TMS Therapy
TMS Therapy in Los Angeles, CA
There is more to mental health treatment than medication. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy is a non-invasive, non-drug, and FDA-cleared treatment with zero downtime that is safe and effective for a range of conditions affecting mental health and cognition. TMS therapy could be your next step.
What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy?
A different way to treat depression, anxiety, OCD, and more.
There are specific areas of the brain involved in mood regulation, and stimulating these areas can improve the brain’s ability to regulate mood.
Antidepressants have worked to treat depression for many people since the 1980s, but they don’t work for everyone. TMS therapy isn’t an antidepressant medication. Instead, it works faster and with fewer side effects by using gentle magnetic pulses.
Safe, effective and comfortable.
TMS is both non-invasive and non-systemic. It has fewer side effects than other treatments, and in some cases, there are no side effects at all.
Unlike other forms of brain stimulation, TMS therapy does not require sedation. Patients can drive themselves to and from treatments and get back to their day right away, including work or school.
Non-Invasive
TMS is non-invasive and well-tolerated.
FDA-Cleared
Our devices are safe and cleared by the FDA.
Drug-Free
TMS is a drug-free approach that uses magnetic pulses to retrain the brain.
Why Patients Choose TMS Therapy:
Some people with depression and other mental health conditions are able to achieve symptom remission with medication. However, it may take up to 10 weeks after starting an antidepressant to notice improvement, and even then, symptom improvement only occurs in about one third of patients.
Other patients prefer not to use medications. Because TMS is non-invasive, non-systemic and has fewer side effects than medications, many people including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding choose TMS over other treatment options.
Research shows 1 in 10 Americans utilize some form of antidepressant medication. However, antidepressant medications are not effective and tolerable for everyone. Side effects of antidepressants may include:
- Nausea
- Weight gain
- Constipation
- Sexual dysfunction
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
What Experts Say About TMS:
Extensive research and highly-effective treatment outcomes have greatly contributed to several notable publications about TMS:
- Mayo Clinic. “Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. TMS is typically used when other depression treatments haven’t been effective.” Read More.
- WebMD “TMS, in particular, is not only effective, but also very safe and well-tolerated by patients.” Read More.
- Journal of Clinical Psychology “Multiple randomized controlled trials and published literature have supported the safety and efficacy of rTMS antidepressant therapy.” Read More.
- Harvard Medical School “These (TMS therapies) are very effective options for a large percentage of people.”
- Ted Talk For over 25 years, magnets have been used to stimulate the brain to investigate how nerve cells are connected in the brain. Watch Sandro Krieg explain the potential of brain stimulation. Watch Now.
- Dr. Oz Dr. Oz investigates Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a groundbreaking therapy for depression that’s both noninvasive and FDA-approved. Could this work for you? Watch Part 1. Watch Part 2.
- American Psychological Association. “A treatment for adults with major depression who have failed to respond to at least one antidepressant.” Read More.
Contact us today to learn more about TMS or to schedule a consultation. Get started today.
It’s Not Only for Depression
TMS therapy is indicated for multiple conditions, and more research is published every day.
Depression
When treating patients with depression, TMS pulses are directed towards specific areas of the brain which have been associated with depressive symptoms. TMS has been shown to change the neuron activity in the prefrontal cortex. In patients with depression, the prefrontal cortex is commonly dormant. With TMS, magnetic pulses activate this area of the brain. Approximately 70% of Neuro Wellness Spa TMS therapy patients experience symptom remission.
Anxiety
Even though it was originally used to treat depression, TMS has been investigated and shown to be effective in treating anxiety. Anxiety negatively impacts certain regions of the brain in which it causes abnormal levels of activity. The magnetic pulses used in TMS target these overactive areas to reduce the symptoms of anxiety.
Peak Performance
Peak performance treatment uses express TMS to improve mood, increase concentration and boost cognitive performance. Peak performance treatment is ideal for those with mild depression, mild anxiety, or those who are not interested trying in psychotropic medications.
Addiction Relapse Prevention
In 2018, researchers demonstrated TMS significantly reduced the brain’s reactivity to drug cues in chronic alcohol users as well as chronic cocaine users (Kearney-Ramos 2018). In this study, addicts viewed drug cues, like liquor bottles, and their reactions to the cues were studied using fMRI. Both alcohol users and cocaine users showed significantly reduced drug reactivity following TMS treatment.
Bipolar Disorder
There is no cure for bipolar disorder, but its symptoms are treatable with TMS therapy. TMS uses magnetic pulses to target brain structures affected by bipolar disorder. Specifically, TMS stimulates the prefrontal cortex of the brain to increase neuronal activity and stabilize mood. As a result, symptoms of bipolar disorder may become more controllable.
What to Expect with TMS Therapy
We like to think of TMS therapy like physical therapy for the brain. A typical treatment course of TMS involves 5 treatments per week for 6-9 weeks.
No Cost Consultation
First, our phenomenal Intake Manager who will review your history and explain aspects of TMS treatment as well as coordinate with your health insurance provider to determine benefits. Then, you will meet one-on-one with a psychiatrist for a no cost consultation to help you decide if TMS therapy if right for you.
First Appointment
Unlike medication, TMS is highly-personalized to your unique anatomy. During your first appointment, a psychiatrist will identify the correct magnet strength and coil position for you by finding your motor threshold.
