Side effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy

Cardiovascular:

-Initial parasympathetic discharge: prominent during the first ECT treatment, bradycardia, asystole, premature atrial/ventricular contractions. Hypotentsion

-Sympathetic discharge follows: tachycardia, hypertension, PVCs, rarely VT. Usually tachycardia is self limited, peaking at 2 minutes

-EKG changes: ST-segment depression and T-wave inversion

Central Nervous System:

-headache, short-term memory loss, confusion, agitation, increased blood flow and CMR, elevated intraocular pressure

Neuroendocrine:

-increased stress hormones: ACTH, cortisol, vasopressin, prolactin, GH, epinephrine and NE

-improvement in NIDDM and hyperglycemia with IDDM

Gastrointestinal tract:

-elevated intragastric pressure