Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

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When you’re struggling with depression, it can be really hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But now more than ever, there is one.

If you have tried more than two antidepressants without relief of your symptoms and possibly uncomfortable side effects on top of your usual symptoms, then Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy is an option for you to consider. This innovative and alternative treatment option is FDA Approved and provides positive and long-term results with little to no side effects.

Please don’t lose hope. Give TMS a try.

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What is TMS?

TMS stands for “transcranial magnetic stimulation” and it was FDA-approved in 2008 as a safe, non-invasive, non-medication treatment for clinical depression. TMS uses magnetic fields to stimulate the specific part of the brain known to control mood. It is designed to help people with mental health conditions that have not found success with medications and/or antidepressants.

TMS has extremely limited side effects, especially when compared to traditional medications and antidepressants, so it is also a treatment option for people who may be suffering from side effects while trying to experience relief from their condition.

What does TMS treat?

Since its FDA approval as a depression treatment in 2008, further studies have shown that it has the potential to treat a wide range of conditions, many of which can be debilitating. Although the Mindful Health Solutions team focuses primarily on alleviating the symptoms of treatment-resistant depression, our clinics also provide treatment for other conditions like:

  • Anxiety
  • Autism in adults
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Body dysmorphia
  • Certain types of chronic pain
  • Memory disorders
  • Migraines
  • Mild cognitive impairment
  • Mild dementia
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • PTSD
  • Smoking cessation

There is also evidence TMS may help in recovery from stroke. Research and studies on the impact of TMS are continuing, and we at Mindful Health Solutions are excited to be at the forefront of it.

How does TMS work?

TMS delivers localized electromagnetic pulses to the prefrontal cortex, which is the area of your brain that regulates mood. These electromagnetic pulses stimulate neurons, which release neurotransmitters and hormones such as serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters work to relieve symptoms of depression. Once these neurons are stimulated by TMS, they continue to release these neurotransmitters for a longer period of time compared to other treatments like antidepressants.

2x

Patients who failed 2 antidepressants are 2x more likely to achieve remission with TMS.

70%

TMS is effective in approximately 70% of patients.

12mo.

Patients who receive TMS versus conventional medication are more likely to recover from depression at their 12 month follow-up.

What does a TMS session look like?

During a TMS treatment, the patient sits in a comfortable chair while the TMS coil is properly set in place on their head. (While this may sound intimidating, it really isn’t!) After the headpiece is in place, electromagnetic pulses are sent to the prefrontal cortex, which is the area of the brain responsible for mood.

While the pulses are being sent to the brain, patients can watch TV, listen to music, or talk with our staff. If they want and are comfortable, they can also have a friend or family member in the room with them during their TMS treatment session.

Each treatment lasts about 20-30 minutes. The full course of treatment will generally be five days a week for four to six weeks. Generally, patients will feel just like their normal selves after their treatment sessions. They will be able to drive and go back to their regular activities. Some people report feeling a little tired or having a mild headache, but that usually goes away after the first week or two. Other people report more energy and better focus, as well as the ability to ignore obsessive, anxious thoughts after treatment.

Are there any side effects?

Mild & Short Lasting Side Effects:

TMS treatments do not hurt during or after each session. There are very few side effects of TMS therapy.

Many patients find the headpiece to be uncomfortable on their scalp and mild headaches are common during the first few treatments, but these generally go away within the first two weeks as people get used to the sensation. Patients rarely drop out of TMS because of side effects.

Most side effects are mild and short-lasting, and can include:

Headaches

Headaches

Fatigue or sleepiness

Fatigue or sleepiness

Lightheadedness

Lightheadedness

Scalp discomfort

Scalp discomfort

Twitching or tingling of the facial muscles

Twitching or tingling of the facial muscles

More Serious Side Effects:

More serious side effects happen very rarely, and our expert providers will use their professional knowledge to help avoid serious side effects. However, they can consist of:

Seizures

Seizures

Hearing problems from the loud clicking noise that occurs during treatment

Hearing problems from the loud clicking noise that occurs during treatment

Mania, which is more likely to occur if an adolescent has bipolar disorder

Mania, which is more likely to occur if an adolescent has bipolar disorder

Your path to treatment

In order to qualify for TMS treatments, you have to have tried at least two medication management plans and either not experienced relief of your symptoms or experienced uncomfortable side effects from them. If that is the case, your provider will talk to you about integrating TMS therapy into your customized treatment plan.

It is important to understand that mental health treatment plans are not a one-size-fits-all situation. Because of this situation, treatment plans may take longer or require different treatment option combinations to work best for certain patients. It is important for patients to communicate clearly with their provider about how their treatment plan is working. Collaboration between patient and provider can greatly impact the results of a patient’s wellness journey.

Get started

1

Contact Mindful Health Solutions or get referred to schedule a consultation.

