Know What to Expect Before You Begin TMS

TMS is a brief outpatient therapy session lasting about 20 minutes when performed for depression treatment under the standard TMS treatment protocol.

During your first TMS treatment session, TMS certified psychiatrist will perform the 'mapping' session where he/she will locate the area to be treated. A TMS certified technician will perform the treatment sessions thereafter, under the supervision of the physician. 

For the standard depression treatment you will likely receive a total of 36-treatment sessions. For the first 4-6 weeks, the TMS treatment sessions are 5 days per week, with the remaining 6-sessions titrated over a period of 3-weeks.

There are no systemic side effects associated with TMS therapy. The most common reported symptoms, which are infrequent, include discomfort at the treatment site or headache - in which these typically subside after the first few sessions and can be treated with over-the-counter Tylenol.

Attending each of your treatment sessions is important, as frequent missed treatments can affect results and optimal outcomes. For your convenience, we schedule treatment sessions the same time each day - this way you can work your treatment into your schedule much easier.

NOTE: Patients typically respond to TMS therapy around the 4th to 5th week of treatment. This means you should expect to experience a  lift in your mood and reduction in overall symptoms somewhere between the 25th to 30th treatment session. While this varies from patient to patient, this is an average time frame for the majority of patients.

The Dip: Some patients will experience what is called "the dip", this means that after your first week or two of treatment, you may feel a dip in your mood over the weekend. The term “dip” refers to the occasional effect when progress of your TMS Therapy is temporarily reversed. Symptoms of the dip can include a sudden and deepening increase in depression. It can feel very defeating and cause the patient undue stress. It's important to remember that these effects are temporary and only last a couple days. Continuation of treatment will resolve "the dip".

Other TMS Treatment Protocols: If receiving TMS under another treatment protocol, such as Intermittent or Continuous Theta Burst, the number and length of treatment sessions will be different. Further, if receiving treatment for a condition other than depression, your treatment protocol will be different as well. Changing the treatment protocol to best meet your specific condition does not change the occurrence of side effects. Regardless of the treatment protocol used, patients are not at risk for systemic side effects often cause by medications or any of the side effects associated with ECT (electroconvulsive therapy), such as memory loss or other debilitating symptoms.

TMS can be a life-changing, life-giving treatment for conditions such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, as well as certain neurological conditions.

For more information about TMS therapy as treatment option for you and your condition, schedule a TMS Consultation today.