TMS Therapy at Ardent — A Drug-Free Depression Treatment That Works When Medication Doesn't
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is an FDA-cleared treatment for conditions such as depression, some migraine headaches and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). At Ardent, our NeuroStar TMS program delivers FDA-cleared, non-drug treatment for depression – with an 83% response rate and 62% remission rate in clinical trials. If antidepressants haven’t worked for you, TMS may be the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for.
What is TMS?
TMS stands for “Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation” and is also known as “repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation” or “rTMS treatment”.
A machine is used to stimulate a specific part of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex which has been found to be involved in depression and which affects our moods.
The rTMS machine generates a magnetic field that has a similar strength to that used in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The magnetic pulses wake up the nerve cells in this specific part of your brain.
There is also another type of TMS called Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS)”. It has mainly been used for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). However, we do not currently provide this service. But some people have found that rTMS is also effective for OCD.
Over 8.5 million Treatments Performed in Over 230,000 Patients
A Safe, Effective Depression Treatment
The NeuroStar TMS treatment doesn’t produce side effects like medication does.1,9
Most insurance providers now offer coverage for NeuroStar TMS treatment.
NeuroStar is a non-invasive treatment available at our Oak Brook, IL that reawakens the connections in your brain.
How Long Does the TMS Therapy Take and What Does It Feel Like?
As mentioned above, this is a repetitive treatment. You can’t just get a large dose of it and be finished. You have to have it five times a week over a period of 4 to 6 weeks to see the real effects.
Each session takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete and must be done at our TMS clinic in Oak Brook, IL
You may feel a tapping sensation on your scalp as the magnetic field switches on an off creating the pulses and hear a loud, clicking noise. Some people find it can give them a bit of a mild headache until they get used to it. This can be alleviated with normal over-the-counter headache medicine.
The first time you have it you may feel a slight tingling or twitching in the muscles of your face. However, you should tell your doctor or treater if you experience any discomfort, as the strength of the magnetic pulses can be adjusted for your comfort.
The first time you have it you may feel a little lightheaded or dizzy either during the session or right after it. This dizziness typically subsides quickly after the session and is less noticeable with each treatment.
What Happens the First Time You Have the TMS Therapy?
You will lie back and relax in the chair. The machine makes a clicking sound, similar to an MRI machine. We can give you ear plugs to help reduce the noise. We will then give you some earplugs to wear as the rTMS machine makes a loud clicking noise. It is about as loud as an MRI scan. Then you will be able to lie back and relax in our comfy chair.
During your first session, we use the TMS machine to stimulate your motor cortex – the part of the brain that controls your movements. This will cause some muscle twitching. This allows us to determine what setting of the TMS machine will be best for you.
Then we move the machine to stimulate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex – the part of your brain that controls your moods. This is the part we will focus on during all of your TMS therapy sessions.
Your first session will generally take around an hour.
Are There Any Reasons Why I Might Not Be Able to Have TMS?
If you have metal braces or metal dental fillings you can have TMS. But you can’t have TMS if you have:
- Tattoos on your scalp or face that have been done with metallic ink
- Aneurysm clips or coils
- Bullet fragments in your neck or head
- Neck or brain stents
- Deep brain stimulators
- Electrodes.
Note: Please let us know if you have a medical condition that puts you at an especially high risk for seizures as rTMS may not be recommended for you.
Depression Screening (PHQ-10)
TMS Results at Ardent
At Ardent, 89% of our TMS patients experienced significant symptom reduction after completing treatment.
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Are There Any Side Effects?
Although rTMS is considered a safe and effective procedure with few long-term side-effects, there are still some possible side-effects that you should keep an eye out for. It is rare, but it can happen due to rTMS. It is important to tell your doctor if this occurs or if you have experienced seizures in the past.
Any Questions?
Contact us using this special contact page to ask any questions regarding TMS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, often referred to as TMS is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. TMS is typically used when antidepressant medications haven’t been effective, have ceased working, or as an alternative to medication.
How does TMS Therapy work?
TMS involves delivering magnetic pulses to specific parts of the brain.
How long is TMS treatment?
A typical initial course of treatment is about 19-37 minutes daily over 4-6 weeks.
Is TMS Therapy covered by my insurance?
A vast majority of commercial and Medicare plans have recognized the effectiveness of treating depression with TMS Therapy and now cover TMS as part of their plans.
Is TMS Therapy a good alternative for patients who cannot tolerate the side effects of antidepressant medications?
TMS does not circulate in the blood throughout the body, so it does not have side effects like weight gain, sexual dysfunction, nausea, dry mouth, sedation, etc. The most common side effects reported during clinical trials were headache and scalp discomfort —generally mild to moderate—occurring less frequently after the first week of treatment.
Is TMS Therapy like other alternative therapies that use magnets to treat some illnesses?
No. TMS Therapy involves a unique method of using pulsed magnetic fields for a therapeutic benefit.
The intensity of the magnetic field is similar to that of an MRI. These techniques differ radically from the popular use of low intensity, static magnetic fields. Those products deliver weak and undirected static fields that are not capable of activating brain cells. The activation and stimulation of brain cells is a key part of why TMS is so effective.
Does it hurt?
Many patients experience side effects from their medication, increasing the chance that they will stop taking them. The most common side effect with NeuroStar is mild to moderate pain or discomfort at the treatment site. For most patients this subsides within the first week of treatment.
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(888) 870-1775
(847) 349-1619
2500 West Higgins Road, Suite 105, Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60169-7220
Get In Touch…
Ardent provides counselors near me in IL, IA, NE and IA. If you have insurance, most of the cost of your session may be covered by your insurance. If you don’t have insurance, we provide a sliding scale of fees depending on which therapist you see and your financial situation. We provide face to face counseling if you live in Chicagoland and counseling anywhere via online counseling.
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