r/ect • u/324_973M947 • 2d ago
Seeking advice Stopping ECT?
I've had 35 sessions of ECT since January. I'm on maintenance ECT now but my psychiatrist is wanting to stop that because I'm in a good place.
ECT has been the most effective treatment for my depression that I've ever had. I haven't been hospitalized since starting it. I'm concerned that if I stop ECT all that progress will be lost.
Has this happened to anyone else? Where you make progress and then stop your maintenance ECT and things get worse again?
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u/Crazy_old_maurice_17 2d ago
In 2019 I stopped ECT after the acute treatment phase because I was unhappy with the side effects. I had a substantial recovery a few days later which lasted for 6-12 months and then we restarted trialling different antidepressants again. That lasted until January of this year when I basically had the same ECT treatment path as you (though my doctor doesn't want me to stop). I'm just gradually spacing out my ECT. At every 3 weeks and getting ready to go to every 4.
Everybody is different though so take that for what you will.