Depression is a serious medical illness that could have devastating effects if left untreated. The symptoms of major depressive disorder are more than just feeling a little sad. You may experience increased or decreased appetite, excessive sleepiness or insomnia, or loss of interest in daily activities, work, and relationships.
The most commonly prescribed treatments for depression are antidepressant medications and psychotherapy. However, antidepressant medications do not work for everyone. The TMS Center of New Jersey offers an alternative approach to treatment and helps answer the question: “Can TMS be combined with other treatments?”
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive treatment that utilizes magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain associated with mood disorders. Imaging studies have shown that there are areas of the brain with less activity in people with depression compared to those without.
Following treatment with NeuroStar TMS Advanced Therapy, these areas of the brain show increased activity and fewer clinical signs of depression. A full treatment cycle includes one 19-minute session for five days weekly over seven weeks.
Because medications have a systemic effect, many cannot be combined with other medicines or treatments. However, NeuroStar TMS Advanced Therapy affects just one area of the brain and can often be combined with other antidepressant treatments.
Antidepressant medications can be combined with NeuroStar TMS therapy. In some cases, it may help improve treatment outcomes. This is more likely when the antidepressant medication has offered some, but not full, relief from symptoms. The addition of NeuroStar TMS therapy could complement the chemical effects of medication.
NeuroStar TMS therapy may also help reduce medication dosage. Clinical research has found that TMS is safe to use with most, but not all, antidepressant medications. The combination of TMS with other treatments must be supervised to monitor you for adverse reactions and to make necessary adjustments to your treatment.
Talk therapy has proven to be effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder. This type of therapy can include cognitive behavioral therapy, during which you evaluate your negative thought patterns and how those impact your emotions and behaviors.
Analyzing these patterns and making changes to adjust your thinking can be difficult while you are under the influence of a persistently negative mood. NeuroStar TMS therapy could help reduce or eliminate symptoms of depression, making talk therapy more effective and helping to prevent a relapse.
Other lifestyle choices that effectively treat depression include balanced nutrition, quality sleep, exercise, abstinence from alcohol and stress eating, and a healthy gut microbiome. Each of these lifestyle choices takes effort and time, which are often in short supply when you are struggling with depression.
NeuroStar TMS Advanced Therapy allows you to make significant lifestyle changes that could prolong the effects of TMS therapy and may significantly reduce the chances of relapse.
While NeuroStar TMS is safe and effective for many people, it is not the right choice for every person and cannot be combined with all other treatments. For example, TMS treatment uses magnetic pulses, which means you cannot have metallic objects in or around your head and shoulders. This may include cochlear implants, pacemakers, or tattoos created with ferromagnetic ink.
Substance abuse and addiction can complicate mental health symptoms and interfere with treatment efficacy. Neurostar TMS therapy could be an option when you are sober. This therapy is also not suitable if you have a history of:
Combining NeuroStar TMS therapy with other treatments may offer a more comprehensive and personalized approach to managing major depressive disorder.
Can TMS Therapy be combined with other treatments? Yes — in many cases, TMS therapy can be safely combined with other treatments, including medication and psychotherapy, to enhance symptom relief. At The TMS Center of New Jersey, we understand how major depressive disorder can affect your life and how difficult it can be to achieve symptom relief with antidepressant medications alone. Schedule your consultation today to learn more about NeuroStar TMS therapy and how it could help you relieve the symptoms of depression.
