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Originally Posted by shutterbug  thanks Peda....side affects with ECT? you mean the memory loss?
I keep hearing from different places and people of how it's actually the most beneficial thing for depression and the safest. It doesn't put any unnatural chemicals in your body (only the meds they use during treatments to put you under and such), doesn't cause things like deadly rashes, weight gain, no potential for potential lethal build up of salts or anything similar to lithium or depakote, doesn't cause diabetis like Serouel can, doesn't push bipolars into possible manias, doesn't cause low libido, or knock a person out for 15 hours or more at a time..... |
Everything has risks, it just depends which route you choose to take. ECT, much like medication, has been evolving since its first inception. The early on treatments were way to much (much like medications.....they use to pile on Thorazine and Haldol when they first came out)
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Originally Posted by shutterbug ....and really all ECT is....is a stimulated seizer (however u spell that) accomplished by very low level shocks to specific points. right?
i don't understand why it's the last thing we should turn to instead of the first or second? I know it personally frightens me a bit just because of having to go under and having never been under before or anything similar, but wouldn't a little short-term memory loss worth the benefits (as typical loss of memories is usually only the few days prior to treatment and tend to return later)? I mean, my short-term memory is shyte anyway because of this depression....sometimes can't even remember what i did just 5 hours prior unless seriously thinking really hard on it for a while. So either way i've got memory loss issues.
Anyway, thanks for responding Peda and i can't wait to read your thoughts an opinions on this stuff!!!
hugs,
jenna |
I know short-term memory concerns are the primary complaint, though I'd talk with your physician more if you have concerns. I know they have made good strides in the procedure, and there are some other alternatives (using high-powered magnets), but I don't know enough to speak to the particulars.
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Originally Posted by shutterbug p.s. my personal view on why ECT isn't more main stream? Besides the obvious fear factor of how it got it's start, there's the money issue, plain and simple. It's a lot more profitable to hand out a pill then for insurance companies to be paying for and docs to start prescribing expensive ECT. And if it really works as well as i keep hearing from docs and professors....then that would sure cut WAY into the Rx biz with all of us who depend on anti-ds and anxiety meds! Can u fathum the financial losses many Rx companies would get hit with if ECT became more mainstream than pills!!! I can't even imagine.
p.s.s What have you heard about that new stimulas device that is now being surgically inplanted into depressed patients? Any good reviews? |
Pharma companies are getting out of psychotropics as of late (there isn't enough money in it), and they are just repackaging and tweaking current formulations. Many of the newer drugs are metabolites of older drugs, and others just have a different delivery system (extended release, transdermal patch, etc). Heart and cholesterol meds are where it's at, with an aging population, those drugs are HUGE money makers....and Alzheimer's treatment, though that is harder to get passed.
Access is also a concern. Many people don't have or aren't willing to find places to have the treatment. Many docs who do ECT require multiple pharma interventions (in multiple classes) before going down the path of ECT. I think of ECT like I think of Clozaril......both have been proven to work on treatment of resistant dx's, BUT they come with some strings attached. Most people would rather not mess with them, but for some....it is the only treatment that works.
-p