TMS depression therapy is a relatively new approach to treating treatment-resistant depression that has helped many people regain their lives from depressive symptoms. It is a non-invasive approach that offers a low risk of side effects. And, can provide symptom relief as soon as after the first session. But, not everyone may be a good candidate for TMS treatment. So, it’s important to determine whether or not you may be a good candidate for this type of treatment before looking for a provider.
Some questions you can ask yourself before deciding whether or not TMS is right for you may include:
Typically, TMS treatment providers want to know that you’ve already tried traditional treatments for depression before TMS becomes an option. Typically, traditional treatment methods include therapies, like behavioral talk therapies, and prescription antidepressants. This is because TMS for depression is typically considered for patients who are living with treatment-resistant depression, meaning that traditional treatments haven’t worked or are not an option for these individuals. If you haven’t already tried traditional treatments for depression, there is no way to tell that you are living with treatment-resistant depression. So, if you haven’t gotten help for depression before considering TMS, you may want to think about starting with traditional treatments first.
While TMS is effective and can start to work almost immediately in many cases, TMS is a program of a number of sessions. So, there is a commitment when taking on TMS as a means of treatment. This means going to sessions a number of times, typically once a week, for a certain period of time. And, after initial treatments, there are often follow-up treatments to ensure that the benefits of TMS are long-lasting. So, before choosing TMS as a means of depression treatment, you must consider if you have the capacity and time for the scheduling and commitment of these treatment plans.
One of the most important things to consider before choosing TMS as a depression treatment option is whether or not you’re a good candidate. There are certain things that can make someone disqualified for TMS, including certain medical diagnoses including seizure disorders, and any metallic implants that are used to help a person with medical ailments. Furthermore, taking certain types of medications may cause a person to be disqualified from TMS as the combination of treatment and medications may cause unknown side effects. So, before determining if TMS is right for you, it’s imperative to be upfront and honest about your medical history and medications you may be taking with your doctor or TMS provider to better determine if you’re a good candidate.
Do you still think that you may be a good candidate for TMS and want to see if it’s right for you? The best thing to do is talk to a TMS treatment provider about your experience with depression. Find out more about outpatient TMS treatment sessions provided in Boca Raton by Raul J. Rodriguez, MD on our website.