you feel better then they put you on medication, how do you know the medication is actually working if you already feel ok?
>
>
> Denise
Posted by denise528 on March 28, 2003, at 6:30:48
In reply to Re: Questions ECT.Not sure whether to stick on Zyprexa » denise528, posted by Krissy P on March 27, 2003, at 23:05:22
Hi Krissy,
Just wondering why your Doctor thought Zyprexa was a horrible med, I know it causes weight gain and sedation (which is a blessing for me)because when I start really going downhill I can't sleep and my weight starts to plummet. Like I've said I only take the Zyprexa when I start to feel really desparate but wouldn't want to take it every day. What were your experiences of Zyprexa like, did you try taking it now and again. I find that I feel quite good for about 5 days after I've taken it but never as good as I used to feel when the Seroxat used to work.
Can you tell me about your experiences with ECT, did it work? Did you relapse and if so when you relapsed were you as bad as before you had ECT.
I still can't understand how if somebody has ECT and it works, how they know if the medication they put them on afterwards is actually doing anything. I mean if the person who had it felt ok anyway then how would they know if the medication was working?
This time round I've tried Remeron, Effexor, Seroxat, Sertraline, Prozac and prothiaden, Prozac and Lithium, Effexor and Lamictal, nothing seems to work.
I'm about to try Nardil (like you maybe) but don't hold out much hope for that because my symptoms are not Atypical, I don't eat or sleep too much, although I wish someone would put me to sleep until they found the right medication, then wake me up like sleeping beauty.Denise
Posted by denise528 on March 28, 2003, at 7:10:37
In reply to Woops! HERE is my answer ...! » denise528, posted by Janelle on March 27, 2003, at 19:30:14
Hi Janelle,
Thanks for your answer, I was unsure as to how if the ECT works you know whether the medication you take afterwards is the right one. A lady I wrote to had ECT it worked and she now says that she is doing really well on Nardil but I was wondering how she knows if the Nardil is actually helping her or whether or not she just got well from the ECT. I suppose if you're feeling good then the whys and wherefores don't matter but If I had ECT and it worked I'd want to know that the medication I was put on afterwards was actually working so that I wouldn't have a relapse. It's such a shame they can't visibly see what's going on in the brain with depression and that they can't see what the medication is acutally doing.
I hope your friend carries on doing well, are the short term memory affects very bad?
Denise
This is the end of the thread.
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