The main differences between TMS Therapy and antidepressant medications include:

• Antidepressants are systemic, meaning that the medicine enters the body and blood stream.
• TMS is non-systemic and drug-free.
• Like many drugs, antidepressants have numerous side effects such as insomnia, blurred vision, dry mouth, fatigue, weight gain, nausea, GI distress, diarrhea, sedation, lack of emotion, and sexual dysfunction.

• Some TMS patients have experienced a headache or scalp sensitivity at the treatment site. These symptoms usually subside within the first week of treatment.

• TMS is usually prescribed when antidepressants fail, or the side effects are intolerable.

KETA: For depression, keta is administered at low doses. The most commonly reported side effects are elevated heartbeat, nausea, slight muscle tremors, and hallucinations. They don't usually last longer than 4 hours after treatment.

Keta also has some interactions with certain psychiatric medications, so you may not be able to continue taking current medications if you start keta therapy.

TMS: The most common side-effect of TMS is discomfort from the paddle vibrating against your scalp. Modifications can be made to reduce that discomfort and it usually subsides after the first week. Because TMS is non-systemic, there are no drug interactions, so it’s safe to continue your current antidepressants or other medications during treatment.

TMS

1. TMS uses short pulses of a magnetic field (similar to an MRI) to stimulate nerve cells in the brain.

2. Typically 30-36 sessions, five days a week, over a six-week period.
3. Considered a first-level of treatment, a Psychiatrist prescribes TMS when previous attempts at treating depression with medications have produced unsatisfactory results.

4. Treatments are non-invasive and don't require anesthesia or sedation. You can drive yourself to and from appointments which take place in a doctor's office or clinic.

5. Treatment costs $400-$700 per session or $7,600-$21,000. Because every insurance is different, TMS Solutions runs a Benefits Investigation for each patient.

6. Currently, all insurers cover treatment, including Medicare and TriWest-VA.

7. Scalp irritation and headaches can possibly occur for the first week. Very rarely, seizures have been reported.

8. Over 73% of patients have symptoms reduced by more than 60% reduction in symptoms; over 49% of patients receive complete remission.

9. Patients may need occasional maintenance treatments and may be able to reduce or discontinue medication upon their Physician's approval.

10. A long-term study showed that one year after TMS Therapy, 69% of patients showed an improvement in symptoms and 45% of patients reported complete remission.

ECT

1. ECT, formerly known as shock therapy, uses an electrical current to create a therapeutic seizure, which causes a dramatic reset of the brain.

2. Typically 10 sessions, two-three times a day, over a four-week period. The first three sessions require hospitalization.

3. A psychiatrist prescribes ECT when previous attempts at treating depression have produced unsatisfactory results, the depression is serious, a patient is possibly suicidal, or nothing else works.

4. Treatments require anesthesia and muscle relaxants, and a patient is hospitalized for the first three treatments. Transportation to and from each session has to be arranged , as patients require 2-3 hours to recover.

5. Treatment costs $2,500 per session or $25,000, plus one week of hospital care, which is not included. (Answers.com estimates $50,000 for one week in the hospital). 

6. Most insurers cover the treatment.

7. Headaches, muscle aches, cognition issues, short-term memory issues, possible long-term memory loss, and in some cases, possible improvement in memory.

8. The initial efficacy is 50% to 80%. 

9. Patients may need maintenance treatments and antidepressant drug therapy is usually continued. 

10. About 64-84% of patients who initially responded to treatment relapsed within six months.