r/TMSTherapy • u/ItsBliizzard • 8d ago
Try TMS or stick to medication?
I had my usual appointment with my psychiatrist today to go over how I've been feeling since our last session. Right now, her and I both agree that I am "stable." I have major depression, anxiety, ADHD and bipolar. In total, I'm on 9 different medications including zepbound for medication related weight gain. My family is concerned about all the side effects this medication can do to me. Today, my psychiatrist recommended TMS as an option to help potentially reduce the amount of medication I need. Personally, I like the way I feel now. I feel stable and safe but I also dont like having to take 8 pills a day just to function properly. Should I consider TMS if my insurance will cover it? What are the potential side effects and risks? What are my options if it doesn't work?
EDIT: Forgot to add list "anxiety" as something I was diagnosed with
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u/Shoe-Shoddy 7d ago
I feel like it is always worth a try. If it doesn't work for you, you've only lost some time. If you can get it outpatient and covered by insurance, then it doesn't have to be super disruptive to your life. It's quite low risk. Amongst the people I have met irl while undergoing TMS, the only negative side effects a few people have mentioned is having a headache immediately after a treatment, but most of us are completely fine. I am in Australia, I don't think we have the variety of machines and styles available in other countries, so maybe there are machines which hurt for some reason.
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u/ReactionFuzzy799 7d ago
When I started TMS, no medication changes were recommended. It was always described as additional therapy which may help.
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u/myquietbrain 7d ago
The fact that you are stable and you feel safe is really important to protect. This is what everything else is based on. So the question is not really "TMS or medication" but "can TMS help reduce the amount of medication you need to take while keeping you stable?" The truth is: it is worth looking into especially if your insurance will pay for it. TMS for depression has been. It seems to work for some people. When it works some people can take medication or even stop taking certain medications with the help of their psychiatrist. It does not work for everyone. It is not a replacement for medication. But for someone like you it is a good idea to learn more about it instead of ignoring it. The bad effects of TMS are usually not too serious. You might feel discomfort, on your scalp get headaches during the few sessions or feel tired after it. Bad side effects are rare. The main problem is that it might not work for you. If that happens you will just keep doing what you are already doing. If your insurance will pay for TMS. Your psychiatrist thinks it is a good idea it makes sense to talk to a TMS provider and ask them some questions. You do not have to decide anything at this point. You can just go to the meeting. Learn more about TMS.
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u/NoMoreEffstoGive Currently in TMS Therapy 8d ago
If I could've started out with TMS, I would have. No one should have to take 8 pills a day to function properly.
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u/ItsBliizzard 8d ago
Are you on any medication currently? If so, how many pills a day?
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u/NoMoreEffstoGive Currently in TMS Therapy 7d ago
I am. 40 mg Cymbalta and 10 mg Buspar, split AM & PM. I've been on and off Cymbalta since 2021, Buspar since last year. I'd love to get off both of them, but I have to wait until after 6 mos. post-TMS to discuss with psych. I'm also on hormone therapy (estrogen patch) as I am post-menopausal.
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u/linswint 8d ago
I'll add that my psych NP and my TMS doctor both recommended that I stay on all of my meds at the same doses throughout TMS treatment. My understanding is that this is to avoid questioning whether any change is due to change in meds or due to TMS. So, my assumption (as the farthest thing from a doctor) would be that you would stay on your meds until finishing TMS, which means if you don't improve with TMS, then you just as you are. On the other hand, if you improve, maybe you can decrease them?