Frequently Asked
Questions

If you have trialled at least 2 antidepressants, TMS is among the most effective depression treatments you can try.^1,2 The research shows that 2 in 3 people will have a response (>50% reduction in symptoms) and 1 in 3 people will go into remission (no longer clinically depressed.)²

TMS has a very good side effect profile with the most common side effects being fatigue and a headache which usually go away after the first few sessions

Yes. Most patients remain on medication throughout treatment and it is a prerequisite to start that you do not alter your medication within 2 weeks of starting or during treatment

It varies from patient to patient, but up to 30 sessions over 6-8 weeks

Sessions usually go for around half an hour

Yes, you will have an initial Telehealth assessment to establish if TMS will be a suitable treatment for you and regular reviews during your course of treatment

With ECT, you go under general anaesthetic in hospital and electricity is passed through your brain to cause a seizure. It is generally recommended for fast treatment of severe depression. ECT has side effects including memory loss. TMS is an outpatient procedure recommended before trialling ECT. TMS uses a magnet to stimulate the parts of your brain associated with positive mood. You are awake during the procedure, no drugs are administered, it is a walk-in-walk-out procedure. TMS has a benign side effect profile, the most common being a mild headache or fatigue that usually goes away after the first couple of sessions

For eligible people, TMS is covered under Medicare, Workcover, TAC & DVA