RELIEF FROM DEPRESSION WITH TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION (TMS)
Health & Psychiatry is Florida’s Premier Behavioral Health Provider
Overview
NeuroStar Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure that uses pulsed magnetic fields to stimulate neurons associated with mood in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. NeuroStar TMS is typically used when medications aren’t providing relief from depression symptoms. FDA Cleared in 2008.
Health and Psychiatry’s History with TMS
“In my 7 years working with Neurostar TMS, I have seen TMS change my patient’s lives. I am excited to offer an effective alternate treatment for patients that need hope for a better tomorrow.”
- Dr. Dinar Sajan
How It Works
During a TMS session, an electromagnetic coil is placed against your scalp near your forehead. The electromagnet painlessly delivers the magnetic pulses that neurons in the region of your brain involved in mood regulation and depression. And it activates regions of the brain that have decreased activity in people with depression. This stimulation affects how this part of the brain is working, which in turn, eases depression symptoms and improve mood.
Treatment Time
A TMS session take ONLY 18 minutes, so you can continue with work and other daily activities around your treatment time. We make it easy to come to treatment daily, so you can get back to your normal routine.
What You Can Expect
NeuroStar TMS is usually done on an outpatient basis in our office. It requires a series of 30 treatment sessions to be effective and done daily, five times a week for six weeks with 6 taper sessions at the end.
Your First Treatment
Before treatment begins, your doctor will need to identify the treatment location and dose of magnetic energy for you. Your first appointment typically lasts about 60 minutes.
During your first appointment:
- You’ll be taken to a treatment room, asked to sit in a medical device chair and given earplugs to wear during the procedure.
- An electromagnetic coil will be placed against your head and you will feel a tapping sensation on your forehead. This part of the process is called mapping or motor threshold.
- Your doctor will determine the amount of magnetic energy needed by increasing the magnetic dose until your fingers twitch. This is known as your motor threshold, this is used as a reference point in determining the right dose for you. During the course of treatment, the amount of stimulation can be changed, depending on your symptoms and side effects.
During Each Treatment
Once the coil placement and dose are identified, you’re ready to begin. Here’s what to expect during each treatment:
- You’ll sit in a comfortable chair, wearing ear plugs, with the magnetic coil placed against your head.
- When the machine is turned on, you’ll hear clicking sounds and feel tapping on your forehead.
- The procedure will last about 18 minutes, and you’ll remain awake and alert. You can continue with your normal daily activities with no interruption.
After Each Treatment
You can continue with normal daily activities before and after your treatment. Typically, between treatments, you can expect to work, drive and live your life.
Results
If NeuroStar TMS for you, your depression symptoms may improve or go away completely. Symptom relief is usually seen after 3-4 weeks of treatment.
Ongoing Treatment
It’s not yet known if maintenance TMS sessions will benefit your depression. This involves continuing treatment when you are symptom-free with the hope that it will prevent the return of symptoms. Most insurance companies don’t cover maintenance TMS. However, if your depression improves with TMS, and then later you have another episode of symptoms, your TMS treatment can be repeated. This is called re-introduction and usually covered by insurance.
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS
Side effects are generally mild to moderate and improve shortly after an individual session and decrease over time with additional sessions. They may include:
- Headache
- Scalp discomfort at the site of stimulation
- Tingling on scalp
Insurance: Covered by Most Insurance Plans
Schedule Your Free Consultation: 727-275-1821
TMS Therapy is covered by all major insurance companies, including Medicare, United Healthcare, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Tricare, and others. Our staff works with you and your insurance carrier to get treatment authorized and covered for you.
If, by chance, your insurance plan does not cover TMS Therapy, the cost of therapy may be recoverable from various sources including Private Insurers, Flexible Spending Accounts and Patient Financing Loans. During your free consultation, a Patient Consultant will discuss any questions you may have regarding insurance coverage, costs, payments, and reimbursement.
We look forward to assisting you with the coverage and reimbursement process.
