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NeuroStar TMS Therapy® is indicated for the treatment of Major Depressive
Disorder in adult patients who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from
one prior antidepressant medication at or above the minimal effective dose and duration
in the current episode.
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NeuroStar TMS Therapy® is available to patients by prescription only an is delivered under the
supervision of a psychiatrist.
Procedure
A NeuroStar TMS Therapy® treatment session is a short outpatient procedure that
lasts about 37 minutes. During treatment, you can relax in the treatment chair. You can also
speak with the system operator whenever necessary. After the procedure, you can immediately
return to your normal routine, including driving.
Your first treatment session
Because your psychiatrist needs to determine how to most effectively administer TMS treatment,
your first session could last up to an hour and a half. You will be provided and asked to wear
protective earplugs, as the system emits a tapping sound during operation.
Your psychiatrist will first perform a test to identify your motor threshold. The motor
threshold is the amount of magnetic field strength that results in a movement of
your right thumb. This test is important because it identifies the magnetic field strength that
will be used in your treatment. This field strength is customized for each patient to deliver
the correct treatment dose.
After this initial procedure, the doctor will determine the place on the head where the TMS
treatment will be applied and the treatment coil will be moved to that location. This will
allow you to receive optimal treatment.
The physician will then administer TMS Therapy® over a 37-minute period. In 30-second intervals,
the device will deliver rapid “pulses” of the magnetic field. This will feel like tapping on
your scalp. Some patients may find this tapping uncomfortable. Your physician may
be able to make adjustments to reduce this discomfort.
After the procedure
Immediately following each treatment session, you may return to your normal daily routine,
including driving. During or after treatment you may experience headache or discomfort at the site
of stimulation. These are common side effects which often lessen as further treatment sessions
are administered. If necessary, you can treat this discomfort with an over-the-counter analgesic. If
these side effects persist, your doctor can temporarily reduce the strength of the magnetic field being
administered in order to make treatment more comfortable.
In clinical trials, most patients who benefited from NeuroStar TMS Therapy experienced results
by the fourth week of treatment. Some patients may experience results in less time, while
others may take longer. You should discuss your depression symptoms with your physician throughout
the treatment course. If symptoms persist or worsen, you should discuss this with your doctor and to
consider other antidepressant treatment options.
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Read our Patient Instruction Sheet
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Download the NeuroStar TMS Therapy Patient Instruction Sheet.
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Download here
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Read our
Patient Manual
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Download our Depression Patient's Manual to learn more about what to expect with NeuroStar TMS Therapy.
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Download here
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Watch the Video
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View our NeuroStar
TMS Therapy Patient Education Video.
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See the video
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