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TMS Therapy
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy (TMS) stimulates areas of the brain that are underactive in individuals with depressive symptoms during 19-minute treatment sessions. Unlike medications that are dispersed throughout the entire body, this is a targeted treatment for depression without the common side effects caused by medications.
About NeuroStar® TMS Therapy
NeuroStar uses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to target key areas of the brain that are underactive in people with depression. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an *FDA-approved procedure for treating depression. Unlike ECT, which applies electricity, our TMS device employs cutting-edge technology to address the cause of depression using simple magnets.
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TMS also has numerous protocols that our office uses to address a range of mental conditions. We have TMS specialists who will customize your unique program. These treatments can also be rotated to target your specific condition and make a treatment plan that is unique for you!
About one-third of people with depression have experienced little to no relief from antidepressants. TMS therapy is an *FDA-approved, non-drug treatment option for those who suffer from depression. During a NeuroStar treatment session, a magnet similar in strength to that used in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine is used to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain thought to control mood. These magnetic pulses may have a positive effect on the brain’s neurotransmitter levels, making long-term remission possible.
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TMS Therapy for Depression
When it comes to treating depression, TMS is one of the best options. With traditional medications, success rates are fairly low, especially if the initial one or two don’t offer adequate relief. Thousands of studies have demonstrated that TMS has an 82% response rate and a 62% remission rate
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Therapy Results That Last
Unlike other medication-based treatments, TMS provides long-lasting results. With medications, one must continue taking them or risk both relapse and discontinuation syndrome, which is in contrast to TMS.
Treatment with NeuroStar® Advanced Therapy is easy!
With more than one million treatments performed, this novel treatment approach to achieving remission is bringing new hope to people every day.
Therapy sessions are conducted in your doctor’s office
You can return to normal activities right away
You are awake during the entire treatment
There are no negative effects on memory or sleep
It’s covered by most health insurance plans
Watch "A Day In The Life of Our TMS Treater"
We're excited to share that our practice has achieved an updated level in the NeuroStar Stellar Distinctions program! This recognition is based on our commitment to using NeuroStar Treatment Sessions to help patients struggling with depression.
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We're proud to be recognized for our commitment to delivering high-quality care, and we look forward to continuing to provide our patients with the latest advances in depression treatment.
How NeuroStar® TMS Therapy Works
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BEFORE TREATMENT
You’ll recline comfortably in the treatment chair. A small, curved magnetic coil will be positioned lightly on your head.
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DURING TREATMENT
NeuroStar delivers focused magnetic stimulation directly to the target areas of the brain. You’ll hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation on your head.
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In-office treatment with NeuroStar TMS Therapy takes 19-37 minutes and is administered 5 days a week for approximately 4-6 weeks.*
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AFTER TREATMENT
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy: Depending on your doctor’s recommendation, each treatment takes between 19 and 37 minutes.
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​You can resume normal activities immediately! Because there are no effects on alertness or memory, you can drive yourself to and from treatment sessions as well.
Is NeuroStar® TMS Therapy Right For Me?
We’re happy that you have decided to learn more about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy (TMS). To help, we offer a consultation with our TMS Coordinator. This is a chance for you to learn the details of this treatment, review your symptoms and history of treatments as well as any insurance requirements.
From there, our psychiatrist will take over and develop an individualized plan using TMS therapy if it is best suited for your specific needs. If TMS therapy is a good fit, then in most cases, sessions can be scheduled within weeks after first contacting us!
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Click the link below to complete a Self-Assessment Health Questionnaire. Our team will review your submission and contact you directly!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?Transcranial magnetic stimulation, often referred to as TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. TMS is typically used when antidepressant medications haven’t been effective, have ceased working, or as an alternative to medication.
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How does TMS work?TMS involves delivering magnetic pulses to specific parts of the brain.
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How long is TMS treatment?A typical initial course of treatment is about 19-37 minutes daily over 4-6 weeks.
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Is TMS therapy covered by my insurance?A vast majority of commercial and Medicare plans have recognized the effectiveness of treating depression with TMS Therapy and now cover TMS as part of their plans.
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Is TMS Therapy a good alternative for patients who cannot tolerate the side effects of antidepressant medications?TMS does not circulate in the blood throughout the body, so it does not have side effects like weight gain, sexual dysfunction, nausea, dry mouth, sedation, etc. The most common side effects reported during clinical trials were headache and scalp discomfort — generally mild to moderate — occurring less frequently after the first week of treatment
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Is TMS Therapy like other alternative therapies that use magnets to treat some illnesses?No. TMS Therapy involves a unique method of using pulsed magnetic fields for a therapeutic benefit. The intensity of the magnetic field is similar to that of an MRI. These techniques differ radically from the popular use of low intensity, static magnetic fields. Those products deliver weak and undirected static fields that are not capable of activating brain cells. The activation and stimulation of brain cells is a key part of why TMS is so effective.
TMS Clinical Trials & Academic Studies
*The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is indicated for the treatment of depressive episodes and for decreasing anxiety symptoms for those who may exhibit comorbid anxiety 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).
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. Visit neurostar.com for full safety and prescribing information.
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1. Carpenter LL, et al. (2012). Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Major Depression: A Multisite, Naturalistic, Observational Study of Acute Treatment Outcomes in Clinical Practice. Depres- sion and Anxiety, 29(7):587-596. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22689344
2. George MS, et al. (2010). Daily Left Prefrontal Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder: A Sham-Controlled Randomized Trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 67(5):507-516. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20439832
3. Dunner DL, et al. (2014). A Multisite, Naturalistic, Observational Study of Transcranial Mag- netic Stimulation (TMS) for Patients with Pharmacoresistant Major Depressive Disorder: Durability of Benefit Over a 1-Year Follow-Up Period. J Clin Psychiatry. 75(12):1394-1401. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/25271871
4. O’Reardon JP, et al. (2007). Efficacy and Safety of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Acute Treatment of Major Depression: A Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial. Biol Psychiatry, 62(11):1208-1216. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17573044