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TMS Therapy: Fighting Depression Without Drugs

Depression has an immense impact on individuals and families. Depression takes a toll on everyone and affects each individual differently, but the costs can be severe. It effects more than just the pocketbook. It is more than lost hours at work or possible unemployment or even the high expenses of medication treatment and coping with medication side effects. It is the severe costs that symptoms of depression take daily from the countless individuals who suffer, as well as from their loved ones. It is the impact that depression has on you and your relationships. It is the impact on your work, your leisure, and your way of life.

If you are fighting a personal battle with depression and haven’t achieved success with traditional medication treatment, you are not alone. In fact, over 5 million adults in the United States are treated for depression and unable to find relief with antidepressant medication, while others may experience improvement but find the side effects of the medication intolerable.

So, what do you do when your antidepressant medication isn’t working?

How can TMS Therapy help treat medication resistant depression?

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a lesser known alternative to treating depression with proven results. Approximately 50% to 60% of people with depression who have not experienced remission with medication have experienced a clinically meaningful response with TMS therapy.

TMS Therapy is a short outpatient procedure, performed in your psychiatrist’s office under their supervision while you remain awake and alert. The typical initial course of treatment is about thirty-seven minutes daily over four to six weeks.

High Country Behavioral Health offers NeuroStar® TMS Therapy at our Idaho Falls location.

What is NeuroStar® TMS Therapy and how does it work?

NeuroStar® Advanced Therapy is the #1 transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) choice of doctors. It is used to treat Major Depressive Order in adults who have failed to receive satisfactory results from antidepressant medication. This FDA-approved therapy treats depression right at the source by using magnetic pulses on the regions of your brain that regulate mood. NeuroStar® is not a drug, so you won’t experience the side effects you may have had with antidepressants. The most common side effect is temporary pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site.

 

What can I expect during a NeuroStar® TMS treatment session?

In-office treatment with NeuroStar takes as little as 19 to 37 minutes per session and is administered 5 days a week for approximately 4-6 weeks.

Here’s what you can expect:

Before treatment:

  • You’ll recline comfortably in the treatment chair.
  • A small, curved device containing the magnetic coil will be positioned lightly on your head.

During treatment:

  • The coil delivers focused magnetic stimulation directly to the target areas of the brain.
  • You will hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation on your head.

After treatment:

  • You can resume normal activities immediately.
  • Because there are no effects on alertness or memory, you can drive yourself to and from treatment sessions. You will remain awake and alert during treatment with no sedation or anesthesia

 

Is NeuroStar® TMS Therapy right for you?

If you agree with two or more of these statements, NeuroStar® TMS Therapy may be the right solution for you:

  • Depression symptoms have interfered with my daily life.
  • I am not satisfied with the results I get from depression medication.
  • I have switched medications for depression due to side effects.
  • I am interested in a proven, non-drug therapy for depression.

For more information or to find out how to get started with TMS treatment, contact us at our Idaho Falls office or visit NeuroStar.com.

 

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