The Safety and Concerns with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is well known to be an effective treatment for Depresesion as well as other health issues including anxiety and OCD. This is a widely used option after multiple medications have not been effective. This therapy is usually well tolerated by patients and causes very few side effects. The stimulation targets a very localized spot of about a two centimeter diameter on the surface of the head, usually the Dorsal Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) since it is the region where mood and cognitive control is mostly located. This research paper explains effects of targeting the Left DLPFC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5470713/ 

In comparison to medications, TMS does not introduce any foreign synthetic molecules into the body which disrupts many cellular processes and can lead to various side effects depending on each patient. TMS therapy allows a patient to fully awake during the entirety of the treatment and does not require any sedation. After the session is over, patients can go about their day regularly. TMS is a safer and less invasive alternative to other brain stimulation procedures such as Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Vagus Nerve Stimulation.  

Common TMS Side Effects:

• Mild Headache
• Localized Tingling 
• Discomfort on the surface of the head at the region of stimulation 
• Very rare: Seizures (Risk is 1/10,000 with no long term impairment) 

Call us today to schedule an appointment to see if TMS is right for you.