PubMed · 1989 · 10 citations · 0 references
MedicinePharmacologyPharmacotherapyMemoryNeuropharmacologyPsychopharmacologyAnxiety DisordersMemory DisordersPsychostimulant PharmacologyAntidepressant ResponseAntidepressant SafetyAntidepressant TolerabilityCognitive Adverse EffectsDouble-blind TrialsElectroconvulsive Therapy For DepressionPilot Study DesignRecognition Memory Tests
Amnesia is the most common adverse effect among patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy. In a double-blind pilot study, patients receiving bilateral ECT were pretreated with ergoloid mesylates (N = 5) or placebo (N = 5). Consistent with the hypothesis that ergoloid mesylates might protect against ECT-associated amnesia, nonsignificant trends on some memory tests showed better performance for patients receiving active treatment. Unexpectedly, patients treated with ergoloid mesylates had a significantly better antidepressant response.