Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy: What's your experience?

I’m dying to know how it works! It’s usually prescribed for depression. I would like to know if it works for anxiety.

@doorman, thanks for the response. I'm just getting started good with only nine treatments of thirty six. I'll be glad to update you later on.
I was also hoping for feedback here from others that have or will complete the program.

Hi @clutch, here's an older discussion where members are talking about TMS that may interest you:
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for long-term depression https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tms-therapy-for-long-term-depression/

I'd like to bring @jancer2017 @kimmym @stup @anndomico @callalily74 @callalily74 @klonbgone and others to this discussion to share their experiences with TMS.

@clutch, you mention that you've had 9 or 36 treatments. Have you noticed any improvement? What are the sessions like?

Are there any updates on transcranial magnetic stimulation that anyone could share?

I had TMS twice in my lifetime. The first round helped the depression 3 months. Then I went right back down. The second round made me worse! Got very irritable. I heard from my therapist that it rarely helps. Sorry to share that news. Maria.

I've had TMS 4 times since 2010 all for severe depression. The first time we only completed 9 treatment sessions (if I remember correctly) as it was too activating and was making me hypomanic despite me not having a hx of bipolar disorder. I then had it 2 times in 2016, once at the start of the year and once right at the end, and both times we completed the entire treatment and it was very successful allowing me to decrease the amount of medication I was taking. The 4 time we tried it was toward the end of 2017--we only completed 15 sessions. I didn't have side effects but we weren't noticing a response. During this treatment we also weren't following the daily administration protocol and were only doing it 3x week so that could have had something to do with it as well. As far as I'm concerned @clutch I hope that you have a positive response!

Muchas gracias

I did 36 sessions last fall. After the 16th treatment I felt great and could think more clearly. But it only lasted for 2 weeks and then I went back to where I was depression wise. I was absolutely devastated. It was a teaser to feel so well temporarily and then go back to misery. I completed all my treatments despite the rise and fall in the middle of it all. The TMS doctor insisted I had a placebo effect. I totally disagree. The relief I felt and the change in my cognition was immense and wonderful. Too bad it was short lived. I wish you the very best with your experience.

@joli I see this is your 2nd post. I wanted to Welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sounds like TMS worked for you but only temporarily and that was devastating. That sounds incredibly difficult. Am I correct in thinking your depression is not being managed adequately at this time? I'm wondering what kind of treatment you are receiving?

I finished my 36 treatments in July. It's a big investment in time, money, and commitment. Sorry to say, it did not help very much at all, if any.
I have long-standing Major Depression and Anxiety. Depression is resistant to most all medications after 30 years.
Disappointing results to say the least!