# What Are The Potential Risks Of TMS Therapy?

- Link: https://www.alquimedez.com/what-are-the-potential-risks-of-tms-therapy
- Published: 2021-09-13T07:39:35+00:00
- Author: alquimedezhemo

Depression is a prevailing mental health condition in the world. Although anti-depressant
medications and talk therapy is always the first treatment for treating depression
symptoms, however, not every patient finds relieve with the traditional depression
treatments.

For such patients, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy is no less than
a blessing. It has only been a decade since FDA has approved the TMS therapy for
treating depression; thus no many depression people have access to this therapy,
and not every health provider that offers depression treatment in the Bronx provides
TMS therapy.

Although TMS is highly recommended to patients that do not react to other depression
treatments; however, due to many myths about TMS therapy, patients are afraid to
go through this treatment.

TMS is a non-invasive therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate and target 
the specific areas of the brain that are linked to depression, anxiety, PTSD, and
OCD. The magnetic pulses pass painlessly through the skull to the brain to produce
neuronal activity changes in the portions of the brain that control mood and depression
symptoms.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy does not require general anesthesia,
and patients are wide awake during the treatment. TMS treatment usually involves
3-4 sessions per week for two months or more, depending on the patient’s progress.

TMS is considered to be an entirely safe treatment that is well-tolerated by the
patients, and patients are even allowed to drive and return to their usual activities
after the treatment session, so there is no recovery time involved. This goes to
show that TMS treatment has minor to no risks that might cause trouble not only 
the day-to-day activities but also in the long run for the patient that goes through
TMS.

However, it should not be assumed that TMS is no side-effect or no risk therapy.
Most depression patients that go through the TMS therapy experience mild headaches
that subside with time and over-the-counter pain relief medications. Many patients
also experience scalp discomfort, lightheadedness, twitching, or tingling of facial
muscles; however, all of these symptoms subside with time.

It is also essential to keep in mind that TMS therapy has not been associated with
several other side-effects like sedation, dry mouth, weight gain, gastrointestinal
upset, or sexual dysfunction. Although these side-effects are rare, it is essential
to note that TMS therapy comes with some severe risks including seizures (people
with brain surgery or injury history are at higher risk), mania (for people that
have bipolar disorder), and hearing loss (due to insufficient ear protection).

Depression patients with any kind of non-removable metals (devices or objects) implanted
in or near their head, magnetic-sensitive or metallic facial tattoos, head injury,
or bullet fragments are not advised to opt TMS therapy without proper consultation
and comprehensive examination because TMS can move, malfunction or heat up the metallic
implants that can cause severe injury or even death.