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TMS vs. Antidepressants
Exploring different treatment options for depression is often an essential step in finding the right treatment for you. Antidepressants and TMS therapy are two treatments you're likely to come across in your search, but which should you try first? Are they effective? How long do both treatments last? This guide will answer these questions and more to help you determine which treatment option may be the best fit for you.
TMS vs. Antidepressants
TMS therapy and antidepressants are both effective treatments for depression. However, one of the benefits of TMS therapy is that it can provide relief for people who either haven't had much success with antidepressants or cannot tolerate them. To compare TMS therapy and antidepressants effectively, it's necessary to examine the particulars of both. Knowing how they work, their side effects and success rates can help inform your treatment choices.
How They Work
TMS Therapy:
TMS therapy uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas in the brain responsible for regulating mood and emotion. The stimulation of nerves in these brain regions can improve the brain's ability to regulate mood.
Antidepressants:
Chemical messengers called neurotransmitters allow the brain to receive signals from the nervous system. Antidepressants generally work by increasing the levels of specific neurotransmitters that affect mood and emotion. Different types of antidepressants achieve this result by interacting with certain neurotransmitters.
Success Rates
TMS Therapy:
Data shows that about two-thirds of people who haven’t benefitted from antidepressants see good results from TMS therapy. Some even go into full remission and don't experience depressive episodes or symptoms again. Others may need maintenance sessions down the line if their symptoms resurface. TMS therapy remains effective after initial treatments, so maintenance sessions are usually helpful.
Antidepressants:
Antidepressants provide symptom relief for about two out of three people who use them to treat depression. However, they often involve some trial and error. Sometimes, people need to try two or three antidepressants before finding an effective one. And one-third of people do not find relief from antidepressants.
Side Effects
TMS Therapy
One of the benefits of TMS therapy is that it has minimal side effects. About 42% of people experience mild to moderate headaches and/or discomfort during or after the treatment session, but for most people, these side effects subside and eventually cease as they become acclimated to the treatment. An extremely rare side effect of TMS therapy is seizures, which happen in fewer than one out of every 60,000 TMS sessions.
Antidepressants
More than half of all individuals who take antidepressants experience side effects. The particular side effects a person experiences are somewhat dependent on the type of antidepressant they are taking. Common side effects of SSRI and SNRI antidepressant medication are nausea, diarrhea, headaches, sleep problems, and sexual problems. Tricyclic antidepressants are more likely to cause side effects such as blurred vision, constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, trembling, and difficulty urinating. Rare side effects of antidepressants include heart problems and liver damage.
For the most part, side effects are less common after the first few weeks of using antidepressants. However, for some people the side effects are intolerable, which can lead to them discontinuing their treatment.
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A recent study compared the effects of TMS therapy and Antidepressants. TMS therapy provided more relief from patients depressive symptoms compared to Antidepressants.
You may feel isolated and alone when you have clinical depression, and depression also affects your relationships with family and friends. While the primary focus of your treatment is to improve your mental health, it’s also essential to understand your loved ones may experience their own issues as they try to support you. An understanding of how depression affects relationships can help everyone maintain healthy connections and navigate problems. Here are some of the ways depression may affect the people in your support network.
