With the variety of mental health treatments available, we understand that selecting the best mental health treatment can be challenging. Our priority is to help patients like you make an informed decision about their mental health treatment.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy can be a life-changing treatment for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. At Infinity Life Wellness Center, we offer one of the most popular TMS therapies, NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy. Here, we compare Miami NeuroStar TMS therapy vs other treatments, including more well-known treatment options like medication, ECT, and psychotherapy. While this article can be a helpful starting point, it is only meant for informational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.
For most patients diagnosed with depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or anxiety, medication is the first-line recommended treatment. Medication is very safe when used as intended for most patients because it is heavily studied in clinical research trials before entering the market and is tested extensively for safety.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) are commonly prescribed for depression. These medications work by enhancing serotonin levels in the brain, which helps the patient regulate their mood and alleviate symptoms of persistent sadness and loss of interest. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) often responds well to SSRIs as well, as well as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like venlafaxine (Effexor).
Anxiety disorders can benefit from both SSRIs and SNRIs, with benzodiazepines like lorazepam (Ativan) occasionally prescribed for short-term relief of acute symptoms. Each of these medications aims to rebalance neurotransmitter levels, which helps regulate the areas of the brain involved in mood, emotion, and behavior.
However, medications are not always the best treatment option for patients. They can cause unpleasant side effects, such as dry mouth, weight fluctuations, hallucinations, GI concerns, difficulty urinating, sexual dysfunction, and suicidal ideation. Many patients have switched medications without good results or found their medications did not alleviate symptomatic treatment. Neurostar TMS therapy does not have any of these side effects, and the results last for months without daily maintenance after treatment is complete.
Therapy (psychotherapy) can be an effective way to manage a wide range of mental health challenges, including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety.
Unlike medication, psychotherapy focuses on improving coping mechanisms and interpersonal skills rather than altering biological factors. It is instrumental in supporting patients in building healthy relationships, excelling in their careers, and maintaining their preferred lifestyles. Importantly, psychotherapy is accessible to many patient groups who are not eligible for other treatments, including children and pregnant women.
While psychotherapy offers significant benefits to many patients, it also has drawbacks. The cost of therapy can be prohibitive, and not all insurance plans include therapy. Additionally, the effectiveness of therapy varies widely and is not guaranteed. Unlike TMS therapy, which targets underlying causes of depression, psychotherapy primarily focuses on managing symptoms.
ECT, short for electroconvulsive therapy, is a medical procedure where controlled seizures are induced in patients using an electrical current.
During an ECT session, electrical currents are passed through the brain, activating brain cells and improving their activity, function, and ability to communicate with each other. This helps ease the symptoms of poor mental health.
ECT can treat a spectrum of mental health disorders beyond major depressive disorder (MDD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including bipolar disorder, mania, schizophrenia, and other severe psychiatric conditions. It is typically recommended when medications fail or in cases of severe functional impairment (like catatonia). ECT is administered under anesthesia to ensure a painless experience, often in conjunction with pharmaceutical treatments.
One of the most concerning risks of ECT is its potential to induce temporary memory loss, which may make it unsuitable for some patients. Additionally, patients who are unable to tolerate anesthesia may find ECT challenging. Due to the nature of the treatment, patients require careful monitoring for an hour afterward to mitigate any serious adverse effects. Treatment schedules for this treatment vs. TMS therapy in Miami can be demanding if you have a busy lifestyle.
TMS is a physical treatment that alleviates symptoms associated with diminished brain function. Unlike ECT, TMS does not induce seizures. It gently stimulates the brain using electromagnetic waves, a safe and well-researched technology also used in MRI treatment.
At Infinity Life Wellness Center, we offer NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy, the #1 physician-recommended TMS treatment. It can be a good treatment option for adults and qualifying adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and major depressive disorder with anxious depression.
NeuroStar TMS therapy in Miami is a highly safe option vs. other treatments. It is FDA-approved, non-surgical, and low-risk. NeuroStar treatment involves daily 20-minute sessions over a brief six-week period at our clinic with no recovery or downtime necessary. This convenient treatment format ensures minimal disruption to daily routines. Patients can resume normal activities immediately following each session.
No adverse effects were reported in millions of NeuroStar tests. Any side effects were mild, subsided after the first few treatments, and were easily managed using over-the-counter medication. NeuroStar can also be very affordable, as major American insurance companies offer coverage for NeuroStar, and additional financial assistance options are available for eligible patients.
If you believe NeuroStar could benefit you, consult with our clinicians at Infinity Life Wellness Center for a comprehensive evaluation to determine if NeuroStar is the right choice for your treatment needs.
We understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate your mental health treatment journey. You don’t have to make your treatment decision on your own. One of the many qualified medical specialists at Infinity Life Wellness Center can help you discover a treatment plan optimized for your whole being.
When you want to know more about Miami NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy vs. other treatments, we can help. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is indicated for the treatment of depressive episodes and for decreasing anxiety symptoms for those who may exhibit comorbid anxiety symptoms in adult patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and who failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from previous antidepressant medication treatment in the current episode.
The NeuroStar Advanced Therapy System is intended to be used as an adjunct for the treatment of adult patients suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is indicated as an adjunct for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adolescent patients (15-21).
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is only available by prescription. A doctor can help decide if NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is right for you. Patients’ results may vary.
The most common side effect is pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site. These events are transient; they occur during the TMS treatment course and do not occur for most patients after the first week of treatment. There is a rare risk of seizure associated with the use of TMS therapy (<0.1% per patient).
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy should not be used with patients who have non-removable conductive metal in or near the head. NeuroStar Advanced Therapy has not been studied in patients who have not received prior antidepressant treatment.
