Posted by linkadge on July 6, 2008, at 13:03:22
In reply to Re: ECT response rate » BGB, posted by Bob on July 5, 2008, at 20:04:17
I just suggest getting a second opinion before having ECT.
There are really a number of options or combinations that most patients have not tried.
Some patients do really well, for instance, with psychostimulant augmentation. There are some (old school) doctors who are more comfortable administering ECT then considering psychostimulant augmentation!
The risks of stimulants are likely less than those of ECT. So long as they're not abused the worst they generally do is produce tollerance.
In my 3rd year of university, one doctor was really pushing ECT since I had "tried everything". Before going through with it, another doctor suggested methyphenidate augmentation.
Now sure, I got myself somewhat hooked on a dose of ritalin that slowly escalated over 6 months, but the point is that it *really* got me out of an extrordinarily deep place and very quickly.
Was it a long term solution, no, but neither is ECT.
Opiates are also other good options. They're not permanant solutions, but they can provide relief that with judicious dosing can last months.
I'd even (personally) look to use a low dose of Ketamine the risks are likely still less than with ECT.
I am just supristed how some doctors jump to ECT without really exploring all other options.
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:836941
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080706/msgs/838386.html