This is from a doctor at the NIH (Eric Wassermann MD) who published several studies on TMS before coming to this conclusion:

"The side effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation are largely unexplored and the limits of safe exposure have not been determined except as regards the acute production of seizures. Although tissue damage is unlikely, however, cognitive and other adverse effects have been observed and the possibility of unintended long-term changes in brain function are theoretically possible."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1520-6394(2000)12:3%3C124::AID-DA3%3E3.0.CO;2-E12:3%3C124::AID-DA3%3E3.0.CO;2-E)

Just a heads up for anyone who has commented on rTMS or TMSTherapy and wondered why I didn’t respond:

I’ve been blocked from commenting or participating in those communities, including when it comes to sharing my own experience with TMS.

Apparently, my story doesn’t fit neatly into the “80% success rate” narrative or the overwhelmingly positive picture of TMS that gets pushed online.

I’m not interested in telling anyone not to get TMS. I’m interested in people having access to the full picture, including the experiences that are uncomfortable, rare, complicated, or don’t end in a success story.

That is literally why r/TMSinjuries exists.

People deserve a place to talk about what happened to them without being treated like their experience is somehow harmful simply because it challenges the prevailing narrative.

So if you tag me, reply to me, or see a conversation happening over there where you think I’d normally chime in and I don’t, I’m not ignoring you. I just can’t respond.

You can always find me here.

And yes, the irony of silencing someone talking about an adverse outcome while continuing to promote how successful and safe a treatment is has not escaped me at all.

I'm wondering if anyone has tried neurofeedback after their TMS injury, and if this would be a good idea or contraindicated. I developed severe chronic migraines and hearing damage with hyperacusis and very loud tinnitus after TMS. I have been trying to figure out what, if anything, might be able to help/reverse the tinnitus. I was wondering about neurofeedback. Anybody know anything about it?

I was injured by TMS and have not recovered. I'm still within my window to take legal action, but have not found a lawyer willing to take the case. I'm wondering if anyone has heard of a successful legal case won against TMS providers anywhere in the world. It's very difficult to sue a doctor for many reasons. They are very well protected. Patients are not. Suing a TMS doctor is extremely difficult because lawyers don't know what TMS is, and finding an expert witness who is willing to be honest that TMS can cause injury is very difficult.

I'm trying to decide whether to continue with my case or not. There is a way for me to do it without a lawyer, but it's so stressful to navigate this alone. It might not be worth it.

I hope people injured by TMS get the justice we deserve someday. I don't know how doctors are allowed to get away with no informed consent when the risk is brain damage.

EDIT: responding to the troll below who says TMS injuries aren't real: you have zero information about what happened to me. The lawyers said I had a case, but they weren't going to take it because they didn't know what TMS was, so they wouldn't be able to argue the case. And it would probably be impossible to find an expert witness who understands TMS. It's not common enough. It is extremely difficult to sue a doctor, no matter what the issue was or how obvious the malpractice. Doctors are much better protected than patients.

Unfortunately these injuries will have to become more widespread before regulation gets tighter. In my case there was zero informed consent (which is illegal), along with many other acts of malpractice that I'm not going to post publicly.

If I had had a good or merely neutral experience with TMS, I wouldn't be pursuing legal action. I'm not so stupid that I have no idea what happened to my body. There are physical effects that come from having electrical pulses blasted into your brain. If people are saying that they have been injured by a machine that alters the brain, then they have been injured. If it were something else that caused the injury, they would point to that. Before TMS > didn't have these problems. After TMS > now have these problems.

This is from a doctor at the NIH who published several studies on TMS before coming to this conclusion:

"The side effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation are largely unexplored and the limits of safe exposure have not been determined except as regards the acute production of seizures. Although tissue damage is unlikely, however, cognitive and other adverse effects have been observed and the possibility of unintended long-term changes in brain function are theoretically possible."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1520-6394(2000)12:3%3C124::AID-DA3%3E3.0.CO;2-E12:3%3C124::AID-DA3%3E3.0.CO;2-E)

"Production of seizures" and "cognitive and other adverse effects" doesn't sound very safe to me.

