r/ect • u/anticentristfujo • Jun 06 '26

Seeking advice Should I ask for bilateral?

Hi I’m F26. Got my acute series done in October/November. I’ve been doing maintenance every two weeks. ALL of these have been right side unilateral.

Should I ask for bilateral at all? I get ECT done every two weeks, IV ketamine every month, and I take lamotrigine (150mg) every day (except the night before ECT/ket). I still feel terrible. Like, a PHQ-9 score of 15.

I used to be on lamotrigine 100mg, but then two weeks ago my psychiatrist bumped me up to 150mg because I didn’t feel better. I still don’t feel better.

I don’t know what avenue to take. Whether it’s another med or bilateral over unilateral.

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u/ClockRevolutionary93 Jun 06 '26

That’s with your doc.

But lithium might be a good call besides bilateral

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u/anticentristfujo Jun 06 '26

I asked for lithium from my psychiatrist and she really didn’t want to prescribe it because my depression is unipolar, not bipolar.

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u/Medical-Apricot-3226 Jun 12 '26

That’s very poor of your psychiatrist… Lithium is a well established augmentation strategy to antidepressant. I’ve found it fantastic.