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Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for long-term depression
Does anyone have any experience with TMS therapy for long term depression? I have fought the demons of depression for years. Some days are better than others, but finding the emotional energy to do anything other than go to work and do the job is next to impossible most of the time now. I have been on several different medications over the years. I can't say that any particular one made a notable difference at all. I am continually frustrated with a lack of energy and a lack of desire to do the things that I once enjoyed, and that I had looked forward to at this stage of life. Every day, I pretty much feel like "this is it" -- as good as it is ever going to get -- and the opportunity of any meaningful contribution of life is over -- done -- finished. Retirement is something that I longed for over the years. As it draws nearer, I fear it because I see myself just fading away and soon gone. So, I ask about TMS therapy. It is very expensive, requires a huge time committement, and is not covered by medical insurance. I have spoken with doctors (psychiatrists) at a couple of top hospitals in the nation and have not gotten stellar reports from them. The consensus was that it works for some but not for others and the success rates are fair at best overall. Having said that, my doc says they have seen amazing results from the therapy and people complete it and the negative thoughts are pretty much gone. He says their success rate is extremely high. I have not done it because: a) too much time away from work; b) too costly and not covered by medical insurance; c) the reports from two docs from world known excellent institutions which were not glowing. I have searched for answers for years, with none. Now, I have developed chronic pain in the lumbar area, legs, neck, shoulders, arms, etc. I am working on the back with a major pain managment group with some injections which I hope will help.
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@mojosteve1961 ECT impacts everyone differently. Some people have ECT three times a week for decades with no memory issues. It's typically used on patients when medications aren't effective.
Below I have linked information from Mayo Clinic about ECT
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/electroconvulsive-therapy/about/pac-20393894
May I ask if you use psychiatric medications and are looking into ECT as an alternative?
Clutch, I'm wondering how you are doing now. It sounds like your 36 TMS treatments did not make too much of a difference. Checking in to see how you are doing now.
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1 Reaction@kelster69, thank you for reaching out and your concern. I still take a small dose benzodiazepine for sleep , and Remeron. So I haven't had the esketamine therapy and probably will not be able to with the benzo dosage. How have you been doing? Do you receive maintenance treatments ongoing?
Hello @clutch . I am doing ok. I don't think TMS really worked for me. I started another round a couple weeks ago, but quit this week. It's so exhausting going every day for 6 weeks, only to perhaps have it not work again. I am going in for maintenance ketamine next week. I have no idea whether or not it will help me, as sometimes it has greatly, and sometimes I've felt very depressed after ketamine. Ah, the complications of having a depressed brain. I'm glad you wrote back.
I have been on depression meds for years with good results ( first Zoloft for 20+ yrs, then it stopped working and switched to welbutrin) After getting covid in April my depression relapsed. I was not sleeping so I’m now also on the sedating dose of 7.5 mg of mirtazapine at night. I also take 1 mg of Xanax a day (broken up into .25 4X day) I tecided to try TMS
(Transcranial magnetic stimulation) in hopes of being able to get off the drugs. I’ve had 9 treatments and things were going well but around the 6th treatment my anxiety went through the roof. (I also have generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder) The Dr said sometimes this can happen and will settle down usually. But if not they can place the magnet on the right side of the brain to target the area where the anxiety impulses are hyperactive. From what I’ve been told placing the magnets on either side will help treat the depression but just through different paths. I have one more left side treatment this week (# 10 of 36 total) and my Dr wants to try doing right side treatment starting Monday for a week. And then try and go back to the left side for the remaining treatments. I was told depression is different for each individual. I guess they said In some people the depression is dominant with secondary anxiety and
some people have the anxiety as dominant with the depression secondary. I was wondering if anyone else has had TMS treatment and experienced this.
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3 ReactionsHi @jorsech, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I think it's great that you are seeking the experience of others who have gone through Transcranial magnetic stimulation. You will notice that I moved your post to a discussion where people are talking about TMS already. I did this so that you can connect with those other members about what the doctor wants to do on your next treatment and see if anyone else has experienced that.
You might be interested in reading this article on the the right vs the left side treatment:
https://www.madisonavetms.com/right-vs-left-tms-is-performing-tms-on-the-left-side-of-the-head-more-effective-than-the-right/.
Did your doctor mention anything else about right side treatment? Are there any side effects at all?
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1 ReactionThey didn’t mention any side effects from the right side, just that the pulses are lower strength hz and given continually whereas the left side is higher hz and given in short bursts of 6-7 pulses... they basically said both sides will treat the depression but just take different routes. I have a feeling the left side is quicker in seeing improvement in symptoms but I haven’t been told that in so many words
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1 ReactionThank you for the welcome:)
Hello- I am a mentor for Connect in lung cancer and health groups. My first post, about three or four years ago on Connect was seeking help for depression and PTSD. I am very interested in and looking to having TMS therapy. I've read some of your posts and know that it doesn't work for everyone. Has anyone here had TMS for PTSD and depression and found it helpful? Any information will be muchly appreciated. Thank you
Merry
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1 ReactionI don't think I would qualify as having PTSD, even though I am still working through a few small remnants of a trauma that happened over 30 years ago. I also developed depression secondary to autoimmune hypothyroidism after my second child was born. He is now thirty three. Thyroid replacement hormone made no difference in my depression. I struggled for years trying several different meds with varying rates of success, but never feeling fully like myself. I finished 36 TMS treatments about three months ago. I was skeptical. I had ups and downs during treatment. By the 24th to the 28th treatment I felt a massive difference in my clarity of thought, fatigue, and overall general aches and pains. As they decreased the number of treatments I didn't feel as good, but still much better than when I started. I am going to do another round. The Dr that mapped my brain and set the parameters for my treatment told me maintenence is a very real thing that has been and is being researched and they know it works. But most people can't afford to do it and they haven't convinced the insurance companies yet. I can't remember the percentages about people that respond but I will look it up and get back to you. It's encouraging.
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