1. < Depression & Anxiety
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TMS or ECT treatments: Did they work for you?

Posted by phxlife @phxlife, May 3, 2023

TMS and ECT treatments are very reputable and often used these days by top notch Psychiatrists. I’m wondering if anyone has had either one recently, and did you have it for depression, or another condition? How did they work for you?

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dlpc | @dlpc | Oct 4, 2024
In reply to @drnelson22 "Hello,I am in the middle of my fourth week of six of TMS treatments. I am..." + (show)
Profile picture for drnelson22 @drnelson22

Hello,I am in the middle of my fourth week of six of TMS treatments. I am still having terrible side effects, am exhausted and am feeling very nauseous when I leave daily treatments. I am just as low as when I began treatment and am beginning to wonder if TMS is making me worse. Does anyone have insight into this or a similar experience?

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I participated in TMS treatments twice. Both times it took to the end of the session to see any depression improvement but the improvement continued after TMS was completed. I believe TMS helped with a more effective processing of my mental medications. The first TMS session seemed most effective. After a year, I had the second session. I did not feel as though the second session was as helpful and at this time I do not plan to complete TMS again.

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cpeterson62 | @cpeterson62 | Mar 12, 2025

I am considering TMS Therapy. I have lived with depression and OCD all my life. I was finally diagnosed with Major Depression Disorder at 60, and recently was suggested that I probably am OCD as well (I wasn't surprised). My insurance will cover it, but my deductible is higher than the cost of 36 sessions. It was not affordable so once again I lost hope. Fortunately the clinic I am exploring offered me another option which I can afford. My questions are:
1. What has your experience been (I have read many of the comments already posted).
2. The clinic I am looking at is recommending 36 sessions, 2 sessions per week. Everything I am reading is folks are doing it 5 days a week. Does anyone have any experience at a lower weekly treatment rate? I believe they are suggesting this to help with my cash flow.

I am on the fence. It is still a significant amount of money for a treatment that may or may not work. I did ketamine therapy and it lasted about a year and then I experienced a deeply traumatic event and it was like gone. That treatment was not cheap either and insurance would not cover it.

Thanks in advance for any advice/comments you can provide.

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2 replies
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John1984 | @jschwing | Mar 13, 2025
In reply to @cpeterson62 "I am considering TMS Therapy. I have lived with depression and OCD all my life. I..." + (show)
Profile picture for cpeterson62 @cpeterson62

I am considering TMS Therapy. I have lived with depression and OCD all my life. I was finally diagnosed with Major Depression Disorder at 60, and recently was suggested that I probably am OCD as well (I wasn't surprised). My insurance will cover it, but my deductible is higher than the cost of 36 sessions. It was not affordable so once again I lost hope. Fortunately the clinic I am exploring offered me another option which I can afford. My questions are:
1. What has your experience been (I have read many of the comments already posted).
2. The clinic I am looking at is recommending 36 sessions, 2 sessions per week. Everything I am reading is folks are doing it 5 days a week. Does anyone have any experience at a lower weekly treatment rate? I believe they are suggesting this to help with my cash flow.

I am on the fence. It is still a significant amount of money for a treatment that may or may not work. I did ketamine therapy and it lasted about a year and then I experienced a deeply traumatic event and it was like gone. That treatment was not cheap either and insurance would not cover it.

Thanks in advance for any advice/comments you can provide.

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When I did 36 sessions it was completed 3 times per week

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scain | @scain | Mar 15, 2025
In reply to @cpeterson62 "I am considering TMS Therapy. I have lived with depression and OCD all my life. I..." + (show)
Profile picture for cpeterson62 @cpeterson62

I am considering TMS Therapy. I have lived with depression and OCD all my life. I was finally diagnosed with Major Depression Disorder at 60, and recently was suggested that I probably am OCD as well (I wasn't surprised). My insurance will cover it, but my deductible is higher than the cost of 36 sessions. It was not affordable so once again I lost hope. Fortunately the clinic I am exploring offered me another option which I can afford. My questions are:
1. What has your experience been (I have read many of the comments already posted).
2. The clinic I am looking at is recommending 36 sessions, 2 sessions per week. Everything I am reading is folks are doing it 5 days a week. Does anyone have any experience at a lower weekly treatment rate? I believe they are suggesting this to help with my cash flow.

I am on the fence. It is still a significant amount of money for a treatment that may or may not work. I did ketamine therapy and it lasted about a year and then I experienced a deeply traumatic event and it was like gone. That treatment was not cheap either and insurance would not cover it.

Thanks in advance for any advice/comments you can provide.

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I have already posted my experience with TMS. After reading your post I think if you are looking for a guarantee you should explore meds. TMS is not a guarantee and it is a major time commitment. Time that might be better spent trying antidepressants that have a much better rate of success I tried TMS twice two years apart (I am no longer depressed but I don't know if due to mirtazapine or not). Also both times fully covered by insurance).

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mlpbob | @mlpbob | Sep 2, 2025

Has anyone done TMS therapy and had success?

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10 replies
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briarrose | @briarrose | Sep 3, 2025
In reply to @mlpbob "Has anyone done TMS therapy and had success?" + (show)
Profile picture for mlpbob @mlpbob

Has anyone done TMS therapy and had success?

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I will be interested to hear from anyone about TMS results.
My son was offered it but he refused (so far)...memory loss can happen and it's quite expensive.
Don't know if insurance will cover it.
It requires a commitment. I believe the # of recommended sessions is 20(?) done every week.
He tried 4 different anti-depressants and none were effective.
Can you share your circumstances? Thank you.

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1 reply
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mlpbob | @mlpbob | Sep 3, 2025
In reply to @briarrose "I will be interested to hear from anyone about TMS results. My son was offered it..." + (show)
Profile picture for briarrose @briarrose

I will be interested to hear from anyone about TMS results.
My son was offered it but he refused (so far)...memory loss can happen and it's quite expensive.
Don't know if insurance will cover it.
It requires a commitment. I believe the # of recommended sessions is 20(?) done every week.
He tried 4 different anti-depressants and none were effective.
Can you share your circumstances? Thank you.

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I’m on my second week. Failed on 5 antidepressants. My insurance covers it. I am doing 6 weeks everyday for 3 and 1/2 minutes. It is not supposed to affect memory.

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mbixler | @mbixler | Sep 3, 2025
In reply to @mlpbob "Has anyone done TMS therapy and had success?" + (show)
Profile picture for mlpbob @mlpbob

Has anyone done TMS therapy and had success?

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Have undergone 2 rounds of it, with good effect. Results only lasted about a year though, and then required a full round of treatment - otherwise insurance would not cover it - as a “tune up”

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1 reply
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mlpbob | @mlpbob | Sep 3, 2025
In reply to @mbixler "Have undergone 2 rounds of it, with good effect. Results only lasted about a year though,..." + (show)
Profile picture for mbixler @mbixler

Have undergone 2 rounds of it, with good effect. Results only lasted about a year though, and then required a full round of treatment - otherwise insurance would not cover it - as a “tune up”

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Thank you for replying. Hoping it helps me. Hope you are doing ok now!

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mrmacabre | @mrmacabre | Sep 3, 2025
In reply to @mlpbob "Has anyone done TMS therapy and had success?" + (show)
Profile picture for mlpbob @mlpbob

Has anyone done TMS therapy and had success?

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What exactly is TMS therapy?

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