WHAT’S THE STORY ABOUT TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION?

What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS, Therapy is indicated for the treatment of patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) who have failed to receive satisfactory improvement from antidepressant medications. FDA approved in 2008, TMS uses a highly targeted pulsed magnetic field, similar in type and strength to those produced by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, to stimulate cortical neurons.

Who is eligible for treatment?

Patients who suffer depression in the most current episode, who have not felt improvement with one or more medications.
Other indications may include:
  • Smoking Cessation

  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

  • Alcohol/Cocaine/Opioid Cravings

  • Parkinson’s Disease

  • Dystonia

  • Tinnitus

  • Spasticity

  • Epilepsy

  • Post-stroke Pain/Neuropathic Pain

  • Migraines

What should I expect during treatment?

Every patient will spend roughly 40 minutes of the day, 5 days a week, in treatment. Each TMS session lasts 38 minutes and you’ll need time to prepare. It is a non-systemic treatment and patients are able to return to regular activities directly after treatment finishes. During TMS sessions you can take advantage of the Awakenings Netflix accounts or enjoy music.

Will I no longer need to take medications?

Though some patients are able to live a life free of medications after treatment, most often we recommend for patients to expect to stay on atleast one medication for maintence purposes. The top priority at Awakenings is that you or your loved one are staying on a healthy and safe track to a depression- free life.

How does TMS treatment compare to Electroconvulsive therapy?

ECT is an effective acute treatment for major depression, but it is highly invasive (causing seizure induction and requiring anesthesia) and has significant adverse effects. In contrast, TMS is also effective in patients with Major Depressive Disorder but it is non-invasive and has an excellent safety profile.

ECT and TMS both use applied energy to the brain to cause neural stimulation for relieving the symptoms of depression. ECT uses electrical energy applied to the whole brain, while TMS uses magnetic energy applied only to the left prefrontal cortex.

Unlike ECT, TMS does not require anesthesia, sedation and the production of a convulsion, does not result in adverse effects on memory or concentration, and has an excellent safety and tolerability profile.

What are the risks of the treatment?

TMS treatment is contraindicated in patients who have conductive, ferromagnetic, or other magnetic sensitive metals implanted in their head or are non-removable and within 30 cm of the treatment coil.

Examples include cochlear implants, implanted electrodes/stimulators, aneurysm clips or coils, stents, and bullet fragments. Failure to follow this restriction could results in serious injury or death.

Is TMS treatment a good alternative for patients who are fearful of the side effects associated with antidepressant medications?

NeuroStar TMS treatment is the only TMS device that is FDA-cleared, and proven to be safe and effective for the treatment of patients with depression who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from prior antidepressant treatment.

NeuroStar TMS is non-systemic, which means it does not have side effects such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, nausea, dry mouth, or sedation.

The most common adverse event related to treatment was scalp pain or discomfort at the treatment area during active treatments, which was transient and mild to moderate in severity. The incidence of the side effect declined markedly after the first week of treatment.

For Life-Threatening Emergencies Call 911
Here at Awakenings we pride ourselves in restoring hope. Please contact us to begin your journey today.

Location

Awakenings KC

Located at 5300 West 94th Terrace Suite 200

Prairie Village, Kansas 66207

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