TMS Therapy Treatment for Depression

The most commonly reported symptom is some sensitivity at the site where the magnetic pulse is directed. Many patients describe the feeling of TMS as a light tapping or ‘tingly’ sensation on their forehead.

The most common side effect of TMS is a temporary mild headache during or shortly after the TMS session. Most patients who experience headaches report that they only happen in the first week or two of treatment. Other symptoms include mild facial twitching during treatment or a slight tingling sensation on the forehead or scalp at the site of the stimulation.

For many people, depression symptoms significantly improved or went away after 4 to 6 weeks of treatment with NeuroStar Advanced Therapy.

In clinical trials after the acute phase of treatment, 33% of patients achieved remission, and 62% had a positive response (50% reduction in symptoms).

The most common side effect is discomfort at the treatment site. Some patients complain of a headache following treatments for the first few days. Your doctor may recommend taking an over-the-counter medicine before your treatment if you experience discomfort. Most patients find any discomfort lessens after the first 5 days of treatment.

You get to relax in a comfortable reclining chair. You will feel a tapping sensation on the front part of the left side of your head. Everyone perceives the pulses differently, and your provider can make adjustments so you are more comfortable.

The FDA approved the use of TMS for the treatment of depression in 2008. Since then, multiple clinical trials have been done on tens-of-thousands of patients. The results of these studies have proven that TMS Therapy is a safe and effective alternative in treating patients who have not experienced adequate relief from their depression symptoms with medications.

Yes and No. Although TMS and Electroconvulsive Therapy (aka ECT or ‘Shock Therapy’) both work to stimulate the brain; ECT must be administered in a hospital setting, and you must be sedated (put to sleep) in order to tolerate the treatment. In ECT, electric currents are delivered to the brain in way that causes small seizures. The most commonly reported side effects of ECT treatment are nausea, headache, jaw pain, muscle aches, confusion, or even memory loss of events that occurred in the weeks before or after treatment.

With TMS, the treatments are given in an outpatient/office setting, while you are awake. During TMS sessions, patients are encouraged to read, watch videos, play a game on their phone, or participate in any other activity that they can while sitting upright in the TMS chair. It is important to take in positive stimuli while the treatment is in progress.

Is TMS safe?

Do not stop taking your medications prior to TMS Therapy. Throughout the course of your therapy, we will work with your Primary Care Physician or Health Care Provider to manage your medications. Some people continue to take some or all of their antidepressant medications throughout the entire course of treatment. Based on your response, your doctor may begin tapering off some of your medications during or after TMS therapy.

For people with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), long-term remission becomes less likely with each prescription medication treatment attempt. As antidepressant medication increases, so can side effects and the potential for treatment failure.

NeuroStar Advanced Therapy can help people who struggle with MDD even after taking antidepressant medication. It helps activate the natural function of the brain’s neurotransmitters using a non-invasive magnetic field.

Most health insurance companies cover TMS Therapy, but the amount of coverage for the treatment can vary for each insurance provider. Some will cover it 100%, while others will only cover a portion of the cost. The out-of-pocket cost for you may differ based on your plan benefits, co-pays, or deductibles. With your consent, we can do a benefit investigation prior to determine exactly what your out-of-pocket cost would be. We can also work with you on payment options as needed.

The typical initial course of treatment consists of 30-36 sessions. One treatment session takes about 20-30 minutes. A standard TMS Therapy schedule is one session per day, 4 or 5 days a week for 6 weeks. After the initial phase, the therapy is tapered off over the course of 3 weeks with 2-3 sessions [days] per week. The total ‘treatment period’ is between 2-3 months, depending on how it is scheduled.

For optimal results, we recommend following the standard treatment schedule, BUT we understand that things come up in life. If you have to miss an appointment, we will work with you to reschedule your session. If a major life event occurs, and you have to miss multiple sessions, we will provide counsel on your options for resuming therapy so that you can have the best possible outcome.

The response to treatment varies based on the individual. Many patients start to feel the positive effects of TMS therapy after the first week, but on average, patients reported a “Noticeable Difference” in their general mood sometime between 2-4 weeks of therapy. Many patients reported that their depression symptoms continued to improve even after their course of therapy was complete.

The lasting effect of TMS varies by patient; however, multiple clinical trials [studies] have shown that after one year nearly 70% of patients maintained their level of response (which means they felt the same way as they did after completing their course of treatment); and 45% of patients achieved ‘remission’ (meaning they found relief from or were free of depressive symptoms). In some cases (maybe due to age, life changes, severity of depression, or environmental factors), patients may need to return at some point for an additional course of TMS Therapy, called ‘maintenance therapy’. In clinical studies only 1 in 3 patients needed to return for maintenance therapy sessions.