Drug-free Depression Treatment That Works For You

TMS is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy, a non-drug treatment for major depression. TMS uses focused magnetic pulses, similar to an MRI, to reignite dormant synapses in the brain and help your brain function the way it was meant to.

It is not a drug, “shock” therapy, or surgery. It is a safe, effective treatment for MDD without the common side effects of medication.

TMS is effective in treating both adolescents and adults who have faced challenges in managing their depression symptoms. NeuroStar TMS is the only FDA-approved, non-pharmacological first-line treatment for adolescents experiencing depression. 

If you suffer from depression, anxiety symptoms associated with depression, or OCD but have not benefitted from your current medications—or are not happy with their side effects—NeuroStar TMS may be right for you. NeuroStar may also be a good choice if you have tried switching medications for depression but have still not found remission from your symptoms.

An FDA-cleared depression treatment, NeuroStar TMS is safe and easy to tolerate. Because it’s non-drug and non-invasive, it does not have the common systemic side effects of medication. NeuroStar TMS does not have any effects on cognition or sleep. The most common side effect associated with NeuroStar TMS is mild to moderate pain or discomfort that typically subsides within the first week of treatment.

In a study of "real-world" outcomes (meaning actual NeuroStar patients), 83% of people who completed the full NeuroStar treatment cycle experienced a measurable decrease in the severity of their depression, and 62% of those completing treatment saw full remission-meaning their depression effectively "went away."

While there may be some minor discomfort at the treatment site (where the device touches your head), it generally subsides within the first week of treatment. There is no sedation, or impact on your alertness. You can read, watch TV, or talk with your treatment coordinator during your session, and you can drive home and resume daily activities immediately after treatment. 

Many NeuroStar TMS patients start to see improvement within 2 to 3 weeks of treatment. That can include changes in mood, fewer days of depression, and increased desire to engage with other people more often. In fact, your friends and family may notice your results before you do!

Completing the full NeuroStar treatment course gives the best chance for delivering long-lasting relief from depression. As with any therapy, completion is key. Completing the full 6-week course of NeuroStar treatment gives the best chance for delivering long lasting relief from depression. 

NeuroStar TMS is not experimental; it was cleared by the FDA in 2008 to help people fight depression and in 2022 for decreasing anxiety symptoms in adult patients suffering from major depressive disorder and as an adjunct therapy for adults with OCD. Today, NeuroStar is the top TMS choice of doctors, and over 6.6 million treatments have been delivered.

Before Treatment: You’ll recline comfortably in the treatment chair. A curved magnetic coil will be positioned on your head. 

During Treatment: You’ll hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation on your head as the NeuroStar coil focuses treatment precisely at the source of the depression: the brain. The patented Contact Sensing technology ensures the prescribed dose is delivered, every treatment, every pulse. 

After Treatment: With NeuroStar TMS you are fully awake and alert during treatment and may drive home and resume daily activities immediately afterwards. Depending on your doctor’s recommendation, a typical NeuroStar treatment plan includes 36 sessions that each last between 19-37 minutes. Completing the full NeuroStar treatment course gives the best chance for delivering long-lasting relief from depression.

 Our NeuroStar TMS service is cash-pay only (debit, credit, cash).