This motor threshold test identifies the magnetic field strength that will be used during your treatment, which is customized to deliver the correct treatment dose. During your first appointment, you may read, watch television, listen to music or just relax in our comfortable and private treatment rooms.
TMS Treatment
Each TMS treatment session lasts about 20 minutes. During TMS treatment, patients recline and relax in a private treatment room and remain awake and alert while the TMS therapy device delivers magnetic pulses to the specific areas of the brain known to regulate mood. During treatment, patients can read, listen to music, watch TV or even meditate.
Patients report that the gentle pulses feel like taps on the scalp. Most of our patients say that the TMS sensation takes some getting used to, but isn’t painful. If at any time you require a break or feel pain, your TMS technician can pause your treatment to make sure you are comfortable.
Ongoing Care
Once you’ve finished TMS treatment with Neuro Wellness Spa, we stay in touch. Every three months, our care team will encourage you to check in with yourself and your mental health. If you need follow up care or even another round of TMS therapy, we’re here to help.
Questions? We’ve Got Answers.
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Why Choose TMS Therapy?
For many years, the initial response to mental health treatment has been psychiatric medications and therapy. Although these conventional treatments can be effective, they don’t work for everyone and medications can take weeks or months to exert their full effects. If you’re experiencing symptoms, unwanted side effects, or if you want to supplement your current treatments, you might consider TMS.
Unlike other treatments, TMS is non-invasive (does not require surgery) and non-systemic (does not affect the entire body). TMS is covered by most insurance and has fewer side effects than other treatments, or in some cases, no side effects at all. TMS therapy is an FDA-cleared treatment that can be used alone or in conjunction with medication. TMS uses using gentle magnetic pulses to treat specific areas of the brain known to be underactive in conditions affecting mental health and cognition. Unlike medications, which affect the entire body, TMS therapy treats mental health at the source.
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Effectiveness of TMS Therapy
TMS is a safe, highly effective and FDA-cleared treatment option for depression, OCD and cigarette cessation. Since 2009, over 70% of Neuro Wellness Spa patients have experienced symptom relief with TMS therapy. Although many mental health conditions are chronic, TMS helps patients achieve remission. Length of remission depends on many factors including:
- Diet
- Exercise
- Therapy
- Severity of illness
- Lifestyle
The goal of mental health treatment is to achieve full remission. Patients should not tolerate lingering symptoms or unwanted side effects. TMS is an effective treatment alternative to medication and therapy that helps patients feel all the way better.
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Side Effects of TMS Therapy
Transcranial magnetic stimulation has far fewer side effects than antidepressant medications. With more than 10,000 treatments performed in clinical trials, the most common side effect was temporary and mild scalp discomfort during active treatment. Unlike medications, which affect the entire body as they pass through the blood-brain barrier, TMS therapy treats the brain directly.
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Does TMS Only Work With Depression?
Since its FDA clearance in 2008 for depression and 2018 for OCD and cigarette cessation, TMS is also a promising treatment for a range of other conditions affecting mental health and cognition. Notably, TMS therapy is a safe and effective treatment for anxiety, cognitive decline and migraine.
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What to Expect During TMS Treatment
TMS is an outpatient procedure. Patients recline in a private treatment room and may relax, read, work, or watch television during treatment. A TMS magnet is positioned over the patient’s head to deliver gentle magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain. Each treatment sessions lasts about 20 minutes, after which patients can get back to their days right away, including work or school.
Unlike electroconvulsive therapy or ECT, TMS therapy is non-invasive and non-sedating. TMS does not involve electrode implantation or the use of anesthesia. TMS treatment sessions take place in our private centers. Patients can drive themselves to and from treatment. There is no downtime, so patients can go about daily activities immediately following treatment. TMS treatment does not cause seizures nor affect cognitive function, it has fewer side effects than other treatments, and in some cases, no side effects at all.
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What about insurance?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for depression is FDA-cleared and covered by most insurance including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Shield, Optum, MHN/Healthnet, Tricare, Cigna, Magellan and Beacon and more. Our phenomenal clinical team is always available to help prospective patients understand their coverage options. We know how important it is that those seeking help are able to get the treatment they need. Not to mention, at Neuro Wellness Spa, we handle all the paperwork.
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Don’t see your question here?
Let’s fix that. Give our expert clinical team a call or schedule a free consultation.
TMS Treatment Options:
Standard TMS
36 treatment sessions of TMS, typically conducted over 9 weeks
Express TMS
3-minute TMS using theta-burst technology
Six Day Accelerated TMS
36 treatment sessions of TMS conducted in six days
TMS plus Photobiomodulation
Combines TMS and low-level light therapy also known as photobiomudulation (PBM) therapy
TMS plus IV Ketamine
Combines TMS and IV ketamine
TMS plus IV Nutrition
Combines TMS and IV nutrition
For more information about the services we offer or whether TMS treatment is covered by your insurance provider, contact us today.
What Our Patients Are Saying
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Wish I Had Been Aware of This Years Ago
It’s been over 3 months since my treatments ended and the symptoms have not returned.
M.W. -
I Feel Like I Have Come Alive Again
TMS allowed me to get over the initial hump to make the life changes necessary to live with and manage my depression.
A.B. -
TMS Helped My Depression
After about ten treatments, people started asking me what changed and why I seemed so much happier.
C.B.
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