Do NeuroStar treatments hurt?

NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy is a form of treatment for major depressive disorder that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate neural activity in regions of the brain associated with depression. Because this therapy directly targets the brain, it therefore avoids several of the unpleasant side effects of medication. While the therapy is not entirely pain-free or risk-free, it is generally well tolerated by most patients and is growing in popularity as an effective treatment option for depression.

If you live in Santa Monica and are wondering, “Do NeuroStar treatments hurt?”, you can learn more about this innovative treatment option during an initial consultation with California TMS Clinics.  

Potential Side Effects

Our patients have reported that NeuroStar TMS treatments are essentially well-tolerated. The most commonly reported side effect of NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy is localized discomfort at the treatment site. You may experience this as a soreness or tingling sensation on your scalp where the magnetic coil is placed. The side effect usually eases as sessions progress, with most patients no longer reporting this discomfort by the second week of treatment.

Mild headaches are another commonly reported side effect, which is typically managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.

Some patients experience facial muscle twitching during and following a session. This twitching is also temporary and usually subsides within a few hours following treatment.

Side Effects Compared to Antidepressants

While antidepressants remain the first-line therapy for major depressive disorder, they also have unpleasant side effects that some patients find intolerable. For example, many individuals with depression report experiencing nausea and dizziness while taking antidepressants. Antidepressants can also impact your natural sleep rhythms, causing extreme fatigue in some individuals and insomnia in others. 

Antidepressants can stimulate hunger in some individuals, causing unwanted weight gain. Another unfortunate side effect of several types of antidepressants is sexual dysfunction or lack of interest in sexual activity, which can be highly disruptive to your sense of self and intimate relationships. NeuroStar treatments avoid the common side effects of antidepressants, making it a choice of treatment for people with depression.

Risks of NeuroStar TMS Therapy 

Although NeuroStar treatments are well tolerated, there are other factors a person should consider before committing to NeuroStar TMS therapy. Serious side effects are extremely rare, but there is the potential for seizures. Seizures are the most serious risk reported by patients following TMS therapy, but fortunately, only one in every 1,000 patients experience seizures. This risk, however, is higher for individuals with a history of epilepsy or other seizure disorders. If you have a seizure disorder, it is important to let your doctor know before beginning NeuroStar TMS Therapy.

Worsening Depression Symptoms

A small number of patients receiving NeuroStar TMS therapy report that their symptoms of depression worsened for a period of time before improving. This can be frustrating for individuals with depression who are eager to feel immediate relief from their symptoms. If this is your experience, we urge you to complete a full course of NeuroStar TMS therapy, as most patients with worsening symptoms do eventually experience notable symptom relief over the course of treatment. 

Learn More About Potential Pain Associated With NeuroStar Treatments – Reach Out to Us Today

If you are reluctant to begin a course of therapy due to potential pain and side effects, NeuroStar TMS is a non-drug, non-invasive, and overall well-tolerated form of therapy for the treatment of mental health conditions. Most of our NeuroStar treatment patients report that the pain is tolerable and short-lasting. 

If you are looking for a treatment for your condition with few side effects, NeuroStar TMS therapy may be the solution for you. Schedule a consultation today.

Adult Indications for Use

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.

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).

Visit neurostar.com for full safety and prescribing information.

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.