Help How long does it take for ECT to take affect?

[3FailedAttemptss]

I just had my first ECT session today, and honestly, I feel very indifferent. I don't feel like it's done anything. I didn't even have any short-term memory loss, like I could remember everything leading up to the narcosis, and my mood feels the same, I still think about suicide a lot and methods and well I'm on this site as well, I keep telling myself that I should kill myself so I don't feel like anything is improved.

Does it just not work for me, or is it because I've only had one session? Or how long does it take for this to work?

 

[timf]

They may be starting out at a lower voltage just to be safe.

 

[nobody_oac]

From what my Doctor said, it usually takes 10-12 sessions. By the end of the 11th, I didn't want to end things, but my brain wasn't quite right either. I'm going to assume they recommended bilateral ECT and that is the current course of treatment. If memory is a concern, as it was with me, talk to your Doctor about unilateral ECT. Studies have shown it just as effective with less memory side effects. I wish I had known before I started my sessions.

 

[3FailedAttemptss]

I just had my second ECT session today, honestly - I dont feel much different, still feel zero happiness and I haven't had any issues with memory loss either, so it really feels like nothings changed. I consulted my caretaker and they explained I will receive the default 6 ECT sessions, after which they'll discuss and figure out if I require additional sessions.

I kinda think that'll be necessary cause really, I feel no different. Yesterday I sat frozen for three hours at the dinner table here in the ward just thinking about suicide before, well, I had to take my meds and someone broke me out of it. I'm still scared of myself. I think I'm perma fucked in the head. It'd just be nice if the ECT helped.

From what my Doctor said, it usually takes 10-12 sessions. By the end of the 11th, I didn't want to end things, but my brain wasn't quite right either. I'm going to assume they recommended bilateral ECT and that is the current course of treatment. If memory is a concern, as it was with me, talk to your Doctor about unilateral ECT. Studies have shown it just as effective with less memory side effects. I wish I had known before I started my sessions.

I'm receiving bilateral, but have not experienced any memory loss, even the moments leading up to and after the ECT. Though, this may be a result of the doctors using an alternative anesthetic cause I was resistant to the first one.