NeuroStar TMS Therapy  and Depression Treatment

What is NeuroStar Advanced Therapy (TMS)?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) serves as a depression treatment for adults aged 21 and above, proving effective in cases where other treatments have proven unsuccessful. While the precise cause of depression remains unknown, the prevailing scientific theory suggests that it arises from an imbalance in the brain's neurotransmitters—chemical messengers facilitating signals between brain cells.

NeuroStar TMS

In a NeuroStar treatment session, a magnet with a strength comparable to that of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine is employed to activate nerve cells in the region of the brain believed to influence mood. The application of these magnetic pulses has the potential to positively impact the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, potentially leading to long-term remission.

Treatment with NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is easy:

  • Therapy sessions conducted in your NeuroStar doctor’s office

  • Remain awake and alert to return to normal activities

  • Covered by most health insurance plans, including Medicare and Tricare

How NeuroStar TMS Therapy Works

1

Before Treatment

Relax in the treatment chair as a gentle, curved magnetic coil is delicately placed on your head for the procedure.

2

During Treatment

NeuroStar precisely administers magnetic stimulation to specific brain areas, generating a gentle tapping sensation and audible clicks during the process.

3

After Treatment

NeuroStar Advanced Therapy: Following your doctor's advice, each session lasts 19 to 37 minutes.

Resume regular activities right away.

With no impact on alertness you can independently drive to and from the 5-day weekly sessions for about 7 weeks.*

TMS Testimonials

FAQs

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), commonly known as TMS, is a noninvasive method utilizing magnetic fields to activate nerve cells in the brain, aiming to alleviate symptoms of depression. TMS is typically employed when conventional antidepressant medications prove ineffective, lose efficacy, or as a medication-free alternative.

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) entails administering magnetic pulses to precise regions of the brain.

  • No, TMS treatment is typically not painful. Most individuals describe it as a tapping or knocking sensation on the scalp beneath the treatment coil.

  • In a study of "real-world" outcomes involving actual NeuroStar patients, 83% of individuals who completed the full NeuroStar treatment cycle experienced a significant reduction in the severity of their depression. Additionally, 62% of those who completed the treatment achieved full remission, meaning their depression effectively "went away."

    Sackeim HA, et al. (2020) J. Affect. Disord. 277:65-74. Based on a real-world, retrospective study using CGI-S and a sample size of 615 patients.

  • The standard initial treatment duration involves approximately 19-37 minutes per day, spanning over a period of 7 weeks.

  • The majority of commercial and Medicare insurance plans have acknowledged the efficacy of TMS therapy in treating depression and have incorporated TMS coverage into their plans.

  • As Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) doesn't circulate in the bloodstream, it avoids side effects commonly associated with medications, such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, nausea, dry mouth, and sedation. In clinical trials, the most frequently reported side effects were mild to moderate headache and scalp discomfort, with a decrease in occurrence after the initial week of treatment.

  • Certainly not. TMS Therapy employs a distinctive approach, utilizing pulsed magnetic fields to achieve therapeutic benefits. The magnetic field's intensity is comparable to that of an MRI. This methodology sharply contrasts with the widespread use of low-intensity, static magnetic fields. Products utilizing such fields deliver feeble and unfocused static fields that lack the capability to activate brain cells. The activation and stimulation of brain cells are crucial aspects contributing to the effectiveness of TMS.

TMS Clinical Trials & Academic Studies

  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. Depression 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 Magnetic 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

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.


Important Safety Information

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). NeuroStar Advanced Therapy should not be used with patients who have non-removable conductive metal in or near the head. NeuroStar Advanced Therapy has not been studied in patients who have not received prior antidepressant treatment.

Visit neurostar.com for full safety and prescribing information.