Pros and Cons of TMS Therapy

Living with mental health conditions, such as major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or major depressive disorder with anxiety can be challenging, especially when you are having trouble finding the right treatment. Many patients who do not achieve success with medication or psychotherapy seek out and find significant benefit from NeuroStar Advanced Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy.

Below, we review some of the pros and cons of TMS therapy—with a focus on the NeuroStar TMS procedure—to help you make an informed treatment choice. Discover if this type of TMS is the right choice for your needs by scheduling a consultation today with our clinicians at Chrysalis Psychiatry.

The Pros of NeuroStar Advanced TMS Therapy

NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy offers many important benefits for our qualifying patients, making it a strong alternative to traditional mental health treatments, such as psychotherapy and medication. Here are just a few reasons that this treatment is recommended:

• Safety: The NeuroStar TMS procedure is FDA-cleared, non-surgical, and non-invasive. It requires no incisions and leaves no scars. It is also non-medication-based, so patients do not experience the common side effects associated with medications—including loss of sleep and appetite, and sexual dysfunction—that medications can cause.
• Efficacy: NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy has been proven to help patients who have not achieved success with medication and psychotherapy. This TMS treatment has been extensively studied in over 65 clinical trials with strong results.
• Convenience: The NeuroStar TMS treatment program consists of five sessions per week for seven weeks. This program is easy to integrate into your schedule, with each treatment lasting less than 20 minutes.
• No downtime: After your NeuroStar TMS sessions, there is no need for downtime or recovery. The treatments have very little impact on your day-to-day living and do not hinder you from carrying out your regular activities, including working out.
• Long-lasting results: NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy was clinically proven to offer results that can last as long as a year (Dunner DL, et al. (2014). J Clin Psychiatry, 75(12):1394-1401_.

Learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of this TMS procedure during a one-on-one consultation with Chrysalis Psychiatry.

The Cons of NeuroStar Advanced TMS Therapy

NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy is well regarded by doctors and other mental health specialists worldwide because it has few drawbacks. Despite those drawbacks, it is a better fit for many patients than medications and psychotherapy.

While many of the more than 100,000 patients completed their NeuroStar TMS treatments, a small number experienced headaches, lightheadedness, tingling, muscle spasms, and scalp discomfort. These side effects were generally well-tolerated , and typically manifested only during the first few sessions.

Another drawback is that NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy is not suitable for every patient. It can be used to treat certain mental health symptoms associated with certain conditions and only in certain age groups. Schedule a consultation with Chrysalis Psychiatry to determine whether you are a good candidate for this procedure.

As with any treatment, TMS therapy has some drawbacks. However, for most patients, the pros of TMS therapy can far outweigh the cons.

Contact Chrysalis Psychiatry Today To Discuss TMS Therapy’s Benefits and Drawbacks

NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy can be an excellent treatment option for patients with qualifying mental health conditions. It offers many positive benefits and typically few drawbacks for our patients.

If you want to know more about the pros and cons of TMS therapy, make an appointment today for a one-on-one consultation with our specialists at Chrysalis Psychiatry. We are eager to answer all your questions and help you make an informed treatment decision.