Treatment Resistant Depressant - Anxiety and Depre...

Anxiety and Depression Support

93,049 members86,939 posts

Treatment Resistant Depressant

Doubledog profile image
7 Replies

I have had depression since my 20’s and likely in teens. I’m now 56 and my meds are no longer working like they once did. I’m going to be meeting with a clinic about other options ie: ECT etc. I’m very scared and anxious as this feels next level to me in my illness. Have you tried ECT and/or Esketamine and what has your experience been? I think I’m most worried about the risks and having something like ECT make me non functional. Any thoughts or experiences you’ve had would be great to hear about. Thank you!

Written by
Doubledog profile image
Doubledog
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
7 Replies
Thurlesy profile image
Thurlesy

Hi Doubledog, I had treatment resistant depression too. I was recommended ECT but was too scared to try it, even though i know from others that it does have great results. Through time I discovered that the older medications MAOIs helped me most. Also the thyroid T3 medication brandname Thybon helped me a lot you. My psychiatrist added this in, not for my thyroid function, but to make the anti-depressants work better. I also take a good quality Fish Oil supplement and Vit D, B12 & Zinc. If u decide to go for the ECT treatment, I wish you well. It works so well for a lot if people. It will be so worth it if you get good results.

All the very best Doubledog 💙

Doubledog profile image
Doubledog in reply toThurlesy

Thank you! This is super helpful thank you!

LifeIsThePitts profile image
LifeIsThePitts

Look into TMS treatment for depression and anxiety. I've been successfully doing this since Feb '22 and it's the only thing that puts my TRD and anxiety in check...no antidepressants or Rx drugs since Oct '18.

bespoketreatment.com/tms-th...

This is the link to the clinic I go to in Nevada. There's a lot of great info on Ketamine infusions and TMS for you to read about. I've done Ketamine infusions, too. But I have a sensitivity to anesthesia and painkillers so Ketamine wasn't a good fit for my treatment plan. Too much lethary and fatigue following the infusions... however, the clinical experience of the actual treatment was AMAZING!! If not for the side effects, I would have continued to do additional infusions.

TMS is the ONLY thing that works for me. Maybe it will be an option for you before ECT. That really scared me with the memory loss and headaches. TMS is noninvasive and I go to my 20 min treatment sessions on the way to work. No down time or recovery necessary!

Doubledog profile image
Doubledog in reply toLifeIsThePitts

Thank you so much for replying and the info!

bethelbee profile image
bethelbee in reply toDoubledog

I was also going to recommend TMS. It worked great for me after becoming treatment resistant to meds after being on them for decades. As LITP pointed out it's a noninvasive treatment, no risk of memory loss as with ECT. I've had 3 rounds of TMS, the positive results of the first two each lasted about 6 months. The third is still working after almost 2 years.

Sojourn profile image
Sojourn

My ect was 7 sessions. I did not think it was helping but apparently my psychiatrist thought it was. I ended up having a mental breakdown and started early retirement as I wasn't able to continue working. This was many years ago, so I don't know if treatments have changed since then. I have also tried ketamine. I enjoyed the experience each session but I don't think I was well supervised and the doctor admitted that my dose should probably have been increased. I did not receive any detectable benefit. I even tried psilocybin. I may not have been off my meds for enough weeks, and I am not sure if it was beneficial, as I think the slight improvement in mood might be more related to being off the antidepressants. I was hoping for a realization of enhanced neuralplasticity, but I didn't get that. But I have been able to feel better without all the side effects of the antidepressants, especially feeling numb.

Kinlay profile image
Kinlay

I am having luck with TMS mayoclinic.org/tests-proced... , and I would definitely go for that over ECT. I use an at-home PEMF device, and you can learn more in their forum if you are interested. forum.fluxhealth.co/t/depre...

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Treatment Resistant Depression

I am new here and in desperate need of people who understand. In December 2014 I had a meltdown....

Is it working?

Hi. Had another ECT treatment this morning. Asked the doctor if I’m “supposed “ to be feeling...
nicetry profile image

Treatment resistant?

From time to time, I see posts from some poor soul who is apparently "treatment resistant." What...
Beevee profile image

Treatment resistant

I found out today that I am treatment resistant. I have tried a lot of medications over the years...
purl1 profile image

treatment resistant depression

hey guys. So recently I’ve been diagnosed with treatment resistant depression. Does anyone else...
BlueAurora profile image

Moderation team

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.