If you struggle with depression and don't get much relief with medication or if medication causes unpleasant side effects for you, you may want to discuss TMS therapy, or transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy, with your doctor. TMS therapy can be done along with or in place of medication, according to what your doctor suggests. Here's how this therapy is done and what you can expect with the results.

What TMS Therapy Is Like

Transcranial magnetic stimulation shouldn't be confused with ECT or shock treatments. TMS is a much more gentle treatment that is more like having an MRI of your head than receiving shocks that cause convulsions. You'll need an order from your doctor, and then you'll need to work with a hospital or clinic that has a transcranial stimulation machine to schedule the outpatient treatments. The therapy usually consists of daily treatments over a period of a few weeks, and the treatments don't take long to undergo. The length of the treatment depends on the type of machine that's used and the type of treatment you receive.

You rest comfortably in a recliner for the treatment and wear earplugs to block out the noises coming from the machine. A device is aimed at your head in a specific spot to treat your condition. For depression, the magnetic impulses are directed at the area of the brain that controls mood. Once the treatment is finished, you can drive and go to work with no interruption to your usual routine.

What To Expect With Results

You may not notice an immediate improvement in your mood from your treatment sessions, and not everyone has an improvement in depression after this type of therapy. If it works for you, you may experience mood elevation that lasts for several months. When your depression lifts, it's the perfect time to work with your therapist to develop coping skills to ward off future bouts of depression and make changes to your lifestyle that you may have been too depressed to do previously. For instance, your therapist may recommend things like improving your diet and getting regular exercise.

Side effects from this depression treatment are usually mild, although there is the rare risk of seizures. You might have scalp discomfort or a headache after your treatments that is easy to deal with. Your doctor considers your medical history carefully before proceeding with TMS therapy. A history of seizures, implants in your brain, or having a pacemaker could make you unsuitable for transcranial magnetic treatments. However, if you're a good match, the therapy could be worth exploring if you're looking for a way to manage your depression.

For more information, ask a doctor about TMS therapy.