Any type of medical treatment for mental health issues has some side effects. This is true for antidepressant medications and TMS depression treatment. Unlike medications, TMS treatment doesn’t cause weight gain, sexual dysfunction, or digestive problems.
Many people tolerate TMS therapy well and don’t notice any issues. There can be some minor side effects with this type of therapy:
Headaches: According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, about 50% of TMS patients experience mild headaches when beginning treatment. These headaches usually go away after a few sessions.
Scalp discomfort or temporary facial twitches: Some patients notice uncomfortable or tingling sensations with the scalp or facial muscles. These feelings generally lessen as treatment continues, but we can also adjust the amount of stimulation to help patients feel more comfortable.
Hearing issues: During treatment, you wear earplugs to protect your hearing from any loud noises generated by the TMS. For most people, this is sufficient to prevent any hearing discomfort.
An exceedingly small number of people have a risk of seizures with TMS therapy. This situation is extremely rare. We take steps to check patients before approving treatment to minimize the risk even further. Our priority is to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
