TMS FAQs: What Are the Side Effects of TMS?

When considering any kind of mental health treatment, you'll want to ensure that you have as much information as possible to inform your decision. If you're interested in trying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), you may be wondering, what are the side effects of TMS?

One of the major advantages of TMS is that it's non-systemic, meaning that any side effects of TMS for depression tend to only impact the treatment site—not the rest of your body. Any potential reactions should only occur within the few hours following your treatment, and they tend to dissipate quickly. TMS is often better tolerated than other depression treatments, such as antidepressants, due to this low side effect profile. Read on to understand what the possible side effects are and how common each one is.

Most Common Side Effects of TMS

Headaches are the most common side effect you might face during TMS treatment—up to 50 percent of people may experience them. However, they are typically mild and decrease over your treatment cycle. Your doctor may adjust the level of stimulation you receive or recommend an over-the-counter pain medication before your session, if necessary.

Some tingling or discomfort on your scalp or face is another common—but mild—side effect seen during TMS treatment. Approximately one-third of people trying TMS report feeling this sensation. The stimulation from TMS can also make the muscles around your eyebrow or other parts of your face twitch during stimulation. This might feel odd, but people get used to it quickly. The good news is that if you experience this during treatment, your technician can usually adjust the coil positions and stimulation settings to ease the discomfort.

Less Common Side Effects

There are a few less common side effects to be aware of. One is lightheadedness or dizziness. There are a few less common side effect to be aware of. One is a feeling of lightheadedness or dizziness during treatment. This is temporary, and usually mild. Normally, this improves with simple measures, such as a brief break during treatment..

People undergoing TMS therapy occasionally experience mild nausea. This is typically brief, and seldom requires anti-nausea medicine.

Seizures are the most serious—but also most rare—side effect. For those without risk factors, studies found that TMS caused fewer than 1 seizure per 60,000 sessions. Several risk factors to be aware of are sleep deprivation, family history of seizures, alcohol use, previous neurological conditions, or medications known to lower the seizure threshold. Also of note, a recent Clinical Neurophysiology study showed that the chances of seizure decreased over the course of treatment.

All in all, many people won't experience any reactions, and those who do typically experience mild reactions that resolve quickly. Any treatment comes with potential side effects, but when compared with other available options, the side effects of TMS for depression are very few.

Compared to those associated with antidepressants, the side effects of TMS are minimal. Antidepressants can be difficult on your body, and sometimes on your mind, with a range of side effects throughout many different systems. Common antidepressant side effects include weight gain, sexual issues, fatigue, nausea, and insomnia, all of which may impact your mood further. Antidepressants may also negatively affect your emotional well-being directly, potentially causing agitation and anxiety. These antidepressant side effects may linger, while most TMS side effects are short-lived.



To learn more about whether TMS might be right for you, schedule a no-cost consultation today.