Below are the answers to the commonly asked questions about TMS Therapy.
TMS therapy stimulates selected areas in the brain non-invasively using pulsating electromagnetic fields similar to those produced by an MRI. TMS therapy does not involve the use of anesthesia or sedation. Patients remain awake and alert during the treatment.
TMS therapy uses a series of short magnetic field pulsations to activate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. Increased cellular activity in these areas is thought to release neurotransmitters at junctions between neurons (brain cells). This increase in neurotransmitters is thought to alleviate symptoms of depression.
TMS therapy only effects targeted areas in the brain. The treatment therefore does not have systemic effects. It does not have the troubling side effects that often result from medications such as weight gain, fatigue or drowsiness, or sexual dysfunction. The most frequent side effects are temporary scalp pain and headaches, which occur less frequently after the first week of treatment.