North Idaho TMS & Brain Center FAQs
Check out some of the most common questions about transcranial magnetic stimulation and brain health below
NeurStar is a non-invasive FDA-cleared therapy that uses short magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain that controls mood.1,12,15 These pulses can have a lasting effect on the brain’s neurotransmitter levels, helping people suffering from depression and OCD achieve response and in some cases, long-term remission from depression symptoms.5,8,12,15
TMS therapy is a non-drug and non-invasive treatment for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder delivered in a medical clinic. You recline comfortably in a NeuroStar chair (much like a spa chair) during treatment.
During a treatment sessions, precisely targeted magnetic pulses stimulate the mood-regulating areas in the brain.12,15 There is no anesthesia or sedation. You are fully awake and alert during treatment, and you can resume normal activities immediately after a treatment session.
An FDA-cleared depression treatment, TMS therapy is safe and easy to tolerate. Because it’s non-drug and non-invasive, it’s free of systemic side effects. TMS does not have any negative effects on cognition or sleep. The most common side effect associated with NeuroStar TMS therapy is mild to moderate pain or discomfort at the treatment site that typically subsides within the first week of treatment.
During the treatment session, you will feel a tapping sensation on your head. Some TMS patients experience mild to moderate pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site during the first week of treatment. This is usually temporary and subsides in subsequent treatments.
TMS is different from medications and talk therapy. Medications aren’t as customizable— they may not work for genetic reasons and could cause moderate to severe side effects.
Symptoms of depression can also interfere with the comfort and effectiveness of talk therapy.
TMS targets the area of the brain that is believed to regulate mood to treat depression at its neurological source.
Every patient is different, but we see patients start to notice a change during the 3rd week of treatment.
NeuroStar has been systematically evaluated for its effects on memory. These clinical trials demonstrated that NeuroStar does not result in any adverse effects on memory or concentration.9
Yes! TMS therapy for depression is covered by most insurance plans including TriWest, VA, and Tricare, usually after medication options have proven ineffective in your major depression treatment.
If North Idaho TMS & Brain Center does not accept your insurance, we will let you know what out-of-network coverage you have with your insurance.
We have partnered with Advance Care Card to provide financing options for patients whose treatment is not covered by insurance, as well as managing co-pays, deductibles, and full cash-pay.
