Neurostar TMS Therapy

TMS Resource Guide

Clinic Locations in Boise & Meridian

What Is NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy (TMS)?

If you're one of the people suffering from major depressive disorder, you're not alone. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), MDD affects more than 16.1 million American adults that are 18 and older in a given year. That's about 6.7% of the U.S. population. Worldwide, major depressive disorder affects more than 264 million people per year. It's clear that many people suffer from depression.

What Is NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy (TMS)?

Doctors, mental health professionals, and other providers rely on antidepressant medications to treat patients who suffer from major depressive disorder. One FDA approved alternative to medication is a method offered at MidValley Healthcare known as TMS.

TMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy. It is a non-drug and non-invasive treatment that's meant for people whose symptoms aren't improved by antidepressants. It uses magnetic fields to stimulate a region of the brain that features decreased activity during episodes of depression. The magnetic fields activate the nerve cells in the region of your brain that are involved with mood control and depression, so getting that region to function normally again offers a major improvement.

What Symptoms Does NeuroStar TMS Treat?

The main symptoms that TMS treats are related to depression, including:

  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
  • Fatigue and decreased energy
  • Feelings of guilt and/or worthlessness
  • Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
  • Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
  • Irritability, restlessness
  • Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable
  • Loss of pleasure in life
  • Overeating or appetite loss
  • Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
  • Persistent sadness, anxious, or "empty" feelings
  • Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts

How Often Are NeuroStar TMS Therapy Administered?

How Often Are NeuroStar TMS Therapy Administered?

Typically, doctors prescribe treatment times that:

  • Range between 19-37 minutes per session
  • Occur 5 days a week
  • Last for a total duration of 4-6 weeks

What Should You Expect During a NeuroStar TMS Therapy Treatment Session?

TMS treatment is a quick and painless procedure, during which patients can expect to:

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  • Sit in a comfortable reclining chair specifically designed for the procedure
  • Be awake and active during the treatment
  • Have a small, magnetic coil fit loosely around their head
  • Experience bursts of magnetic stimulation delivered to the affected areas of their head
  • Hear a clicking sound and feel something tapping on their head during the treatment
  • Be able to function normally afterward without impact to other daily activities

How Long Do the Benefits of NeuroStar TMS Last?

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Various factors influence major depression, which means that each patient will have his or her own unique response to TMS therapy. In many cases, a 4-6 week treatment regimen will provide remission that lasts for about six months or longer. 1 in every 2 patients has experienced improvement. Every 1 in 3 patients actually stopped experiencing symptoms. Learn more about the benefits of TMS.

How Does NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Compare to Antidepressant Medications?

How Antidepressant Medications Compare

Living with depression can feel impossible. Getting to the point of asking for help is hard enough. What's worse is when traditional therapies, like prescription medications, are ineffective. Sometimes, medications are somewhat effective but cause unavoidable side effects, like weight gain and severe gastrointestinal distress.

Do you continue taking your medication as prescribed because you feel a little better? Do you suffer through the symptoms or take even more medications to negate the effects of the antidepressant? With NeuroStar TMS at MidValley Healthcare in Meridian, ID, you no longer have to make that choice.

According to a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy may be more effective for the treatment of major depressive disorder than traditional therapies. But this isn't just a placebo effect. The same study revealed that patients were four times more likely to achieve remission from the symptoms of major depression and neuropathic pain than patients who received a placebo.

Duration of Treatment and Longevity of Results

Many patients find they need to take antidepressants for life. This means a lifetime of dealing with nausea, dry mouth, sedation, weight gain, sexual dysfunction and much more. Contrastingly, there are no ongoing side effects associated with TMS. Even better, treatment isn't forever, either.

TMS treatment is usually completed in fewer than two months. However, when you stop taking your antidepressants, there is an unfortunately high chance that your depression will set back in. After 12 months of completing NeuroStar TMS treatment, 65.8% of patients continued to feel better and 50% of patients continued to experience no symptoms whatsoever.

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TMS is an Alternative to Pharmacological Treatment

Antidepressants can be effective. They are powerful medicines with a far-reaching effect over the cognitive mechanisms in a patient's brain. They also carry with them a significant risk of side effects. No two patients respond the same to pharmacological interventions. This type of treatment doesn't work for everyone. The therapeutic effect sometimes fails. Luckily, there are non-pharmacological options available, such as NeuroStar TMS. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation offers a safe, effective alternative to other forms of treatment.

How Does NeuroStar TMS Compare to DBS and MST?

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) and magnetic seizure therapy (MST) are fairly common treatments for major depressive disorder. However, these therapies are not currently approved by the FDA. If you suffer from major depressive disorder, we strongly recommend NeuroStar TMS, which is more effective than antidepressants alone or combining it with your current antidepressant therapy.

How Does NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Compare to Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT)?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and Neurostar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) are cranial therapies used to treat mental illnesses in those who did not see results from medication. ECT and TMS have some similarities and many think they are the same treatment. While both therapies are direct treatment on the brain, TMS has shown to be significantly safer and causes fewer side effects than ECT.

How Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Compares

ECT therapy, also known as electroshock therapy, is usually administered in a hospital setting that usually lasts 6 to 15 sessions that occur every other day. The procedure starts with the client being put under general anesthetic. Electrodes are placed on specific parts of the head to stimulate different parts of the brain and cause controlled seizures.

