Safety and Side Effects of TMS Therapy

If you are struggling with your current depression or OCD medication, do not lose hope. The Scott A. Fleischer MD PC & Associates clinical team is here to assist you in finding a treatment that best suits your individual needs and circumstances.

Our office provides NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy, an excellent non-medication and non-surgical treatment option for mental health.

Patients concerned about TMS therapy’s safety and side effects should know that this treatment is safe and FDA-cleared when performed by a licensed professional as intended. If you have any additional questions, speak to our clinicians today.

Common Side-Effects of TMS Therapy

While TMS therapy is considered to be a very safe procedure when performed by a clinical specialist, some patients can experience mild to moderate side effects from their TMS treatment, including the following:

  • Mild headache
  • Lightheadedness
  • Tingling and spasms
  • Scalp discomfort

Thankfully, these side effects are almost always mild and can be easily treated with over-the-counter pain relief. They also typically resolve quickly as your body gets used to the treatment, with some patients never experiencing any side effects.

Patients Who Are Ineligible for TMS Therapy

While TMS therapies such as NeuroStar Advanced therapy can be a vital treatment option for many adult patients who struggle with medication or other therapies, NeuroStar is not necessarily suitable for everyone. Some patients are ineligible for TMS treatment, including those who:

  • Are currently pregnant
  • Are under the age of 15
  • Have neurological conditions such as epilepsy
  • Have certain active and inactive implants such as cochlear implants, deep brain stimulators, and vagus nerve stimulators

If you are exploring TMS therapy as a treatment option, our TMS coordinator can help establish if this treatment is ideal for your needs. Our clinicians at Scott A. Fleischer MD PC & Associates are here to guide and support you in your decision-making process.

Our Clinical Specialists Can Help You Discover if TMS Therapy is Right for You

If you have a major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or major depressive disorder with anxious depression, and you are struggling with medication treatment, NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy may be the right treatment option for you.

For any questions about TMS therapy, including additional concerns about the safety and side effects of TMS therapy, please schedule a consultation with our office today.

Adult Indications for Use
The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is indicated for the treatment of depressive episodes and for decreasing anxious depression symptoms for those who may exhibit comorbid anxious depression symptoms in adult patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and who failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from previous antidepressant medication treatment in the current episode.
The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is intended to be used as an adjunct for the treatment of adult patients suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Adolescent Indications for Use
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is indicated as an adjunct for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adolescent patients (15-21).

Important Safety Information
The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. These events are transient; they occur during the TMS treatment course and do not occur for most patients after the first week of treatment. There is a rare risk of seizure associated with the use of TMS therapy (<0.1% per patient).NeuroStar Advanced Therapy should not be used with patients who have non-removable conductive metal in or near the head. NeuroStar Advanced Therapy has not been studied in patients who have not received prior antidepressant treatment.
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is only available by prescription. A doctor can help decide if NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is right for you. Patients’ results may vary.