Magnetic Therapy Gaining Popularity as a Depression Treatment

Pregnant women put themselves and their unborn children at risk when they take an antidepressant like Zoloft to treat depression. There have been many studies performed that suggest Zoloft and other antidepressants in the class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can cause severe birth defects in children born to mothers who took them. Some women who took the drug during their pregnancies are filing lawsuits against Pfizer, the manufacturer of the drug, because of the alleged birth defects caused by Zoloft.

One alternative depression treatment that has been gaining popularity is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), or magnetic therapy. Many patients who have been unresponsive to antidepressants are exploring this alternative, and some are seeing improvement of their depression symptoms.

TMS Received FDA Approval in 2009

For some patients, their depression is so severe that they can be unresponsive to one or more medications. When this happens, many look for alternative therapies that might offer some degree of relief. One of those treatments has been TMS, since it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2009. At present there are approximately 300 locations across the country where patients can receive TMS therapy in the hope of alleviating their depression.

During TMS therapy, the patient reclines in a comfortable chair while a magnetic coil, placed next to the left side of the head, sends short pulses of magnetic fields to the surface of the brain. The currents produced stimulate brain cells and affect the mood-regulatory circuits deep within the brain. The changes that occur seem to be beneficial to patients who suffer from severe depression.

Each treatment lasts 35-40 minutes and does not require any anesthesia or sedation. Patients will typically undergo three treatments per week for a period of four to six weeks. They are able to resume normal activities at the conclusion of each treatment.

Two-Thirds of One Doctor’s Patients Report Significant Improvement

Dr. Murali Rao of Loyola University Medical Center offers TMS therapy to his patients and has reported that two-thirds of them report “significant improvement” of their depression symptoms after receiving treatment. In particular, Nan Miller, a patient who had no success after taking nine different antidepressants, reported that after a few weeks of TMS therapy, “[she] could almost hear the chains breaking, the darkness lifting and the heaviness dissolving.” Others reported depression that was “significantly lessened” or “gone away completely.”

Depression Sufferers Should Speak to Their Physicians

While there are many alternatives to antidepressants like Zoloft, individuals suffering from depression should speak to their physicians or mental health professions to determine whether a treatment like TMS therapy would be an effective alternative for treating their symptoms. Pregnant women especially, need to weigh the risks and benefits to themselves and their unborn children when considering taking a medication like Zoloft.

Protect Your Rights as a Consumer

The lawyers at the Rottenstein Law Group have over 25 years of collective experience advocating for clients in consumer product injury cases. If you took Zoloft during your pregnancy and your child was born with Zoloft birth defects, then you might be able to seek compensation in a Zoloft lawsuit. Fill out our contact form or call us at 1-877-471-8940 and one of our Zoloft lawyers will be in touch.