If you’re struggling with depression, and traditional medications don’t fully work for you or caused too many side effects, you may be wondering if TMS Therapy is the right choice for you.
During TMS, areas of the brain that are often underactive in depressed patients receive magnetic pulses to increase activity. But what exactly takes place during a given session?
No need to worry. Below, we’ve outlined exactly what to expect from each step of the TMS Therapy process.
Before Your First Session:
You’ll be the ideal patient for TMS if, after receiving a diagnosis, you’ve been unresponsive to traditional depression medications, or suffer from too many side effects. TMS may also be used to treat anxiety disorders or OCD.
At TMS Chesterfield, we take the time to get to know you and any preexisting conditions or medications that may interfere with your treatment plan. Be sure to turn to your trusted resource in TMS treatment, TMS Chesterfield, as you make this important and life-changing decision.
What can I Expect in My First Session?
Your treatment will take place in a comfortable reclining chair, similar to a dentist’s chair. TMS uses the same type and strength magnets that are found in an MRI machine, so you’ll be asked to remove anything that could be sensitive to magnets, such as jewelry or credit cards. Additionally, you’ll be given earplugs, as the machine will make a loud clicking noise. You may also feel tapping, knocking, or vibrating where the coil is.
In your first TMS session, the technician will measure your head and find the proper placement for the magnetic coil. They’ll also be measuring and adjusting the machine’s energy levels to find your personalized treatment setting and to gauge your brain’s response. In this brain mapping process, your “motor threshold” is first monitored to see how much intensity is sufficient to stimulate your motor cortex. Twitching hands or fingers means you’ve reached ideal stimulation levels. This pulse intensity level is noted for your next treatment when your prefrontal cortex will be targeted.
Future Sessions:
Treatment sessions will most likely range from 20 minutes to an hour, and they will occur five times a week. They may last anywhere between four to six weeks.
Since you’ll be awake for the procedure, there isn’t any necessary recovery time, and you’ll be able to drive home and resume normal activities directly after your treatment.
Side Effects:
According to Dr. William F. Stubbeman, “less than 5% of patients treated with TMS Therapy discontinued treatment due to side effects.” While side effects associated with TMS are minimal, some patients have experienced the following during or after treatment:
Headaches. “About half of all TMS patients report getting headaches after a session of treatment, but they can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication and tend to get better with each session,” explains. Transformations. This, along with scalp discomfort, is the most common side effect.
Lightheadedness. This side effect, along with headaches, usually occurs at the beginning of treatment and goes away after several sessions.
Scalp discomfort. Some patients report they feel a stinging sensation on their scalp during treatment, but this sensation may also decrease over time.
Hearing issues. You will be given earplugs during your sessions because of the clicking noise. After treatment, you may experience some hearing loss, though this is likely temporary if you use earplugs.
Seizures. The risk of seizure is very low, (.1% according to Healthline), but is something to note if you have epilepsy or another preexisting condition that increases your risk of seizures.
Other minor side effects include facial twitching, neck pain, tingling, sleepiness, and altered cognition during treatment. Also, note that your TMS technician will be present for your procedure and will adjust the machine’s intensity based on the level you can tolerate. You can also ask to stop your session at any time.
“40 to 60 percent of depressed patients had success with TMS after not responding to psychotherapy and antidepressants. A third of those had symptoms completely subside,” according to Transformations. Patients who benefit from TMS Therapy sometimes find a noticeable difference in the first few weeks of treatment, while others may take several weeks.
As always, discuss treatment options with your doctors and/or psychiatrist. TMS Therapy is FDA approved, and covered by most insurance plans—it may just be the solution you’ve been waiting for to treat your drug-resistant depression, OCD, or anxiety. Contact TMS Chesterfield today to discover how we can help you start your new beginning towards a brighter future.
