What are the side effects of electroconvulsive therapy for depression?

Answers (4) to: "What are the side effects of electroconvulsive therapy for d..."

• Bianca_

  
  
  
  This method is considered safe: the death rate due to this treatment is estimated as 4 case per 100,000 treatments, and the benefits, when given to the right patients seems to justify it - depression may be severe enough to result in self harm.
  
  However, there are side effects - the procedure itself may cause a short seizure, and some disturbances with the heart rhythm. Therefore, the patient is usually monitored during the therapy.
  
  ECT may also cause memory loss that usually resolves within weeks. and also disorientation, fatigue, nausea, and muscle aches.
  
  Although this list may be frightening, as I said, it's considered a good and helpful treatment.
  
  You may read more here:
  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/0033...
  

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• Tiffany20

  
  
  
  The physical risks of ECT are similar to those of brief general anesthesia. The United States' Surgeon General's report says that there are "no absolute health contraindications" to its use. Immediately following treatment the most common adverse effects are confusion and memory loss. The state of confusion usually disappears after an hour.

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• WhiteH...

  
  
  
  Known side effects of ECT include mainly short-term memory loss, disorientation and headaches. Other adverse effects are common, as are long-term memory and other neurocognitive deficits, which may persist. The American Psychiatric Association and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have concluded that the evidence they had suggested that the procedure, when administered according to their standards and without complications, does not cause brain damage in adults.

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• 2723

  
  
  
  I have been ob a cocktail of meds; I feel like a lab rat. Never to say any one helped;except zanax,however that's just covered up the feeling not to think about the depression when I awake. I had a phys...for over ten years. My phys...tried at least twelve diff...meds...:"I'm pisseed " I'm A GOOD LOOKING GUY,WOROuK OUT PEOPLE SAY WOW YOU LOOK GREAT" "I feel like a mess" compliments are nice,and believe me i'm not trying to build my outer aperance up. "Working out is a grat,but when that done,what else is there to do?

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