TMS THERAPY
FDA-cleared, non-medication depression treatment
Theodora Blanchfield
Medically reviewed on 11/13/2020 by
Dr. Steven Harvey
St. Louis Regional Medical Director
Depression on its own can make juggling your everyday work and family responsibilities a challenge. Putting in the effort to then try different medications and therapies can be exhausting—especially if they don't work. If you've struggled to find an effective treatment, you might have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). And although it may feel like you are the only one dealing with this, it is far more common than you might think. In fact, about one in three patients don't find an effective antidepressant. Going through a period of trial and error in treatment can be frustrating, but keep in mind that there are options available. If antidepressants haven't worked for you, nonmedication treatments for drug-resistant depression can be very effective. If you're beginning to think you may have TRD, here are some next steps you can take.
If you think you might have TRD, the first step on the path to feeling better is to talk with your doctor. It can be dangerous to change or stop a medication without guidance, so always consult with a doctor if you're considering doing so. What will happen when you contact your doctor? They will review all your symptoms with you as they work to find a solution. They may rule out any physical conditions that could be causing your symptoms, such as thyroid issues, and they may suggest lifestyle changes, such as alterations in diet and exercise. If you're not already seeing a therapist, they may recommend talk therapy. Studies have shown that the combination of medical depression treatments and talk therapy is more effective than either alone. Your doctor will also look at the medication you're currently taking, and they may adjust the dosage or switch you from one class of medicine to another. They will want to be sure you've given several medications a try before attempting different types of treatments. This is because some types of treatments, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, are generally covered by insurance only after you haven't responded well to two or more medications. Don't be afraid to have an honest conversation with your doctor about your symptoms, side effects, and the future of your treatment plan. Ultimately, it may be a matter of finding the right drug or dosage. Everyone reacts differently to different medications. However, if medication adjustments don't work, you may be better served by looking into one of the non-drug treatments for drug-resistant depression.
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Medication used to be one of the only options available for depression, but thanks to advancing research, more possibilities than ever are available. Some non-drug treatments for drug-resistant depression include electroconvulsive therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, and TMS. Of these non-medication treatments, TMS is non-invasive. It works by targeting the parts of the brain responsible for depression with gentle magnetic pulses. The treatments are short, lasting approximately 20 minutes. The sessions take place about five days a week for six to nine weeks, but many people report being grateful to take that time out of their busy day to sit and relax. After treatments, there's no downtime. You can go back to your day, including work and school. If you're ready to try a new treatment, TMS might be for you. Reach out to us to learn more about how TMS might be able to help—you don't need a doctor's referral.
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