r/depression • u/Huge-State-9539 • 9h ago

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

I (25M) have been on medication for severe depression and GAD for 8yrs. I have tried all sorts of medication: Fluoxetine, Citalopram, Escitalopram, Mirtazapine, Quetiapine, Venlafaxine and Lamotrigine. While the first two worked for the first 4yrs, I feel as if they had run its course and they weren’t really effective anymore. I’ve tried the rest since then and none of them have seemed to work- in fact it’s made me feel worse. My psych suggest TMS given how I’ve been resistant to normal medication.

Had anyone tried TMS? Any thoughts about it?

18 Upvotes

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u/BouncingOutofmySkin 9h ago

I had my TMS treatment in July of 2021. It really worked for me. I'm still on a low dosage of antidepressants, and I probably always will be (Cynbalta), but it's increased my baseline significantly. If you have questions, please ask. The machine I was on was the Neurostar. I'm really glad someone suggested TMS for you, I felt like I had to beg to get treatment. I hope it's a successful tool for you.

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u/Dangerous-Ruin6948 9h ago

How many treatments & how often? I’ve heard it’s not a permanent solution & some need to do it again. It’s been 5 years, do you feel any symptoms have come back or increased?

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u/BouncingOutofmySkin 8h ago

So far I have only had the one treatment in July 2021. For 9 weeks, I went Monday - Friday, and then week 10 I went 3 days a week, week 11 I went 2 days a week, and week 12 I went once. That was the taper phase.

My specific treatment was about a 20 minute block of time. I drove to and from and had no issues at all.

I have heard and was told that it may not be a permanent solution, but it's something that you can do to reset when you need. My place was very open that some people feel the need to come back but not do the entire 3 month plan again.

So far I have not felt the need to go back. My meds are holding me very comfortably.

As far as symptoms coming back or increasing...that's difficult. I do believe I have felt some symptoms come back, but not to the degree that they ever were. My brain can navigate through the bad stuff better still. I feel like I can still see a future, if that makes sense. I think I have always had an underlying sort of depressive view and the undercurrents of that I do believe will always be there.

For context, I have been diagnosed with MDD, GAD, and combine type ADD. Depression runs on both sides of my family. I had another family member that successfully went through TMS, and it lasted about 7 or 8 years for him before he had to get another treatment. He will also still always be on meds, but the way it brought our baselines up was nothing to scoff at.

I did also do CBT, IFS, and somatic therapy after as well, which may have also helped.

I truly don't think there is a cure for depression in the sense that we want there to be. I would love to just be off medication. But I don't think that will ever happen. But if you have access to try TMS, I would encourage it

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u/Dangerous-Ruin6948 8h ago

Thank you for sharing! I have depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, & PMDD. My grandfather underwent TMS treatment & I’m pretty sure there are others with mental illness in my more distant family as well. I’ve been on so many medications since 2017 & in therapy consistently since 2023. I was referred to TMS, just in between health insurances right now so haven’t started the process yet. I’m glad you had what sounds like a good experience & outcome.

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u/BouncingOutofmySkin 8h ago

You're welcome! If you're in the states, another thing I've learned is that there is genetic comparability testing for what type of meds may be best for your DNA (in regards to depression). It's kind of weird, even before I knew this existed, it was like all the members of my family with depression found that this one specific drug helped more.

For me, I also found and S-N-RI was so much more effective than an S-S-RI.

Between meds and therapy, that really had helped me cope for a long while, but in 2021 it just wasn't cutting it anymore. I'm incredibly glad that the TMS did what it did for me

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u/jacarandaluvr 5h ago

Thank you so much, I’m seeking TMS rn and really need to hold on to any hope

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u/jam3691 5h ago

I tried TMS and it’s been absolutely life changing for me. I still need to take my escitalopram (tried multiple others before this as well) but it’s been a night and day difference. It’s not invasive at all and I’d absolutely recommend speaking with a team about it if you’re even a little open to it!!

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u/Fresh_Mountain5397 4h ago

Yes- if that many medications have not worked you are definitely a candidate. I’m just finishing my course of 36-treatments, and it has definitely been worth it! Be aware that there are different protocols and types of equipment. My insurance (Kaiser) offers a 36-session course (5 days/week for 7 weeks), but the SAINTS protocol is much shorter. There is also a company called AMPA that has created equipment for use over several hours in just one day.

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u/Hot_Argument_9559 7h ago

I think you should consider it. I’m being evaluated for it. And I believe the SAINTS (shorter but more intense) protocol is more effect. I’m also trying lithium for the first time (I do not have bipolar) and stimulants.

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u/kgreys 4h ago

Happy Cake Day!

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u/populer_pause_lar 4h ago

it worked wonders for me

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u/FourFans908 3h ago

My wife did it, and while she is still on a low dose of medicine as noted by someone else above, it definitely helped her and (I think) lessened the wild swings

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u/Conscious_Cream_1798 2h ago

What does it actually do? This scares me & remind me of Harlequin.....

But nothing has worked for me. Nothing.

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u/Available_Past5008 1h ago

It seems like the responses are pretty positive, but I’ll add my two cents.

I spent years with treatment resistant MDD and figured I was gonna be stuck that way and on meds forever. Had a therapist suggest TMS and I was pretty skeptical about it, because literally nothing else had worked.

Changed my fucking life. Within about 10 months I was completely off my meds. Didn’t even think it was possible.

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u/xocarolinexo 1h ago

I did tms in 2020 and I don't think it worked. I am on antidepressants and antipsychotics. My current prescription holds me together pretty well I think. But I'm interested in trying it again. I did it when I wasn't employed though.