Posted by blueberry1 on January 13, 2007, at 18:56:33
In reply to Re: Is ECT all that is left?, posted by Karen44 on January 13, 2007, at 17:58:28
I wonder if you could list the medications you have tried? I realize it's probably a long list and maybe painful to recall all of them.
And could you make note of any that showed at least a tiny hint of improvement?
I am wondering for example if off-label medications such as stimulants (Adderall or Provigil), or opioids like maybe Tramadol are in your history? It sounds like you have done everything possible to increase the pool of serotonin, norepineprine, and dopamine. So I am wondering what other mechanisms or neurotransmitters have been missed.
Having been through ECT myself I would not suggest it to anyone. It does get a pretty high rating in scientific literature, but it gets a pretty low rating from actual users at remedyfind. One or two people here have done very well with it and even go to work the same day they get shocked. My doctor told me he sees a 50/50 chance of improvement with his patients, that it can be highly effective, but that it is also highly intrusive. Memory loss and relapse are highly underestimated in my opinion. My dad, a retired doctor, said the amnesia was similar to what he used to see with head trauma victims from car accidents.
ECT worked for me for a whole 2 days. That after 14 zaps (5 weeks waiting for it to kick in). Then it sent me into a psychotic rageful mean mania, followed by the worst suicidal depression of my life. I can't say it worked. I think it is evil. But for some people it is a miracle.
poster:blueberry1
thread:722043
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070113/msgs/722060.html