ARE YOU AN IDEAL TMS CANDIDATE?

TMS Therapy is an amazingly well tolerated procedure and has few side effects, which means that most people are already good candidates to receive treatment. But while the treatment itself is well tolerated, TMS is FDA cleared for a very specific purpose. It is important to determine if you are a good candidate for TMS, and more importantly, if you aren’t.

TMS is considered to be a safe procedure and is generally agreeable with patients. However, there are three qualifying conditions which will help determine if TMS is right for you.

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
While we are learning everyday the great and undiscovered potential of TMS, to date the FDA has only cleared TMS for treatment in Major Depressive Disorder. If you are suffering from Major Depressive Disorder, TMS may be the right option for you.

Studies are being released every year which show that TMS could be used to alleviate symptoms stemming from Parkinson’s Disease, Fibromyalgia, and even Multiple Sclerosis. TMS has even been shown to reverse the effects of OCD, PTSD, and especially migraines. It may be some time before your doctor can prescribe TMS for these ailments, but clinical studies are being conducted nationwide and are always looking for participants.

*Please note that in early 2014, the FDA cleared a TMS device for treatment of Migraines accompanied by auras.
MEDICATION RESISTANT
TMS therapy is an appropriate treatment for patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from antidepressant medications at or above the commonly effective dose and duration. It is also for patients who cannot tolerate the side effects common with medication, and for those who do not wish to risk experiencing the side effects common with medication .

Strong clinical evidence suggests that patients who are less treatment-resistant tend to respond better to TMS than those who are high treatment-resistant. There is still much to be learned about particular variables that may impact response to TMS. For example, there is a lot of interest in evaluating whether TMS Therapy combined with antidepressant medications is more effective than TMS Therapy alone.
OVER 18 YEARS OLD
TMS Therapy is largely considered safe and is generally well tolerated. However, it is highly recommended that patients who undergo TMS Therapy be over 18 years old. In most cases, doctors and psychiatrists will not prescribe TMS to adolescents under 18.

Clinical research has been done to determine the effects of TMS Therapy on young adults and children. While the responses have been positive, it is still unknown what if any long-term effects there may be on a developing brain. Therefore, it is highly recommended that children and young adults under 18 not receive TMS.

Who Cannot Recieve TMS Therapy?

TMS Therapy is a very well tolerated treatment and there are very few limitations as to who can receive it. However, not all patients are appropriate candidates for TMS Therapy. Patients with a history of seizures or who have metal implants or objects in or near their head are not appropriate candidates for TMS Therapy. To determine if TMS Therapy may be right for you, your TMS prescribing psychiatrist or doctor will carefully screen for the presence of medical conditions or metal objects which may make TMS harmful.

IMPLANTS
Because of the nature of magnetic energy and its reciprocal effects, patients with certain types of implants should not receive TMS Therapy. TMS should not be administered to patients with implants that are controlled by physiological signals. This includes pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and vagus nerve stimulators (VNS).
METAL OBJECTS
TMS Therapy should not be administered to persons who have non-removable magnetic-sensitive metal in their head or other part of their body that would be within 12 inches of the TMS coil. Failure to follow this rule may cause the object to heat up, move, or malfunction and result in serious injury or death. Persons with braces and/or metal dental fillings are acceptable for treatment. Objects that may have this kind of metal include:
- Aneurysm clips or coils
- Stents in the neck or brain
- Implanted stimulator
- Cardiac pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
- Electrodes to monitor brain activity
- Ferromagnetic implants in your eyes or ears
- Shrapnel or bullet fragments in or near the head
- Facial tattoos with metallic or magnetic-sensitive ink
SEIZURES
Before the first TMS session, patients are carefully screened for the presence of medical conditions which include seizure disorder and epilepsy. The TMS prescribing psychiatrist or doctor should discuss any underlying risk factors that could make the administration of TMS Therapy unsafe. If you have any concerns about the risk of seizure or any other side effect it is highly recommended that you consult with your doctor before starting TMS Therapy.

If it is determined that you are not a candidate for TMS Therapy, there are other options for treatment of your depression symptoms. ECT and Vagus Nerve Stimulators (VNS) are two of the leading treatment therapies, but are more intensive and invasive than TMS Therapy. As with everything, please consult with your doctor to determine the best course of treatment of your depression.

ARE YOU AN IDEAL TMS CANDIDATE?

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

MEDICATION RESISTANT

OVER 18 YEARS OLD

Who Cannot Recieve TMS Therapy?

IMPLANTS

METAL OBJECTS

SEIZURES

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