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The typical placements for the electrodes are on the top and right side of the head. Different clients may require different placements depending on what mental illness is being treated. Unfortunately, the benefits of ECT are not long-lasting and clients often need maintenance medication after they complete ECT. Many consider ECT to be invasive due to the requirement of anesthetic and electrode placements.

ECT Side Effects May Include

  • Headaches or muscle pain
  • Nausea
  • Confusion
  • Memory loss

How Neurostar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Compares

TMS works by creating a magnetic field that stimulates nerve cells in the brain. The treatment can be administered in a hospital or in an outpatient setting. An electromagnetic coil is placed on the client's forehead and short, magnetic pulses are directed to specific areas of the brain. The client can be fully awake during this process. Depending on the severity of the mental illness, multiple sessions over the course of several weeks may be required. TMS is generally considered safer than ECT and, unlike ECT, is approved by the FDA.

What Side Effects Are Associated with NeuroStar TMS?

NeuroStar's TMS therapy does not involve medication, chemicals, or invasive procedures. Therefore, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy provides a safe alternative to antidepressants and is free of the common side effects of medication use. The only possible side effects are rare and do not typically last past the therapy session.

TMS Side Effects May Include

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  • Temporary headaches
  • Discomfort during treatment
  • (Occurs in ≥5% of people and twice the rate of placebo) Lightheadedness Muscle contractions or a tingling sensation

When you compare the effects of TMS to ECT, it is clear that TMS is the better form of treatment. TMS is generally considered safer with longer-lasting benefits when compared to ECT. Due to the side effects of ECT, we do not offer this treatment for the safety of our clients.

Who Can Benefit From NeuroStar TMS Therapy?

Have you experienced a lack of effective treatments after receiving little to no help from an initial antidepressant medication? Major depression is a serious medical illness. While antidepressant drugs work for some patients, many still do not receive adequate results. NeuroStar TMS Therapy is beneficial for the management of major depressive disorder in adult patients who have failed to receive favorable improvement from previous use of antidepressants.

How Does NeuroStar TMS Therapy Work When Other Treatments Have Not?

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While antidepressants can mitigate symptoms for many people, there are some patients who do not benefit from taking standard antidepressant medications. These patients may be better served by alternative options, such as NeuroStar TMS Therapy, that involve the use of a medical device.

NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a groundbreaking depression therapy treatment. Around 67% of people with depression who have not got relief from medications, experience a clinically meaningful response with NeuroStar TMS. About 45.1% experience a full remission, meaning that their symptoms go away completely.

Who Should Not Have NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy?

The NeuroStar TMS procedure is not recommended for patients who have a history of seizures. Those who experience psychosis and bipolar disorder also cannot receive TMS treatment. Additionally, those who have a metal plate, or any other metal in and around their head, should not have the procedure done. However, braces and fillings will not interfere with the treatment.

Do You Need a Referral/Prescription for NeuroStar TMS Therapy?

Do You Need a Referral/Prescription for NeuroStar TMS Therapy?

Just like any patient using antidepressants, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation requires a doctor's prescription. It is a good idea to schedule an appointment with a doctor who can help decide if this is right for you. Each patient is different and what works for one may not work for another.

Before beginning any medical procedures, the patient should be evaluated by a mental health treatment provider, therapist, or physician. Many mental health professionals report promising results from NeuroStar.

Is NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Depression Therapy Safe?

NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has been performed over 1 million times. It is a safe and effective treatment for major depressive disorder. There are several aspects of TMS that make it a positive option for many people. From a patient's perspective, TMS is a simple and effective treatment to receive. You can take yourself to and from appointments, it requires no preparation beyond assessment and obtaining a prescription, and Medicare and most private insurers usually cover it.

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An FDA Approved Alternative to Antidepressants

The Food and Drug Administration first cleared NeuroStar TMS for use in combating treatment-resistant depression in 2008. After nine years of safe use for patients, NeuroStar Advanced Therapy was approved in 2017. FDA approval indicates that a product has been found, through rigorous clinical testing, to have benefits that outweigh its risks. In this case, TMS has demonstrated very few risks.

Non-Drug and Non-Invasive

Non-Drug and Non-Invasive

TMS is a procedure that uses magnets to stimulate areas of the brain that are underactive in depression. This means that it is not a drug and it is non-invasive. Unlike with ECT, patients receiving TMS are awake the entire time and can return to normal routines immediately following treatment.

Effective Treatment

Effective Treatment

In the first long-term study of the efficacy of TMS, researchers found that the majority of a sample of 257 participants had improved symptoms at follow-up, one year later. Furthermore, 45% of the study participants enjoyed full remission at follow-up. According to research, TMS is not only a safe and effective treatment for acute symptom relief, but it is also a promising option for long-term treatment.

Medicare and Private Insurance

Medicare and Private Insurance

It is common for both medicare and many private insurance companies to cover Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the treatment of depression. NeuroStar provides an insurance directory; take a look at the page and explore the coverage you're eligible to receive for TMS.

How Do You Begin Neurostar TMS Therapy?

NeuroStar TMS Therapy is only available by prescription through a doctor. Treatments are specific to each patient. Request a consultation for Neurostar TMS therapy in Meridian and Boise by calling MidValley Healthcare at (208) 888-5848 or filling out and submitting our contact form. For more information about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, visit our page about TMS or take our depression screening test. We can help reach a healthier side of you!

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