Side effects of TMS

drnelson22,
Is the TMS for severe depression or migraines or something else? It sounds like it is for depression. I skipped the TMS and went with the hard core ECT, 3x a week for 11 weeks. By the 3rd treatment they said I was not convulsing strong enough for the treatment to work...so I was given a 100% caffeine IV drip prior to each session. Then the severe panic attacks just prior to and following each session. My hubby was allowed in the pre/post operative room, they were able to give me a very low dose of Ativan. That and my hubby being at my side, helped me complete the 11 weeks. But I said no way to getting the "booster " treatments, 1x month. It did NOTHING AT ALL, well, except finally convince me, my hubby and my doctor that my CONSTANT MDD, will probably never respond to anything. I had already been on every medication, nasal Ketamine, IV Ketamine (I had to pay for all the Ketamine, expensive $$$$$$$, and again, complete failure.
My opinion, based on what you said, I would not expect much to improve with ongoing treatments. Just my opinion. I am assuming that if you are getting TMS treatments, that medications have not helped. Treatment resistant depression is 🥵💩🤪👿🤯🤬
Good wishes with your treatment. ShelleyW

Dear @drnelson22
What treatment doesn’t help you? What part? Any meds, to?
Thx to @shelleyw of what you said for this. And moving to another way like zero meds of using ECT.

I’m so sorry - for you and me and everyone else inside our brain-problems. And I hope, you get a better way of what you need. For me, I’m limited than “normal” folks, like you. But, I enjoy MAYO doing better with members, like @shelleyw and other that helps people like you, me, and others of these members.

Thx,
Greg D. @greg1956

PS: It’s not easy to read TMS until to understand “Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation”… and thankfully, MAJO adds the end of those words - somewhat…

PSS: Is this a deep-brain-therapy for part of feeling the “experienced neuorosurgerons” (sp?)? Helping our brains by using a magnetic. If so, that’s WOW or it doesn’t work as well? I wish this thang would help my brain-injury.

Welcome @drnelson22, I'm tagging fellow members who have experience with TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) like @phxlife @clutch @mmorley @johnbluffside @sayny13. They may be able to share more about side effects that they experienced.

As we wait for more people to weigh in, you might also be interested in these related discussions:
- TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) treatments really work
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tms-transcranial-magnetic-stimulation-treatments-really-work/
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy: What's your experience?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tms/
@drnelson22, that must be discouraging that you have gained some side effects, like fatigue and nausea, and you are not yet experiencing any benefit after 4 weeks out of 6 weeks of daily treatments. What has your medical team said about the side effects?

gregd1956,
Thanx for the kind comments on my post. It is very very difficult to understand how the geniuses in the world can make artificial organs, but can't manage to make any real progress with depression and the whole brain. I recently read about brain issues, dated 1904‼️ OMG how can brain and depression been known well enough to write medical papers 100+ years ago and have made such little progress since then?
🫂🫂give your brain a hug, it and you deserve it ShelleyW

Hey, my heart goes out to anyone who has ever experienced depression and someone who has never had it does not have a clue what it's like.
I had TMS treatments 2 yrs ago without any side effects, other than a mild headache that only lasted a short time immediately following a session. Within a week after my final treatment of TMS I noticed a significant improvement in how I felt and the quality of my life. I'm extremely thankful this technology was available during my lifetime. There is a history of depression in my family and I had dealt with clinical depression 3 times in my 72 yrs., for years at a time, taking a variety of anti-depressants that simply had not made a difference during that 3rd episode. So my therapist recommended TMS, which I had not heard of previously, and I can truly say they saved my life.
Don't ever give up hope.

mmorely,
I am so happy for you that TMS worked so well. I would try just about anything, actually I think I have, to lighten up my chronic MDD... I don't get any breaks from the deep end of my dark hole, anymore. ShelleyW

I understand your frustration. Have you tried BR-NAD+ IV therapy? NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in all living cells and plays a crucial role in energy production, DNA repair, and cellular metabolism. NAD IV therapy involves administering high doses of NAD directly into the bloodstream to replenish levels of this essential molecule in the body.
My husband suffered 3 years with depression and anxitey, it worked for him.
Connie V

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.