What medications should be withheld before ECT?
There are reports of certain complementary medications such as ginkgo biloba, ginseng, St John’s wort, valerian and kava kava interfering with ECT. 35 Given the lack of evidence of efficacy of these medications, it is advisable to cease these supplements prior to commencement of ECT as the risks outweigh the benefits.
What medications would shorten the seizure duration of electroconvulsive therapy?
Propofol reduces seizure duration in patients having anaesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy.
How many ECT treatments is too many?
HOW MANY TIMES WILL I NEED TO BE TREATED? People undergoing ECT need multiple treatments. The number needed to successfully treat severe depression can range from 4 to 20, but most people need a total of 6 to 12 treatments.
What medications interact with ECT?
Table 1 lists common medications that patients may receive during an ECT procedure….Table 1.
| Anesthetic induction agents | Methohexital |
|---|---|
| Antihypertensives | Calcium channel blockers (nifedipine and nicardipine) |
| Anticholinergic agents | Glycopyrrolate |
| Atropine | |
| Narcotics | Fentanyl |
What muscle relaxant is used during ECT?
Succinylcholine has been traditionally the muscle relaxant of choice for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) owing to its rapid onset of action and ultrashort duration of effect. However, a nondepolarizing muscle relaxant should be used when succinylcholine is contraindicated or not recommended.
Can ECT cause death?
Conclusion: The ECT-related mortality rate was estimated at 2.1 per 100 000 treatments. In comparison, a recent analysis of the mortality of general anesthesia in relation to surgical procedures reported a mortality rate of 3.4 per 100 000. Our findings document that death caused by ECT is an extremely rare event.
Can ECT damage your brain?
The review of literature and present evidence suggests that ECT has a demonstrable impact on the structure and function of the brain. However, there is a lack of evidence at present to suggest that ECT causes brain damage.
Do they intubate for ECT?
Patients are not intubated for ECT, except under extremely rare circumstances. An intravenous line is inserted in the patient’s arm, through which the anesthetic and muscle relaxant medications are administered.
What mental illness does ECT treat?
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment most commonly used in patients with severe major depression or bipolar disorder that has not responded to other treatments.
Does ECT lower IQ?
However, former patients have publicly testified that ECT can result in a very significant (>30 point) permanent decrement in IQ score (Food and Drug Administration, 1982; Andre, 2001; Cott, 2005: p.
What anesthesia is given for ECT?
The anesthetic management for ECT typically involves the use of an induction dose of an IV anesthetic (e.g., methohexital or propofol) followed by a muscle relaxant (e.g., succinylcholine or mivacurium).
Is propofol used for ECT?
Propofol is a commonly used anesthetic drug for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as evidenced by the frequency with which its use is reported in ECT literature.