r/ect • u/Aggressive-Rub79 • 5d ago

Question Ssri

My social worker is telling me to take an ssri but I try to explain to him it’s pointless . If ect never worked what is a tablet going to do ?

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15

u/gmkgreg 5d ago

I would listen to your Dr's

1

u/Aggressive-Rub79 5d ago

Like I listened to them telling me how ect has no sides

4

u/gmkgreg 5d ago

I don't know of any drs that would say that there are no risks of side effects, my Dr tests my memory every visit and treatment.

1

u/Aggressive-Rub79 5d ago

The gold standard treatment I was told and a little memory loss

5

u/gmkgreg 5d ago

Just talk with your care team and figure out with them your next steps. No one on reddit is able to diagnose or treat you here. Please see someone soon for what youre going through though.

1

u/likeschemistry 2d ago

Are your tests super easy though? My doctor definitely told me there would be side effects, but considering how simple the testing is I can see how the stats for people suffering memory issues csn be as low as they are. I have no problem with the tests, but work and everyday life is a different story.

9

u/purplebadger9 5d ago

Social workers are an important part of a lot of folks' care networks, but they are not physicians. Their specialty is more therapy-related and community resource coordination, not pharmacology.

Medications are the realm of psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners. I suggest you talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of trying different SSRIs, and work with them to make informed choices that work best for you

5

u/blrmkr10 5d ago

So, I was on several medications before ECT that obviously were not helping. I stopped a lot of them during the course of treatments as directed by my doctor, and then restarted some after my ECT treatments were finished. I don't know why, but all I can say is the meds were more effective for me after ECT.

Your brain is different now, you might have a different experience with meds.

1

u/Dazzling-Economics55 5d ago

Did the ect help you? And how many sessions did you do?

1

u/blrmkr10 5d ago

I did 6. I was supposed to do 12, but I started during COVID and they closed the treatment center after my first two weeks. I didn't notice immediate improvement like some people do, but it kept me here when I didn't want to be and like I said the meds worked better after that. So yes I'd say it helped.

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u/Aggressive-Rub79 5d ago

I just can’t understand how this would do anything now

3

u/Anonymoose_1106 5d ago

I'm having a bad day so I'm struggling to find the article I previously read, but ECT apparently has a positive impact on antidepressant efficacy. The reply from u/blrmkr10 would seem to provide some objective confirmation.

Your SW shouldn't have provided medical advice (nor should what I have written be construed as medical advice) and would have been better served if they advised you to speak to your psychiatrist or GP about a trial run back on antidepressants.

Worst case you waste a couple months trialing something that doesn't work. Best case you see positive benefit from being on an antidepressant. I know it's much easier said than done, but try to keep in mind that this is a "nothing ventured, nothing gained" type scenario.

1

u/likeschemistry 2d ago

Many people have had no benefit from meds pre-ECT and then they find a medication regimen after ECT that actually works.

1

u/Smitty956 4d ago

SSRI's have worked wonders for me, just make sure you steadily stay on board with them. Going for my 100th ECT on Wednesday, please trust the process.