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Wednesday, April 30, 2008 mn6902 asks

Q: What is the status of FDA approval for repetetive transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression?

rTMS is approved in most developed countries in the world, but not the US. It has shown to be more effective than VNS, which has been FDA-approved. It is also more effective than antidepressnat meds, and almost as effective as ECT, without the side effects, and is much more affordable than ECT. Why are we hearing so little about this very promising, inexpensive, and safe treatment? It is approved in the European Union, Australia, Israel, Canada, Costa Rica, Japan, and other countries. It is available in Toronto and Vancouver Canada at the Mind Care Centres.

Manufactureres of rTMS equipment do not have the hugh amounts of money as the pharmaceutical companies do to promote their therapy, and recent findings have shown that many antidepressant meds are no better than placebo. rTMS is known via new studies to be significantly more effective than placebo and less expensive than most non-generic meds without the undersireable side effects (inhibition sexual performance, libido, dry mouth, drowziness, weigh gain, memory, and promises without performance that leads to false hope in depression sufferers.

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3/15/09 12:08pm

It's still in clinical trials. For more information about where things stand, see Deep Brain Stimulation Approved for OCD, Depression Next?

 

Teri

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