TMS therapy in Sacramento
A non-drug treatment for depression, covered by most plans once two medications have failed.
The basics
What is TMS therapy?
Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain that regulates mood. It is typically used when antidepressant medication has not been effective, has stopped working, or is not tolerable.
During a TMS session, a light magnet similar in strength to the one used in an MRI machine stimulates targeted nerve cells. Over a course of treatment, these magnetic pulses can have a positive effect on the brain’s functioning, including neurotransmitter levels, making long-term remission possible.
It is important to be clear about what TMS is not. It is not ECT, there is no anesthesia and no seizure induced, and it does not circulate through your body the way a pill does. That is why it avoids the side effects people most often quit antidepressants over. In fact, most people can drive themselves back to work or school right after treatment.
A session
What a TMS session actually feels like
About 20 minutes in a chair, five days a week, for about six weeks. Most people bring headphones and treat it like a standing appointment.
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1
You sit down and get positioned
You recline in the treatment chair and a small curved magnetic coil is placed lightly against your head. No gown, no IV, no preparation. You keep your own clothes on and your phone in your hand.
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2
A clicking sound and a tapping feeling
The device delivers focused magnetic stimulation to the target area. You hear a clicking sound and feel a tapping sensation on your scalp. You are fully awake and can talk to the technician the whole time.
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3
You leave and get on with your day
There is no recovery period and no effect on alertness or memory, so you can drive yourself to and from sessions and go straight back to work.
Safety
Side effects, stated plainly
TMS is available by prescription only. A licensed provider decides whether it is appropriate for you.
The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. These effects are usually temporary and, for most patients, resolve after the first week. There is also a very rare risk of seizure associated with TMS therapy, less than 0.1% per patient.
What TMS does not do is just as important. Because TMS does not circulate through the bloodstream like an oral medication, it avoids many of the systemic side effects commonly associated with antidepressants, such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, nausea, dry mouth, and sedation. And unlike some psychiatric treatments, TMS has not been shown to impair memory or cognition.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions about TMS
If your question is not here, call (916) 800-4363 and a person will answer.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, often referred to as 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 antidepressant medications have not been effective, have ceased working, or as an alternative to medication.
A standard session lasts about 20 minutes, five days a week, for about six weeks. We also offer an accelerated protocol that compresses the course into roughly one week for patients whose schedules cannot accommodate daily visits for over a month.
A vast majority of commercial and Medicare plans have recognized the effectiveness of treating depression with TMS therapy and now cover TMS as part of their plans. We verify your specific benefits and handle the prior authorization before your first session.
TMS does not circulate in the blood throughout the body, so it does not have side effects like weight gain, sexual dysfunction, nausea, dry mouth, or sedation. The most common side effects reported during clinical trials were headache and scalp discomfort, generally mild to moderate, occurring less frequently after the first week of treatment.
No. TMS therapy involves a unique method of using pulsed magnetic fields for therapeutic benefit, at an intensity similar to an MRI. This differs radically from the popular use of low intensity, static magnetic fields. Those products deliver weak and undirected static fields that are not capable of activating brain cells, and that activation is a key part of why TMS is effective.
Modern Minds Health provides TMS therapy at 4440 Duckhorn Dr, Suite 420, Sacramento, CA 95834, in the Natomas area with free parking at the door. We treat patients from across the region including Roseville, Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and West Sacramento. Call (916) 800-4363 to book a free consultation.
See if TMS is
right for you
The consultation is free. A provider reviews what you have tried, confirms whether you meet criteria, and we verify your coverage before anything is scheduled.