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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by uncouth on September 13, 2008, at 17:44:07
Hi,
I have an appointment with a doctor affiliated with Stanford who does rTMS treatments in two weeks. I was wondering if anyone had experience with rTMS, and if it was effective for them. I'm struggling with the darkest depression of of my 5year BP2 dx. It was minimally responsive to nardil at 90 though may not have given it enough time, and responsive about 60% to parnate at 40, but the side effects were horrible and did not seem to abate.
So the new idea is transitioning to Pristiq (have had success with effexor in the past, but I don't like SNRIs because they make me feel a bit blissed out and apathetic and compulsive). Hoping the addition of Abilify will help with the SNRI side effects and the addition of rTMS will appropriately fix the deep limbic dopaminergic structures which I could definitely feel were being stiumulated by the Parnate.
Anyone have any positive experiences to date with rTMS? Or with the Dr. "S" (please babblemail me if you would rather not post Dr. comments on this board).
Posted by 10derHeart on September 13, 2008, at 22:27:47
In reply to rTMS experiences and Doctor near Palo Alto?, posted by uncouth on September 13, 2008, at 17:44:07
Not me....but you may want to search the archives (search box at the center bottom of each page.) I do recall a poster.....twinleaf, who has had a positive experience.
Here's a link to one of her posts in a thread where it's discussed:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080316/msgs/818679.html
Don't know if her Babblemail's on....but maybe she will see this post as you do have rTMS in the subject line.
Good luck :-)
Posted by socialphobic on September 14, 2008, at 8:16:55
In reply to rTMS experiences and Doctor near Palo Alto?, posted by uncouth on September 13, 2008, at 17:44:07
Yes I have had this done. I had about 20 sessions but didn't find it helped much (if at all). You either get low frequency on both sides (left and right), or low frequency on the left combined with high frequency on the right. I tried both options for 10 sessions each.
High frequency is probably more effective, so ask for that if possible. Only downside is that its more uncomfortable than low frequency and mildly painful (but you get used to it). During treatment it twitches your eye and jaw which can be a bit annoying.
But by all means, give it a go. I have heard the success rate is about 50%, unfortunately I don't think I was one of those 50% :(
I have also heard that when it does work, the effects are only short lasting (like ECT). If it works for you, then you may only get benefit for a few months and have to go back for more.
This is the end of the thread.
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