We’ve all heard the common health-related misconceptions or myths-- chocolate causes acne, carrots will improve your night vision, and cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis. Subscribing to these particular myths is relatively harmless, but other health-related misconceptions can have far more serious consequences. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. Because untreated depression can have a serious physical and psychological impact, it’s imperative to have the right information in order to make the best decisions for yourself and for your health. Here are 5 common misconceptions about depression, and the facts behind them:
Starting any medical treatment for the first time can leave you with questions, especially if you’re looking forward to the benefits it may bring. It’s no different when you’re preparing for your nasal esketamine treatment. Your previous mental health treatments may have consisted solely of taking antidepressants at home or visiting a therapist’s office for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so nasal esketamine is probably a new treatment experience for you. If you're wondering what it's like to start nasal esketamine and get ready for your first session, keep reading. Getting Started with the Nasal Esketamine Treatment As with any new treatment, you’ll first talk to your primary care provider or psychiatrist about whether nasal esketamine is a good fit for you. Alternatively, you can schedule your esketamine nasal spray consultation with a treatment center (such as Greenbrook) that has certification by the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). At Greenbrook's REMS-certified nasal esketamine treatment centers, our Greenbrook-affiliated psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will review your medical history and also conduct our own assessment to help determine whether nasal esketamine treatment is right for you. Certain conditions, including blood vessel disease and a history of psychosis, may make treatment a risk for you. Make sure you discuss all previous and present conditions with your doctor or nasal esketamine provider before beginning treatment. If the medication is deemed a good fit, you’ll receive your prescription from the Greenbrook-affiliated provider. Your Greenbrook Care Team will put together a personalized care plan for the weeks and months to follow. Keep in mind that you will need to take a standard (oral) antidepressant along with your nasal esketamine treatment. There are two important regulations to note when it comes to preparing for treatment: Each treatment is followed by a mandatory two-hour observation period. This means you will need to plan to stay at the center for at least two hours following your self-administration of the esketamine nasal spray. You cannot drive during the rest of the day after treatment and must arrange for transportation. These regulations are mandatory. It may be helpful to sit down and plan out several weeks’ worth of transportation once you know your treatment schedule. In addition, if you’re wondering what to bring for the treatment, we recommend entertainment such as an audiobook or playlist of favorite songs and a pair of headphones. You may want them during the two-hour observation period. What to Expect During Nasal Esketamine Treatment On the day of treatment, you’ll need to stop eating any food two hours before your appointment and stop drinking all fluids 30 minutes before you come in. Your Greenbrook Care Team will confirm that you are prepared for the two-hour observation period and that you have a ride home. You’ll get the opportunity to practice using a “trainer sprayer” that mimics the real nasal esketamine sprayer but does not release any medication. The Care Team will encourage you to use the restroom and set up your preferred environment in your private treatment bay or room. Some patients like reduced lighting, for example, while others don’t request light adjustments. You’ll complete a depression scale before each treatment session. Your Greenbrook provider will confirm that the dose kit is yours, show you how to administer it, and then hand it to you. Each sprayer contained 28mg of Spravato esketamine nasal spray. Patients usually start with two sprayers (56mg) and soon increase to 84mg (three sprayers) per treatment. But, your dosage maybe vary. Should you be left with a metallic taste by the spray, the Care Team will offer suckers to help make the flavor dissipate. After your dose, you’ll be encouraged to lie back in your comfortable recliner. While most patients enjoy a quiet setting, Greenbrook is prepared to accommodate patients with a more animated reaction to the medication. You may feel sleepy, dizzy, mildly dissociated, and/or nauseated during treatment. Greenbrook's Care Team is readily available if you need assistance. How to Prepare for after your Nasal Esketamine Treatment Most side effects begin to wane in the second hour of observation, but if you’re wondering, “Is it safe to drive immediately after nasal esketamine treatment?” the answer is a resounding no. In addition to the mandatory ride home, you will need to block off time to rest and let side effects fully dissipate. This extended rest period is especially important in the first weeks of treatment when you’ll have treatment twice a week. Do not drive or operate machinery of any kind until the day after treatment. Just take it easy, relax, and take care of yourself. If you’re unsure what activities you can do or should avoid during this time, talk to your Care Team for more information. While side effects tend to dissipate completely after a good night’s sleep, many nasal esketamine patients begin feeling relief from depression symptoms within hours of their treatment. Other Tips in Preparing for Your Nasal Esketamine Treatment At Greenbrook, we make every effort to schedule your treatment in the afternoons or whenever it is most convenient for you. We encourage you to see each treatment session as an opportunity to relax and take care of your mental health. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your doctor or the Greenbrook Care Team. At Greenbrook, we’ll help you feel at ease when preparing for each treatment session. Schedule A Free Consultation To get started with nasal esketamine, schedule your free consultation today.
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