How long does it take before my TMS therapy treatments start to work?
When you struggle with symptoms of depression and medications and talk therapy have not worked well for you, you want your new treatment to work as quickly as possible. Medications for depression can take up to 8 weeks before you feel improvements, even if you are on the right dose. You may also have to try multiple medications.
At The TMS Center of New Jersey, we understand your frustration. NeuroStar Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy is different. There is only one course of treatment, though each patient’s exact treatment parameters are personalized. You receive daily treatment sessions on weekdays for seven weeks. When considering this new treatment, you may wonder, “How long does it take before my TMS therapy treatments start to work?” Every patient is different, but you can read on to learn some general guidelines.
Early Effects
Some patients report feeling improvement in symptoms around the two-week mark. Other patients will not feel changes until four or five weeks of treatment. Even if it takes longer for you to notice symptom relief, the TMS therapy is still effective and could work for you by the end of your treatment course.
Full Effects
It is routine not to see the full effect of NeuroStar TMS treatments until you have completed several weeks of therapy. Because each patient is different, there are no set expectations as to when they will feel the final effects.
How Will I Know the TMS Treatments Are Working?
As your symptoms of depression start to resolve, you will realize that the TMS is working. Once again, each person is different. Some patients report that their family or friends were the first to notice changes, even though they did not think anything was happening. Improvements can be subtle, like being able to interact more with others.
The TMS Center of New Jersey provides NeuroStar TMS therapy through a seven-week treatment program, with daily sessions held five times a week. Each session lasts 19 minutes. The repeated magnetic pulses delivered during your daily TMS sessions can facilitate positive changes in your brain through neuroplasticity. By enhancing neuroplasticity, NeuroStar TMS can help normalize dysfunctional neural circuitry and function related to depression. Additionally, by stimulating targeted brain regions, NeuroStar TMS can modulate neurotransmitter levels, such as serotonin and dopamine, to alleviate depressive symptoms.
This treatment offers a high level of safety—in fact, NeuroStar TMS uses the same well-established technology found in MRI machines, and researchers have studied it extensively in clinical trials. Most patients tolerate it very well, making it a strong alternative to medication, talk therapy, or surgery. NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy does not impair cognitive function in any way, nor do patients experience the systemic side effects that are common with medication. After each treatment session, you can immediately return to your normal daily routine.
Stay the Course
You should complete your entire planned course of NeuroStar TMS therapy. Taking an unexpected break in your treatment plan could delay results, but it does not mean the TMS will not work. At the end of your planned treatment course, you and The TMS Center of New Jersey staff will evaluate how well the treatment has worked. From that, you can work with the staff to decide whether you need further TMS sessions or are now in remission.
Ask a Professional About How Long It takes Before NeuroStar TMS therapy Treatments Start to Work
Because every person is different, no one can tell you exactly when you will start to feel better. However, we know that about 83 percent of patients notice real improvements by the end of their NeuroStar TMS treatments. About 62 percent of patients who did not find relief from antidepressant medication go into remission by the end of their TMS therapy (Sackeim HA, et al. (2020). J Affective Disorders, (277)(12):65-74.). Try not to worry about your number of sessions or how many days you have been in treatment before you start to notice improvement.
At The TMS Center of New Jersey, we know you want to feel better soon. We will be there to support you along the way, whether you respond quickly or if you are one of the less lucky individuals who require the full seven weeks of treatment before they feel like anything is happening. Do not forget to look to family and friends to help you know if something positive is happening. Start your journey to better mental health by contacting us today.
NeuroStar Indication Statement:
Adult Indications for Use
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).
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
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.
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).
Visit neurostar.com for full safety and prescribing information.
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