Are there any negative side effects to TMS?
The vast majority of patients who undergo TMS experience no side effects or very mild ones. If you do experience a side effect, it’s most likely to be temporary discomfort at the treatment site.
Is TMS treatment for depression Safe?
TMS has been determined safe by the National Institutes of Health and was FDA-approved in 2008 as a treatment for Major Depressive Disorder. While FDA-approved for depression only, it is also safely used “off-label” to treat other disorders, including anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Does TMS therapy cause brain damage?
During TMS treatment, a coil is placed on the exterior of the patient’s head to administer small magnetic pulses. The procedure is noninvasive and does not involve anesthesia. It also does not negatively impact cognition or memory, and does not induce a seizure.
Can TMS therapy make you worse?
While TMS does not worsen symptoms for patients who are correctly diagnosed with a condition that TMS is known to treat (such as depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD), TMS may possibly worsen symptoms for patients with conditions that TMS are not know to treat, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
What is the success rate of TMS?
Most TMS providers find that TMS has a success rate at between 70% or 80%, meaning that the vast majority of individuals find significant relief after treatment. About 50% of people experience complete remission, meaning that the symptoms of depression are absent after just one course of treatment.
Who is a candidate for TMS?
TMS is best suited for patients who have struggled with depression and have not experienced relief from antidepressants, or those who have not been able to take antidepressants due to intolerable side effects.
Are there any side effects to TMS therapy?
TMS therapy side effects are also less common. Nevertheless, TMS therapy could still carry some risk of side effects. Many TMS psychiatrists tell patients that TMS is free of side effects! This is not entirely true. To be more specific, TMS therapy has meager chances of significant side effects.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of TMS?
One major advantage TMS has over other major depression treatments, particularly anti-depressant medications, is its lack of life-altering side effects. While any negative effects of TMS generally decrease after a patient’s first week of treatment, the side effects of anti-depressants can last through the course of treatment.
How does TMS work to treat depression symptoms?
The brain is a complex organ, but what’s been discovered is that TMS can help stimulate the brain to produce neurological changes in neurotransmitters that are thought to be responsible for depression symptoms. In this way, TMS is similar to popular depression medication techniques.
Are there any side effects to transcranial magnetic stimulation?
If you’ve tried antidepressant medications to treat your major depression, you’re probably aware of how uncomfortable and frustrating the side effects can be. Transcranial magnetic stimulation could be a safer treatment optionwith milder—to no—side effects.