TMS: Side Effects

Unlike antidepressants, where the list of side effects can go on for several pages, with TMS there is actually little to say. The only side effect from TMS is a mild, localized tingling sensation caused by direct stimulation of sensory neurons in the scalp. Most people adapt to this quickly and it's not unusual for patients to fall asleep during a treatment.


The only contraindication is the presence of a ferromagnetic foreign object, such as an aneurysm clip, somewhere in the head. Pacemakers and defibrillators are not a problem since they lie outside the magnetic field. TMS can be safely used in pregnant women. And it has also been used in children, where it's been used mostly for treatment medication resistant epilepsy.