Download Electroconvulsive Therapy Patient Discharge Instructions

Electroconvulsive Therapy
Patient Discharge Instructions
has scheduled you to have outpatient ECT on
.
Dr.
If for any reason you need to reschedule or cancel, please notify the ECT Program Coordinator at (207) 283-7467. If you
are calling on the day of your treatment, please call the ECT Treatment Room at (207) 283-7799.
THINGS YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE YOUR TREATMENT:
… DO NOT EAT OR DRINK after midnight prior to your treatment.
… At 5 a.m. on the morning of your treatment take only the medications you have been instructed to take. All other
medications can be taken when you return home.
… Leave all jewelry, credit cards, cash and other valuables at home.
… If you have had a physical exam, surgical procedure, hospitalization, visit to the emergency room, lab work, x-rays or
visit to your physician in between treatments, please ask the staff to mail or fax this information to 283-7750 to ensure
that the ECT treatment team is up to date on your medical status.
ON THE DAY OF YOUR TREATMENT:
… Please check in at the front desk in the lobby.
… Please report to the ACU Waiting Room on the first floor at SMHC.
… Please be sure to use the rest room BEFORE reporting to the Waiting Room.
… Bring a list of your current medications and dosages.
UPON DISCHARGE:
… You have received intravenous medications that may cause weakness and sleepiness. The effects last up to 24 hours.
Therefore, DO NOT DRIVE or operate any potentially dangerous equipment (lawn mower, snow blower, sewing
machine, etc.) or make any important business decisions for the next 24 hours.
… You must have a responsible adult take you home. You may be groggy and sleepy for the rest of the day. This person
should stay with you for the day.
YOU MAY EXPERIENCE THE FOLLOWING:
… A slight headache.
… Some nausea, dry mouth or muscle aches due to the medications you were given.
… Forgetfulness and confusion.
… Sore muscles. A warm bath, Tylenol or Advil should relieve the symptoms.
OTHER INSTRUCTIONS:
If you feel any of the following symptoms, please call 283-7467.
… Extreme headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion.
… Temperature greater than 100.5 F.
… Redness, swelling, drainage, or pain lasting more than 24 hours at the site of your IV.
… Extreme depression or mania.
I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
Signature of Patient
Date
Signature of Escort
Date
Signature of Discharge Nurse
Date/Time
ECT-009E (04/13)
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Electroconvulsive Therapy
Patient Discharge Instructions
PATIENT AND FAMILY INFORMATION
The following is a list of common ECT-related side effects and what to do if they occur. Please keep this in a handy place
so that you can refer to it easily during the ECT treatment course.
HEADACHES/MUSCLE ACHES
Either Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol is usually effective). Since Ibuprofen may cause stomach
discomfort, it is helpful for the patient having ECT to eat as soon as possible after a treatment. After eating, the patient
should take either Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen as directed on the bottle. If the headaches are severe enough to cause
inability to eat after treatment, 2 Acetaminophen may be taken with a sip of water 1 to 2 hours before a treatment.
CONFUSION
This will usually clear within several hours of the treatment. Family and friends can be most helpful by frequently
reminding the patient that (s)he has had a treatment. It is not unusual for this confusion to become slightly worse with
each treatment. Please call if the confusion persists longer than 6 hours.
NAUSEA/VOMITING
This is a more unusual side effect and is related to the anesthetic. If this occurs, please call the number below to discuss
possible interventions with a member of the ECT team. Beginning with the next treatment, a medication will be added
during treatment to prevent nausea.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WHEN TO STOP THE ECT SERIES
ECT is given in a series of treatments, usually three times per week, typically on a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
basis. ECT is offered at SMMC on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The typical number of treatments is somewhere between 6 and 12 initially. Then patients may continue with ECT in a
continuance phase where they are progressively continuing to get better. Finally, they move into the maintenance phase
to maintain wellness. These phases may be discussed in more detail with the treatment team. The decision to stop
treatments is a mutual agreement between the patient, family, and ECT treatment team.
MAINTENANCE ECT
If you are receiving maintenance ECT, this is being given in order to maintain the benefit gained during the ECT series.
Maintenance ECT usually begins as a single treatment, given weekly for several weeks, beginning after your treatment
series. The interval between treatments is gradually lengthened if improvement continues.
DRIVING
If a patient is having a series of ECT treatments, (s)he should not drive during the treatment series or for approximately 2
weeks after the treatment series. Initially, it is a good idea to have someone with you when driving, until you and your
family feel comfortable in resuming your driving alone. If you are having maintenance ECT, you should not drive for 24
hours after each treatment.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL 283-7467, IF NO ANSWER, PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE.
ADDITIONALLY, YOU MAY PAGE 750-2088 (punch in the phone number where you can be reached).
ECT-009E (04/13)
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