VNS Treatment

[So_It_Goes]

anyone have any success with VNS for treatment resistant depression?

[kenster1]

never heard of it to be honest what actually is it.

[So_It_Goes in reply to kenster1]

kind of hard to explain… so if anyone knows more than me please correct me

it’s a device that’s implanted under the left side of your chest and is attached to wires that are connected to your vagal nerve- something that plays a part in your body’s response to/regulation of emotions. The device sends electrical impulses to stimulate the vagal nerve.

Sorry Wikipedia would probably do a better job than me at explaining lol

[Chocolatedogs12 in reply to So_It_Goes]

I have not done it but think I may be headed that way. I am doing ECT now and not incredibly helpful. I mentioned the Vegas Nerve Stimulation to my psychiatrist and his opinion was that it was still too experimental. If he won’t do it my thought is to pursue with another provider potentially.

[So_It_Goes]

VNS is still in the early research stages I guess regarding treatment resistant depression, but it’s also used to treat epilepsy and there is evidence that it helped with mood as well as controlling seizures.

Anyway, for me it’s worth it because well what do I really have to lose, if it doesn’t work it’s just another thing that didn’t.

FYI- it’s not currently covered by insurance for depression, although it’s fda approved, because they’re haven’t been enough research studies conducted on it. I looked into it and I think the device itself costs around $10,000- not counting surgery and consultations etc afterwards.

That being said, I enrolled in a clinical trial (RECOVER). You should see if you meet the criteria- I found it on clinical trials.gov. Not sure where you’re located but it looked like they had sites all over the US.