If you are living with depression or another mental health condition, it is likely you have already tried one or more treatments. Sometimes those things help—other times, they are just not enough. If you are still not feeling better, it is completely normal to start asking what other options might be available. It is perfectly reasonable to want a treatment that is not only effective, but also safe and backed by research.
That is why many people are starting to ask, “Is TMS therapy FDA cleared?” The short answer is yes. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has gone through years of clinical trials, research, and real-world use. It is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for several specific mental health conditions. If you are looking for a treatment that is not a medication and not invasive, TMS treatments may be worth exploring.
TMS was first cleared by the FDA in 2008. It was approved for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) who had not improved after trying at least one antidepressant. That first clearance led to a new kind of brain stimulation treatment—one that does not involve surgery, medication, or anesthesia.
Since 2008, the FDA has cleared TMS for more conditions. TMS devices have become more advanced, treatment sessions are shorter, and outcomes are better understood. What has not changed is that TMS remains non-invasive and well tolerated by most people. You stay awake during your sessions, you can drive yourself home afterward, and you can usually return to your day without downtime.
The FDA has currently cleared TMS therapy for a few specific conditions, including some that are often difficult to treat. The most common is MDD. If you have tried at least one antidepressant and are still not feeling better, this is often when TMS is recommended.
TMS is also cleared to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). For OCD, the treatment targets a slightly different part of the brain, but the process works in much the same way. If your OCD symptoms have not responded to therapy or medication, TMS may be an option to consider.
Another condition TMS is approved to treat is smoking addiction. This might surprise some people, but certain parts of the brain involved in cravings and habit formation also respond to magnetic stimulation.
Other conditions—such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain—are still being studied. The FDA has not yet approved TMS for those conditions, but that does not mean the treatment is unsafe. It simply means the research is still in progress, and the FDA has not granted final clearance.
When you have tried treatment after treatment and still do not feel like yourself, it is easy to feel frustrated. You want something different—something that does not rely on medication or make you feel worse. If you are still wondering, “Is TMS therapy FDA cleared?” you can be confident that TMS is not an experimental treatment—it is a proven option, backed by research, and designed to help people just like you.
If you are thinking about TMS therapy, we would love to talk with you. Our team can explain what the treatment involves, whether you may be a good fit, and what to expect from your first session. You do not have to keep guessing or wondering. Give our office a call today and let us help you explore whether TMS might be the right next step for you on your mental health journey.