During a NeuroStar Advanced Therapy treatment session, a magnet similar in strength to that used in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine is used to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain thought to control mood. These magnetic pulses may have a positive effect on the brain’s neurotransmitter levels, making long-term remission possible.
Insomnia
1 of 10Headache/ Migraine
2 of 10Daytime Drowsiness
3 of 10Dry Mouth
4 of 10Fatigue
5 of 10Weight Gain
6 of 10Nausea
7 of 10Distress
8 of 10Sexual Dysfunction
9 of 10Mild Scalp Pain or Discomfort
10 of 10TMS Therapy has been proven highly safe and effective in the treatment of depression. TMS Therapy is free of side effects typically experienced with antidepressant medications. The most common side effect associated with treatment is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment area – generally mild to moderate.
The noninvasive procedure transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can improve symptoms of depression by using magnetic fields to activate and stimulate nerve cells in the brain. Typically, TMS is used as an alternative to medications or as a supplement to antidepressants when they have lost effectiveness.
Magnetic pulses are delivered to specific areas of the brain during a TMS session.
An initial course of TMS treatment is typically around 19-37 minutes per session, 5 days a week over 4 to 6 weeks.
Most commercial plans cover NeuroStar treatments because they recognize how effective TMS Therapy can be in treating depression.
Since TMS does not cycle through the blood or circulate the body, it will not have negative side effects like dry mouth, nausea, sedation, sexual dysfunction, weight gain, etc. The side effects of TMS that were most commonly reported were mild to moderate headaches and scalp discomfort. This occurred less frequently after completing the first week of treatment.
No, TMS uses a special method of delivering pulsed magnetic fields for therapeutic benefits. The strength of the magnetic field TMS uses is comparable to an MRI. This is drastically different from the popular practice of using low-intensity, static magnetic fields. Those magnets put off weak and undirected static fields, meaning that they are not able to stimulate the brain cells like TMS can. This is one reason why TMS therapy so effective.
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Being a psychiatrist for 20 plus years, I have learned that a trusting relationship with a patient is more important than any cutting edge medication. The best medication will become outdated in 10 years or less. But a doctor’s compassion will never go out of style.
I have been a clinician and teacher in California for the last decade and a half. I have been equally passionate about clinical practice and academic work. I have had academic appointments at UCLA, UCSD, Touro, Pacific, and Cal Northern. I believe my work in academics helps me to stay on the cutting edge of psychiatric treatment modalities.
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