Jan 20, 2006 (Started Dec 20, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall) (loss of short term memory, mental confusion)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 12 other 2 times a week
Advice & Tips: Sense of smell improved greatly, able to relax completely, mind seemed calm. Some euphoria. Deep restful sleep. Felt much younger again. No aches or pains in body. Able to move without much effort. Weight returned to healthy levels-food tasted good. I forgot almost everything about my life for the first few months, but then started to remember most of it back. A few years are hazy but I hadn't done much those years. Depression completely gone for 6 months, continued good effects for a year. For a few months I was very zoned out during treatment, slept a lot.
Cost: $200+ monthly
Side effects: mental confusion, loss of short term memory

Jan 20, 2003 (Started Dec 20, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    Moderate (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Advice & Tips: I didn't like the first few treatments. Got nasty headache and sick to my stomach. Also, confusion built up. I lost the ability to recall anything from memory. The memories were still there-but I couldn't get to them unless something or someone reminded me. There are much newer forms of this treatment which cause little to no memory loss-but they require very new machines which use very brief pulses of current and a skilled doctor (this is the difference between ECT working and not working). Might only report a few hours of temporary confusion which clears up. Anyone interested check out ultra brief pulse ECT. For depression and general well being, I've found nothing is better. My quality of life went through the ceiling. I only wish I had done it sooner. Just watch out for memory loss if going with traditional ECT. Write down things that you want to remember, who people are, what you did on what dates, meaning of photos-you should then recall whatever you forgot. Getting back the memory means having something to jog it. If memory loss is a big issue (it wasn't for me-I had nothing but depression to remember) stick with the newest forms of it. Don't worry about the naysayers. Also make doubly sure your insurance will actually pay for it.
Cost: $200+ monthly
Side effects: mental confusion, loss of short term memory
  • 4 helpful marks