FAQs
Questions About NeuroStar
Approximately 21 million adults in the United States experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year, while 53% of those patients with major depression also have significant anxiety.23 While antidepressant medications work for many people, it is estimated that 6.2 million people in America have tried antidepressants without success.7,11
An estimated 2.5 million Americans have experienced Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in the past year.24 Exposure and response prevention therapy is typically considered the gold standard treatment for OCD along with adjunctive medication. However, approximately half of OCD patients don’t respond to this treatment.25
NeuroStar® Advanced Therapy for Mental Health is a safe, proven depression treatment that can provide lasting remission from depression symptoms, decreased anxiety symptoms and provides additional therapy for those suffering from OCD.5,8,9,20,22
What is NeuroStar Advanced Therapy for Mental Health?
NeuroStar is a non-invasive FDA-cleared therapy that uses short magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain that controls mood.1,12,15 These pulses can have a lasting effect on the brain’s neurotransmitter levels, helping people suffering from depression, anxiety symptoms in those with depression, and OCD achieve response and in some cases long-term remission from depression symptoms.5,8,12,15,20,22 Because NeuroStar is not a drug, it doesn’t cause the side effects that are often associated with antidepressants.9
How does NeuroStar work?
NeuroStar is a non-drug and non-invasive treatment for depression, anxiety symptoms associated with depression and OCD delivered in a doctor’s office. You recline comfortably in a NeuroStar chair (much like a dentist’s chair or spa chair) during treatment. During a treatment session, precisely targeted magnetic pulses stimulate the mood-regulating areas in the brain.12,15 There is no anesthesia or sedation. You are fully awake and alert during treatment, and you can resume normal activities immediately after a treatment session.
Is NeuroStar right for me?
If you suffer from depression, anxiety symptoms associated with depression, or OCD but have not benefitted from your current medications—or are not happy with their side effects—NeuroStar Advanced Therapy may be right for you. NeuroStar may also be a good choice if you have tried switching medications for depression but have still not found remission from your symptoms. See if NeuroStar may be right for you..
Could NeuroStar be right for a loved one?
NeuroStar treats depression and anxiety symptoms associated with depression without the common side effects of medication, offering potential relief and hope for durable remission from depression symptoms.5,8,9,22 Adult patients suffering from OCD may benefit from NeuroStar’s TMS therapy when combined with other types of treatment such as medication or behavioral therapy. More than 5.9 million NeuroStar treatments have been administered. If your loved one is unsatisfied with their current treatment, talk to a NeuroStar doctor to see if this transformative treatment is something to explore. Use our Doctor Locator to find a NeuroStar doctor near you.
Can NeuroStar help me achieve remission from depression symptoms, and how long can it last?
NeuroStar is a non-drug, non-invasive therapy that can help you achieve long-term relief from the symptoms of depression.5,8 Many people’s depression symptoms significantly improve or go away after 4 to 6 weeks of treatment. In clinical studies, NeuroStar has shown to provide acute treatment response and remission*** for over one year.5,8
Is NeuroStar safe and does it have any side effects?
An FDA-cleared depression treatment, NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is safe and easy to tolerate.9 Because it’s non-drug and non-invasive, it does not have the common systemic side effects of medication.1,9 NeuroStar does not have any effects on cognition or sleep.9 The most common side effect associated with NeuroStar is mild to moderate pain or discomfort that typically subsides within the first week of treatment.16,18
Click here for a full list of possible side effects associated with NeuroStar.
Does NeuroStar cause memory loss?
NeuroStar has been systematically evaluated for its effects on memory. These clinical trials demonstrated that NeuroStar does not result in any adverse effects on memory or concentration.9
Do NeuroStar treatments hurt?
During the session, you will feel a tapping sensation on your head. Each treatment session lasts around 19 minutes. Some NeuroStar patients experience mild to moderate pain or discomfort at or near the treatment site during the first week of treatment. This is usually temporary and subsides in subsequent treatments. Click here for a full list of possible side effects associated with NeuroStar.
Is NeuroStar the same as ECT (electroconvulsive therapy)?
NeuroStar is not ECT (or electroconvulsive ”shock” therapy). NeuroStar employs TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation), which uses magnetic waves similar in strength to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
NeuroStar TMS is precise and focused, targeting treatment at the source of the depression: your brain. With Neurostar TMS you are fully awake and alert during treatment and may resume daily activities immediately afterwards. ECT, on the other hand, applies direct electrical current through the skull and into the brain rather than magnetic waves. Because ECT uses direct electrical current, it must be done under anesthesia. For more details, ask your doctor about the difference between TMS and ECT.
Is NeuroStar covered by insurance?
NeuroStar TMS Therapy for depression is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and Tricare, usually after medication options have proven ineffective in your major depression treatment. Learn more about insurance coverage options and see if your insurance provider covers NeuroStar treatment.
Does NeuroStar provide financial assistance for patients?
Many NeuroStar practices offer financing options to help pay for treatment, and a large number of practices accept insurance that may cover all or part of the treatment cost. NeuroStar also partners with organizations including CareCredit and Advance Care to provide financing options for patients whose treatment is not covered by insurance, as well as managing co-pays, deductibles, and full cash-pay.
My NeuroStar doctor doesn’t accept my insurance. What are my options?
Some NeuroStar practices are cash-pay only, meaning that they do not accept insurance. Check with your insurance company to see if they will provide coverage for an out-of-network treatment. Other practices may accept your insurance or provide financing options. NeuroStar also partners with organizations including CareCredit and Advance Care to provide financing options for patients whose treatment is not covered by insurance, as well as managing co-pays, deductibles, and full cash-pay. You can use our Doctor Locator to see if there are other NeuroStar doctors in your area who may be able to help.
Where can I find a NeuroStar doctor?
Doctors specializing in NeuroStar Advanced Therapy are located across the country, with NeuroStar being successfully used at 900 practices nationwide. Use our Doctor Locator to find a NeuroStar doctor near you.
Is NeuroStar experimental?
NeuroStar is not experimental; it was cleared by the FDA in 2008 to help people fight depression and in 2022 for decreasing anxiety symptoms in adult patients suffering from major depressive disorder and as an adjunct therapy for adults with OCD. Today, NeuroStar is the top TMS choice of doctors, and over 5.9 million treatments have been delivered.
Rethink the Way You Treat Your Depression
Have you already tried antidepressant medications? Are you concerned about their side effects? Are you interested in a non-drug, non-invasive treatment?
If this sounds like you, let’s see if NeuroStar is right for you.
Find a NeuroStar Doctor Near You
NeuroStar is a breakthrough depression treatment for patients who aren’t satisfied with the results they’ve had with antidepressants. If someone you care for fits this profile, and you’re interested in learning more, use our Doctor Locator to get in touch with a doctor near you who specializes in NeuroStar Advanced Therapy.
FIND A DOCTOR