Frequently Asked Questions About TMS Therapy

TMS is a process that uses short pulses of a magnetic field (like an MRI) to stimulate/modulate nerve cells in the area of the brain thought to control mood. The pulsed magnetic field may have a positive effect on the brain’s neurotransmitter levels by targeting the regions of the brain thought to be responsible for mood regulation.

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Once the TMS device is positioned, it creates a deep magnetic pulse that targets and stimulates neurons in the left prefrontal cortex to restore normal function in these under-performing areas of the brain. This pulse comes in rapid succession and is thought to stimulate regions of the brain that are linked to emotion. In depressed patients, these emotion-baring regions are shown to be very non-responsive compared to healthy patients.

NeuroStar TMS Therapy® is indicated for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adult patients who have failed to receive satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant medication in the current episode.

The NeuroStar TMS Therapy System is available upon prescription by a licensed physician. It can be used in both inpatient and outpatient settings including physicians’ offices, clinics, and hospitals.

While TMS Therapy is considered to be a well-tolerated treatment, there are some patients it is not suitable for:

• Patients with a history of seizures
• Patients who have any type of non-removable metal implant in or near their heads (with the exception of braces or dental fillings)
• Patients with any type of non-removable metal within twelve inches of where the coil is placed

Failure to follow this rule could cause the object to heat up, move, or malfunction, and result in serious injury or death.

The following is a list of metal implants that can prevent a patient from receiving TMS:

• Aneurysm clips or coils
• Stents in the neck or brain
• Implanted stimulators
• Cardiac pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
• Electrodes to monitor brain activity
• Metallic implants in your ears and eyes
• Shrapnel or bullet fragments in or near the head
• Facial tattoos with metallic or magnetic-sensitive ink
• Other metal devices or object implanted in or near the head

To determine if TMS Therapy is suitable for you, your doctor or psychiatrist will carefully screen you for the presence of medical conditions or metal objects which may make TMS either unsuitable or harmful.

Patients typically need between 20 to 30 sessions of TMS to gain the most benefit in the treatment of their depression symptoms. 

In clinical trials, 1 in 2 patients achieved significant relief of symptoms after four weeks of treatment (20 sessions), and 1 in 3 experienced complete remission after six weeks of treatment (30 sessions). Some patients may experience results in less time, while others may take longer.

For many patients suffering from severe depression symptoms, TMS Therapy can be life changing. Some of the benefits of TMS Therapy include increased vitality, enjoyment of the little things in life, improvement in relationships, and an overall better quality of life.

Remission from depression is possible, and it may even be possible to reduce your current levels of medication. Your doctor can advise you about what happens once you complete treatment.

No, TMS Therapy doesn't cause brain tumors.

In clinical studies, approximately 5 percent of patients experienced slight memory loss or confusion.  However, these effects were only temporary, and there is no evidence that TMS Therapy causes permanent or even long-term memory loss.

If you feel that you or your loved one has not experienced positive results from TMS Therapy, there are other options available. Some patients with more severe, or resistant depression, may find greater improvement from other brain stimulation techniques such as Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Vagus Nerve Stimulation® (VNS).

Your doctor or psychiatrist will be able to assist you with other treatment options. 

The term "dip" refers to the effect which sometimes happens when you feel the progress of your TMS Therapy is temporarily reversed. 

Symptoms of the dip can include a sudden and deepening increase in depression, and it can appear as though there has been an almost complete reversal of progress. For this reason, the dip can feel very defeating and cause undue stress to a patient undergoing TMS Therapy.

It is important to remember that these effects are only temporary. People who experience this reversal in progress generally bounce back and continue onward toward the goal of alleviating their depression symptoms.

Patients typically begin TMS Therapy after being prescribed the treatment by their doctor or psychiatrist. 

You can also call us directly at 844-537-6747 to talk about the suitability of TMS Treatment, to schedule an initial assessment, and to see if TMS Therapy makes sense for you. At that time, we will advise you of next steps.

TMS Therapy is an outpatient procedure that takes place in your doctor’s office or one of our clinics. Though not as common, it is possible to receive TMS at a hospital such as the Mayo Clinic, or any major hospital offering the treatment.

