TMS Therapy

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy offers hope to patients with mental health problems when medication and talk therapies aren’t helping. Haresh Tharwani, MD, DFAPA, and the team at MD Psychiatry & Emotional Health, PLLC, have offices in Durham and Cary, North Carolina, where they provide safe, drug-free, non-invasive TMS therapy for treatment-resistant depression and other psychiatric disorders. To benefit from TMS therapy, call MD Psychiatry & Emotional Health, PLLC, today or book an in-person or telehealth appointment online.

*Please note MD Psychiatry & Emotional Health, PLLC is currently not accepting any patients with United Health Care or Medicaid (This includes those who are under Alliance Healthcare as well) for TMS therapy.

What is TMS therapy?

TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) therapy is an alternative treatment that helps people whose depression doesn’t improve using traditional methods.

Depression causes long-term mood changes that make you feel sad and hopeless most or all of the time. These problems arise when brain activity in the areas that regulate mood slows down.

The connections between parts of your brain (the neural pathways) stop working. That happens because levels of neurotransmitters, the chemicals that allow neurons (nerve cells) to communicate with one another, fall.

TMS therapy uses pulses of magnetic energy that trigger brain cell activity. Neurons fire, releasing neurotransmitters and restoring brain activity. That results in an improved mood.

Is TMS therapy right for me?

The MD Psychiatry & Emotional Health, PLLC, team determines if TMS therapy is a suitable treatment for you after reviewing your condition. They typically recommend TMS therapy after you’ve undergone psychotherapy and been on antidepressant medication, but your depression hasn’t improved.

For many people, a combination of the right antidepressant and talk therapies offers an effective treatment for depression. However, this approach doesn’t work for everyone. In addition, some patients suffer side effects from antidepressants that are too harmful or unpleasant to tolerate.

If you’re in this situation, TMS therapy could be an effective solution. TMS therapy can also help some patients with other mental health disorders, including:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Substance abuse disorders and addiction
• Postpartum depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

In addition, TMS therapy can treat physical problems like chronic pain conditions.

What does TMS therapy involve?

TMS therapy sessions at MD Psychiatry & Emotional Health, PLLC, take about 15-20 minutes. For optimal benefits from your treatment, you need to undergo TMS therapy five days a week for four to six weeks.

TMS therapy is painless, entirely non-invasive, and doesn’t involve the use of any drugs. You sit in a comfy treatment chair, and your provider performs a series of tests. They check the best position for the magnetic coils and determine the level of energy required to stimulate your brain cells. 

Your provider adjusts the TMS coil and places it on your head to cover the front region of your brain. When the device starts working, you may hear clicking sounds and feel a tapping sensation as the magnetic pulses fire. After TMS therapy, you can return to everyday activities without needing any downtime. 

How effective is TMS therapy?

Most patients experience a 75% improvement or more* in their depression following TMS therapy. Around half of patients report complete remission from their depression.

To learn more about TMS therapy and see if you could benefit from this safe, innovative treatment, call MD Psychiatry & Emotional Health, PLLC, today or book an in-person or telehealth appointment online.

*Individual results may vary