Posted by jerrympls on May 20, 2005, at 18:06:53
In reply to Re: ECT failure?, posted by Mr.Scott on May 20, 2005, at 17:14:58
> Has anyone considered the timeline of their depresion and where their benzodiazepine usage was at that time?
>
> I have certainly heard (and may be experiencing some of this) that benzos, particularly clonazepam may induce depression.
>
> However...I have to concur with whoever said benzo+Stim+SSRI is the best combo I've had to date.
>
> For me ECT worked great. I had 6-8 treatments, (right unilateral) and was doing very well. After 5 months the effect dissipated. I am now considering maintenance ECT. My doc suggests starting once a week for 3 weeks and then continuing to spread it out until once every 2 months for maintenace. The only impairment I had was from the anesthesia. No memory problems at all. Some day's I even went to work after a treatment (which was highly ill advised by my doc). I guess everyone is different in how they respond to all this stuff.
>
> I'm interested in the opiate thing. After all morphine was the treatment of choice for depression at one time.
>
> ScottScott- I have heard many successful stories like yours involving maintenance ECT treatment. I'm so glad that you don't have the memory problems. I would go for the maintenance treatments especially if the ECT helped you for 5 months before it pooped out.
My doc has me on benzo+stim+ssri+opiate (hydrocodone) now and it's been the best combo so far for me. I wish I didn't have to reply on a stimulant to get me up and going - it's scary to know that if I don't take my stimulant that I'll just sit on the couch all day or sleep and escape from the world. But, until we find something better I'll keep taking it to keep me going.
Opiate therapy is used more than people know. Mainly at bigger teaching hospitals/universities where they experiment with a lot of off-lable stuff and help drug companies conduct clinical trials. The University of Minnesota is one such place. Even though I see a resident, his attending ok'ed the opiate trials - and I'm not the only one. I found out that a handful of the staff psychiatrists on faculty who are involved with depression research/treatment have tried opiate treatments with other patients - some successful and others not. So far I've been a success. It's been Since December 2004 when I began the opiate and to date I have NO tolerance issues nor do I feel the need to increase the dosage or take more than what the doc prescribed.
It wasn't easy getting to the point where I am with doctors willing to try opiates - and it's not a cure-all - but it helps a lot.
Jerry
poster:jerrympls
thread:495223
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050516/msgs/500491.html