Because there is no sedative or anesthesia administered during TMS Therapy, patients do not need to be hospitalized for treatment and can immediately resume normal daily activities. In fact, because the treatment is non-systemic (nothing is circulating in your body's system), you can safely drive yourself to and from appointments.

Regardless of who prescribed TMS Therapy, a trained TMS technician or doctor should administer actual TMS treatments and guide you through each session.

A TMS technician or doctor should always be present to monitor the patient during treatment, and the patient should be allowed to stop a treatment at any time by asking the technician or doctor.

FDA protocol for TMS Therapy is 30 treatments, which are typically performed five days a week for six weeks. We have found it important to administer treatments back-to-back and provide weekends off for a breather of sorts.

While each appointment lasts approximately 60 minutes, part of that time is spent calibrating the machine for the patient’s protocol. The actual treatment is approximately 37 minutes long.

Depending on insurance coverage, taper sessions may be included and can be stretched over two to three weeks.

All TMS Solutions clinics operate from 9am-5pm. Our technicians do an incredible job of balancing current patient load with after-hours requests. They will be as flexible as possible, within reason, to help each patient fulfill their commitment to TMS treatments. Improving a patient's quality of life is our #1 goal!

Because TMS Therapy is non-invasive, you are awake and alert throughout your sessions. You are free to do whatever you would like with your treatment time-except sleep! Studies show that if a patient is not alert during treatments, efficacy of TMS Therapy is reduced as brain wave patterns change during sleep.

Listening to music, an audio book, or guided meditation through a mobile device may prove useful while receiving TMS treatments. If you choose to listen to music, please make sure your headphones or earbuds are rated to 30 dB of hearing protection.

Positive and constructive outlets or conversation with the technician are highly encouraged. Studies show that neural activity is increased by TMS Therapy, so during this time it is beneficial for patients to be engaged in a nurturing, interactive environment.

To decrease the risk of exposure during COVID-19, we ask that only patients are present in the treatment room with the technician.

Service animals are welcome. We kindly ask that non-service animals or pets are kept at home.

NeuroStar TMS Therapy has been cleared by the FDA, and is a proven safe, easy to tolerate treatment for depression. It doesn’t have the side effects often associated with antidepressant medications.

Worldwide, more than three million patients have been treated with TMS Therapy.

The overwhelming majority of patients experience no side effects. However, some patients may experience a headache after treatment and sensitivity at the treatment site. Some may report slight dizziness or lightheadedness after treatment, which typically resolves before the patient leaves the treatment room. 

An over-the-counter pain reliever is recommended when starting TMS Therapy. It can help patients acclimate to treatment and may be discontinued once the patient is able to tolerate the prescribed treatment level.

In 10,000 treatments administered during clinical trials, the most common side effects were mild to moderate scalp discomfort and mild headaches, both of which usually went away after the first week of treatment.

In rare instances, there were reports of acute memory loss, minimal cognition interruption, facial twitching, and seizures. These side effects were acute and TMS treatment showed no long-term effects.

After more than two decades of research and clinical trials, TMS Therapy was cleared by Canada Health in 2003 and cleared by the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in 2008. It has also been approved in Europe, Israel, and Australia. As such, the actual administering of TMS is very precise and well regulated the world over.

TMS is an essentially painless process. Because the magnetically induced current does not pass through the skin, where most of the pain nerve ending are located, the actual treatment feels like a tapping on the skull.

However, some patients may experience scalp sensitivity at the treatment site or a headache. These and all observed side effects are acute and should be temporary.

If symptoms persist, an over-the-counter pain reliever may be taken or, to make treatment more comfortable, the TMS technician can reduce the strength of the magnetic field pulses being administered.

Less than five percent of patients treated with TMS Therapy discontinued treatment due to side effects.

Yes, a patient who suffers from chronic migraines can still undergo TMS Therapy. Although mild headaches have been reported during treatment, this is not a frequent occurrence. There are actually ongoing research studies looking into TMS as a potential treatment for migraine sufferers. 

In most cases, dental work does not interfere with TMS therapy. Consult with a physician or TMS technician to be sure it's safe for you to begin treatment.