Your cost for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy will depend on if you have health insurance and whether your insurance plan covers the treatment for your specific condition:

• TMS therapy costs $200 to $500 per session without insurance. A full course of treatment requires 30 to 36 sessions, for a total out-of-pocket cost of $6,000 to $15,000.
• The average cost of TMS therapy with insurance is $10 to $70 per session for the copay or $300 to $2,500 total.

Most health insurance covers TMS therapy for patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Copays range from $10 to $70 per session on average after meeting your deductible. However, coverage varies significantly depending on the plan, and most insurance companies have strict requirements for eligibility.

Many insurance companies require patients to have a history of treatment failure with at least two to four antidepressant medications before authorizing coverage for TMS therapy. Check your insurance plan to confirm your treatment will be covered.

Most insurance companies don't cover TMS therapy for conditions other than depression, like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, migraines, or Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD).

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive treatment that uses pulsed magnetic fields to influence electrical activity in specific areas of the brain, reducing the symptoms of major depression.

Though TMS therapy is most often used to treat depression, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved its use in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), migraines with aura, and short-term smoking cessation.

TMS uses a magnetic coil housed in a helmet you wear or attached to an extension arm positioned near your head. Your provider can adjust the arm to place the coil next to your head while you're seated comfortably in a specially designed chair.

During a TMS therapy session, the magnet delivers pulses that stimulate nerve cells in the areas of your brain associated with mood regulation. Because people with depression typically have decreased activity in these regions of the brain, activating the areas restores normal neural activity in the brain and reduces depression symptoms.

Each TMS session lasts 20 to 50 minutes. A typical course of TMS therapy involves a total of 30 to 36 sessions, with treatment administered five days a week for 5 to 6+ weeks. Some patients notice improvements as early as 1 to 2 weeks, though most patients first experience benefits after about 15 sessions.

According to Harvard Medical School, 50% to 60% of people experience a reduction in depression symptoms after a full course of TMS therapy. One-third of patients experience full relief from all symptoms of depresstion by the end of treatment. For many patients, TMS therapy eliminates the need for antidepressant medication or enables them to decrease their dosage.

Benefits of TMS therapy include:

• Improved mood
• Better sleep
• Reduced anxiety
• Increased motivation and energy
• Improved attention and memory

Most patients continue to feel better for 9 to 12+ months after TMS therapy, and some experience benefits for several years. Some people return to their TMS provider for periodic maintenance sessions or opt for a second course of treatment later to prevent a relapse of depression symptoms and extend the period of relief.

The benefits of TMS therapy last the longest for people who pair the treatment with lifestyle choices that lead to improvements in mood and physical health.

TMS therapy is safe, non-invasive, and well-tolerated. In general, TMS has fewer side effects than most antidepressant medications. The most common side effects, which are typically minor and fade shortly after a treatment session, include:

• Tingling or twitching in the scalp or face
• Discomfort in the scalp or neck
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Headache
• Ringing in the ears or sensitivity to sound

The most serious side effect of TMS is seizures, but these are extremely rare with a risk of less than 1 in 10,000.

However, some individuals should not try TMS therapy, including:

• People with epilepsy or other seizure disorders
• People with metal implants or magnetic-sensitive devices or objects in the head
• Pregnant or nursing women
• Anyone with an acute risk of suicide or ongoing substance abuse

No, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is not the same as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT involves applying direct electrical currents to the patient's head while the person is sedated, causing "therapeutic seizures" to stimulate the brain and reduce symptoms of depression and other mood disorders.

• Because ECT requires anesthesia and causes short-term cognitive side effects, the recovery time after each session is longer. In comparison, patients remain awake during a TMS therapy session and can drive themselves home or return to work immediately afterward.
• Unlike TMS, ECT can cause more intense side effects, including confusion, short-term memory loss, nausea, headaches, and muscle aches.