Match with a provider

2

Be matched with a highly trained provider to help with your specific needs.

Determine treatment

3

Your provider will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan.

Begin treatment

4

Start treatments on your terms with our flexible scheduling.

Feel better

5

We'll continue to work closely with you to help you feel like your best self.

Why Mindful Health Solutions for TMS?

Mindful Health Solutions is the nation’s leader provider of TMS therapy to patients like you. Patients at Mindful Health Solutions have access to true thought leaders in the field focused on bringing academic rigor and years of experience with novel therapeutics such as TMS to an integrated treatment strategy. We founded one of the first TMS-focused clinics in the US and have deep expertise in the field of non-invasive brain stimulation. If you are considering TMS treatment, you can rest assured that you will get the most evidence-based, safe, and effective treatment possible with us at Mindful Health Solutions.

Book an Appointment

Please fill out the form below and you will be contacted by a member of our team via text and phone.

You may also call or text 844-867-8444 to speak with one of our Intake Specialists.

TMS FAQs

Is TMS used to treat anything besides depression?

Anxiety is sometimes treated with TMS, along with migraines and OCD. There is evidence that TMS may help for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, certain types of chronic pain, smoking cessation, PTSD, and autism in adults. There is also evidence TMS may help in recovery from stroke. There is evidence that it may help in mild dementia and certain other neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis may benefit as well.

Is TMS better than antidepressants?

There are numerous medications and antidepressants for depression, but many only mask or temporarily address their depression symptoms as they course through the bloodstream. Discontinuing an antidepressant regimen could very well cause a depressive episode to occur.

Additionally, many antidepressants have a range of side effects, and can include:

  • Increased suicidal ideation
  • Long-term weight gain
  • Insomnia
  • Headaches
  • Dry mouth
  • Fatigue
  • Upset digestive system
  • Lower sex drive

Each patient is unique, and their response to certain antidepressants is inconsistent. As a result, patients may have to try (and possibly experience a range of side effects) multiple medications before finding one that may alleviate their depression symptoms.

In order to avoid situations such as these and get people relief sooner, there has been a search for new treatments, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is at the forefront of this movement.

Compared to antidepressants, TMS has very few side effects while also offering highly effective results. One in two patients treated with TMS had a 50% reduction in their symptoms, and after six weeks of treatment, one-third (33%) of patients had no symptoms of their depression or were in remission.

Also, TMS treatments only typically last four to six weeks. Antidepressants must be taken continuously, or else symptoms are likely to return.

Will TMS affect my current medications?

TMS should not impact the medications themselves. However, as TMS treatments continue, there may no longer be a need for the medications that were being used as part of the original mental health treatment plan.

Unlike antidepressants, which temporarily impact mood and behavior by working through the bloodstream, TMS stimulates the brain and delivers localized electromagnetic pulses to the prefrontal cortex, which is the area of your brain that regulates mood. These electromagnetic pulses stimulate neurons, which release neurotransmitters and hormones such as serotonin and dopamine. Many experts believe that depression and other mental health conditions are linked to an imbalance of these neurotransmitters. TMS works to restore that balance and can provide a more lasting impact on relieving depression symptoms than other treatments, such as antidepressants.

However, mental health treatments are not one-size-fits-all situations. Because of this fact, treatment plans will vary depending on each patient’s unique needs and concerns. Treatment plans could follow these paths:

  • If a person was already taking medications before beginning TMS treatments, they may or may not continue to take them.
  • If a person was not already taking medications before beginning TMS treatments, they may or may not be prescribed medications to supplement their TMS treatment plan.

Overall, patients will work closely with their providers to collaborate on a treatment plan that works best for them. And as treatments continue, the plan will be adjusted as needed to make sure patients are continuing on their path to wellness.

What are the success rates of TMS?

Antidepressants are invaluable aids in the treatment of clinical depression and other mood disorders, but they’re not for everyone. According to the World Journal of Psychiatry, antidepressants don’t improve symptoms in 10–15 percent of people with depression and only partially improve symptoms in 30–40 percent. Also, many people experience side effects from antidepressants that can impact their overall well-being.

On the other hand, TMS therapy has shown significantly better results than antidepressants with a small risk of experiencing mild, short-term side effects. One in two patients treated with TMS had a 50% reduction in their symptoms and about 30% of patients experience full remission, which means that their symptoms go away completely.

While most patients begin to show improvement after two to three weeks of TMS treatments, it can take up to six weeks to achieve the maximum benefits.

It is important to understand that mental health treatment plans are not a one-size-fits-all situation. Treatment plans may take longer or require different treatment option combinations to work best for certain patients. It is important for patients to communicate clearly with their provider about how their treatment plan is working. Collaboration between patient and provider can greatly impact the results of a patient’s wellness journey.

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