During TMS treatments you’ll hear the machine and you may feel mild sensations, some muscle twitching, or nothing at all. After treatment you may notice some temporary headache pain or scalp discomfort. The experience can be a bit odd, but it is broadly well tolerated and generally comfortable.

Motor Threshold Determination

The beginning of every course, or series, of TMS treatments starts with the motor threshold determination. This is where you’ll first see and feel the TMS machine in action.

This process calibrates your treatment to you by finding the lowest amount of energy required to stimulate your brain. The provider places a coil against your head and delivers a single pulse of electromagnetic energy. The single pulses are delivered to elicit involuntary twitches or movement of your hand and fingers.

Overall, patients often find this motor threshold determination process more surprising than anything.

Sensations During Treatment

Once treatment begins, the pulsing from the TMS machine is rhythmic, with groups of pulses separated by a few seconds of space. You may have small rhythmic sensations associated with the rhythmic pulses. Other times patients describe treatment as a light tapping or knocking sensation on their scalp – similar, perhaps, to a gentle woodpecker (due to the nature of the fast, repetitive pulses). Patients sometimes also describe feelings of mild pressure or pulling near the treatment site. Additionally some patients experience noticeable muscle twitching at or near the site of the treatment. Some people feel nothing.

You may notice:

A quick tapping sensation on your scalp
Small, involuntary movements
A strange, but brief pulse or pull feeling
Slight twitching in your eyebrow, eyelid, or jaw
A consistent clicking sound from the machine

Temporary discomfort (or not)

For most patients, treatment is not painful in any way. It begins as a strange and unfamiliar feeling and quickly becomes routine before the end of the treatment day. If treatment feels uncomfortable or painful at any time, your technician may adjust the intensity and positioning of the coil. Adjusting the coil slightly can reduce discomfort that is often caused by nearby facial nerves being stimulated.

Most people don’t expect the sound. The machine makes a repetitive clicking noise during treatment which can seem a bit loud for some. Earplugs are provided for anyone that is sound-sensitive or would otherwise like to use them. Most people get used to the sound quickly and find that it is not bothersome.

After treatment, you may experience scalp tenderness, a mild headache, or fatigue. These feelings typically fade quickly. And if you’re bothered by any of these side effects, a single dose of Tylenol or Advil is generally sufficient to address them.

TMS is well tolerated

TMS is an advanced non-invasive treatment. It doesn’t require fasting, or sedation, or invasive IV sticks or other invasive techniques, and you can drive after TMS treatments and resume your regular activities immediately after treatment. TMS is convenient, especially with an accelerated series. TMS is effective for many people, even for with those with long-standing stubborn and treatment-resistant depression and other conditions. And, TMS is generally comfortable, with side effects that are typically mild and transient.

About Us

Wells Medicine is a Houston-based practice designed to provide meaningful care for mental health. Providing targeted interventional treatments for Depression, Anxiety, OCD, PTSD and other conditions, with Ketamine Treatments, Stellate Ganglion Blocks, TMS, and Nitrous-Oxide Treatments. Focused on comprehensive care and integration with Psychiatry, Psychology, and Support Services. We are evidence-based, patient-focused and mission-driven.

The content here is for informational purposes and should not be relied upon for medical decisions. For the details of your specific medical conditions and treatments consult your doctors or other qualified healthcare professionals.

What does TMS feel like?

Motor Threshold Determination

Sensations During Treatment

Temporary discomfort (or not)

TMS is well tolerated

About Us

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