Potential Side Effects

The most common side effect of rTMS is headache during and immediately following the treatment session. These are mild and generally diminish over the course of the treatment.  Over the counter medication, such as Ibuprofen (Advil) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol), can be used to treat the headaches. rTMS does not trigger or worsen migraine headaches.

Some patients may experience discomfort at the treatment site or facial twitches with rTMS pulses. These also tend to diminish over the course of the treatment, but adjustments can be made immediately in coil positioning and stimulation settings to reduce discomfort.

Onset of fatigue a few hours after the treatment has been reported by a number of people.

Patients may experience insomnia during the course of treatment. This side effect is associated with a positive therapeutic response but may require treatment with a medication to promote sleep.

The rTMS machine produces a loud clicking noise and earplugs must be worn during the treatment. This is done to prevent hearing problems and for patient comfort.

The most serious risk of rTMS is seizure. The risk of seizure is very low about 0.1 % per acute care course. At Riverview Medical Services Inc., we follow current comprehensive safety guidelines that have been designed to minimize the risk of seizures.

To further decrease the risk and impact of side effects of rTMS, the professional nursing staff at Riverview Medical Services Inc. assess and monitor all patients prior to and throughout each treatment session.