What is TMS Therapy?

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (often called TMS or rTMS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation treatment. It uses magnetic pulses, similar to those used in MRI machines, to gently stimulate specific areas of the brain involved in mood regulation, usually the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.

How it works

You sit in a chair while a small magnetic coil is placed against your scalp. The machine sends repeated magnetic pulses through the skull into targeted brain areas. This is not electroconvulsive therapy (ECT); there is no seizure induction and no general anesthesia.

Over time, this repeated stimulation is thought to help “reset” patterns of brain activity associated with depression and other conditions. Many people describe the sensation as tapping or clicking on the side of the head.

What conditions TMS is used for

TMS is FDA-approved for:

Some clinics also use TMS “off-label” for conditions such as:

“Off-label” means there is some research and clinical experience, but it is not formally FDA-approved for that specific diagnosis.

What a typical course looks like

A common TMS protocol for depression might look like this:

Because it is done frequently, people often schedule TMS around work, school, or childcare.

Side effects and safety

Common side effects:

Less common but serious risks:

Before starting TMS, a provider will typically review your medical history, current medications, and any seizure history to decide whether it is appropriate.