Depression
Combat depression with the help of transcranial magnetic stimulation
What is depression?
We refer to depression as a mental illness when feelings of melancholy or sadness persist for more than two weeks, occurring almost all day and every day. Typically, patients experience profound feelings of sadness, melancholy, and a lack of interest in activities that usually bring pleasure.
Symptoms
If you have experienced these symptoms for more than two weeks, nearly every day, or most of the time, it is highly likely that you are suffering from depression:
- Sadness
- Insomnia or excessive sleep
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of interest in things we typically enjoy
- Loss of interest in sex
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Wishing to die
- Wishing to commit suicide
- Feelings of guilt
- Hopelessness
- Unexplained fears
- Trembling, palpitations, sweating
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Depression associated with suicidal thoughts or attempts
Do depressive patients improve with transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation has demonstrated its superiority in many cases compared to medication. In addition to being well-tolerated with few to no side effects, both the patient and their family often notice improvement after the first week of treatment.
Many times, patients who rely solely on medication experience improvement but not to a sufficient extent, making it advisable to explore all available methods to prevent chronic disability and the brain damage caused by depressive illness.
TMS is FDA-approved and internationally endorsed through research and application by top-tier academic institutions, hospitals, and leading treatment centers.
Comparison of TMS vs Other Antidepressant Treatments
Antidepressant Medications
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
Efficacy
54-64% of patients experience improvement.
80% experience improvement
Comparable to TMS.
Onset of Therapeutic Effect
4-6 weeks
1 week
1 week
Adverse Effects
Headache, dry mouth, dizziness, weakness, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, dyspepsia, urinary retention, sexual disturbances, drowsiness, insomnia.
Transient dizziness and mild headache can be quickly relieved with oral analgesics.
Many side effects. Memory loss, which can sometimes be permanent. Seizures occur whenever it is applied. Requires general anesthesia, increasing risks. Typically, the patient needs to be hospitalized. Extremely costly.
Incidence of Adverse Effects
67% experience at least one major adverse effect, and up to 80% experience medication-induced sexual dysfunction.
Transient headache occurs in 10% of cases
Any side effect can appear in 100% of patients.
Ideal Candidates for TMS
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is effective in the following neuropsychiatric disorders:
- First-line treatment for all types of depression.
- Treatment-resistant depression (due to the ineffectiveness of medications).
- Depression in Bipolar Disorder.
- Depression when antidepressant medications are not tolerated, for example, when there is drug hypersensitivity, weight gain, decreased sexual desire, delayed orgasm, hand tremors, dry mouth, etc.
- Depression in patients with other medical conditions, such as cardiovascular problems or elderly individuals taking multiple medications.
- Postpartum depression and depression during breastfeeding.
- As an alternative to Electroconvulsive Therapy and the use of both Ketamine and Esketamine.