TMS Can Help, When Other Treatments Don’t

NeuroStar TMS uses focused magnetic pulses (similar in strength to an MRI), to revitalize underactive areas of the brain involved in regulating mood. When these regions are underactive, depression can result. “Waking up” these regions can have a lasting effect on depression, making long-term remission from depression a reality for many people.

Treatment with NeuroStar Advanced TMS Therapy is easy:

• Therapy sessions are conducted in your NeuroStar doctor’s office
• You can return to normal activities right away
• You are awake during treatment
• There are no negative effects on memory or sleep
• It’s covered by most health insurance plans

For people who have not found relief with antidepressants, NeuroStar TMS is a safe and proven depression treatment without the systemic side effects of medication. Over 4.8 million NeuroStar Advanced TMS treatments have been performed in over 134,000 patients.

TMS has put some people with depression into remission. Other patients see positive results that last for a long time. Working in regular therapy on techniques that help build coping mechanisms is an excellent way to supplement TMS.

A padded device covers your head for about 16-22 minutes per session. Sessions happen five days a week for a period of 4 to 6 weeks. These figures are averages so your treatment plan may vary depending on your needs.

There are minimal side effects associated with TMS. After their first few treatments, some patients have a slight headache, which they can treat with OTC analgesics. Around ten percent of patients experience mild pain or tingling in the scalp, which you can treat with pain relievers. It is recommended that patients wear earplugs during a session to protect their hearing.

This list of side effects is far less than what many patients experience when they take antidepressants long-term.

TMS should only be administered by trained medical professionals, including doctors, PAs, and nurse practitioners.

It is advised to bring OTC analgesics in case you have a slight headache afterward. At the start of the session, the medical staff will tell you to remove any magnetic accessories and provide you with optional earplugs. Keeping your purse or wallet away from the TMS machine is advisable as well, since the device can demagnetize credit card strips.

Most major insurances cover NeuroStar TMS.

Many patients experience side effects from their medication, increasing the chance that they will stop taking them. The most common side effect with NeuroStar TMS is mild to moderate pain or discomfort at the treatment site. For most patients this subsides within the first week of treatment.

No, anesthesia is not required for TMS treatment.

Research around TMS began in the 1980s. This research centered on which areas of the brain control certain functions and which areas might be not functioning correctly in mood disorders such as depression.

Specialists studied TMS and its effects for many years before being available for use with the general public. It was finally approved for use by the FDA in 2008 and is now a standard treatment used successfully across the country.