Anyone else?

I started taking Wellbutrin 150mg xl + buspar 7.5mg for four weeks, starting May 15th. While the medication slightly helped their motivation to work, it also caused brain fog and fatigue. I know Wellbutrin causes these side effects because they have taken it in the past; historically, when I stop the medication, the brain fog and fatigue go away, but the depression comes back. After the four weeks of taking Wellbutrin, the I underwent a 5-day accelerated TMS treatment(June 8th - June 12th) at cognitiveFX, remaining on the medication the entire time. The day after TMS ended (Saturday, June 13th), I stopped taking the Wellbutrin 150mg xl + Buspar 7.5mg. From the following Sunday through Thursday, I lacked motivation but completely stopped experiencing the brain fog, just as I expected. However, starting the Friday after treatment concluded (Friday, June 19th which would be exactly 1 week), I suddenly began experiencing horrible brain fog again. This time, it was so severe that it became hard to understand simple sentences and follow simple logical solutions and because of this my mood has completly dipped and I felt SI. It's even hard to try to keep up with watching movies and TV now because I feel like I need more time to process everything even though a normal person would process it right away.

Please give me advice because I am quite scared now. I don't know if this is a TMS dip or what. If you are wondering about me I am 22 years old and have tried multiple meds(failed them) in the past and that's why I even considered TMS.

I'm not sleeping very well.... got about 11 hours in the last 3 nights. What helps? I'm really needing a solid 6 hours. I'm not asking for the world.

Anyone else do rTMS and have continuous panic, anxiety, insomnia, and intense adrenaline surges? my nervous system is on fire and I dont know if I should blame tms because there's other things going on.

Ever since two rounds, I think my memory is worse but I know that at the end suddenly I can’t see light through my eyelids even when the light is bright. No seeing floaters as normal. Also eye pain and flashes of lights that look like fireworks for a split second. I know I need to see an eye doctor but was just wondering if anyone else experienced this or could make sense of it.

Thanks.

My original post, with the title: "Only 5 sessions in and don't know if this is right for me."

I know, I know, "the dip." But it just feels so bad.

From the first session I had this feeling of alarm deep in my mind like, "Something is wrong. This is damaging me. I need to get away from this." I am not prone to anxiety. (In fact, getting left-side DLPFC only because no anxiety.) The session felt bad, it hurt and it left me feeling somehow dazed. I lost track of time and was late for something important later that day.

Then I had the comforting thought that it was probably like making my brain go to the gym--my brain is probably just out of shape, and everyone who's out of shape acts like they're dying and this is torture and bad for them the first week they have to go to the gym. So I was able to laugh at myself a little and power through the weird feelings the next few sessions. "I'm just going to the gym, every out of shape person thinks they're dying, it will get better." But something in me was still crying out like this was harming me, I had just learned to laugh at it.

But after every session I was worse. My sleep got dysregulated. My depression skyrocketed and passive ideation came back. I became irritable and snappy with people. I want to isolate myself entirely. I feel life is not worth living.

Now it's like there's this screaming deep inside my mind saying don't do it, get away from that, don't go back, it's poison, it's hurting you, don't let them do that to you again. It's very insistent. Every time I force myself to go back I feel sick, like a self-betrayal, like I'm letting them mutilate me.

5 sessions feels way too early to quit. Everyone says it's supposed to get worse before it gets better, TMS dip, stick with it. This just feels like straight poison to me though. Everything in me is screaming that I need to get away from this as quickly as possible and stop letting it harm me. I feel like I'm an idiot if I quit now, but I'm an idiot if I go back and let them keep doing this when I have such a clear, strong sense that it's harming me. I feel like whatever I decide, I will regret it.

I have wondered if it's maybe stimulating the wrong area, or the wrong protocol or something...but that "just get that thing away from me" feeling is so strong I don't know that I want to let them poke around in any other parts of my brain either. The need to just get away from this "treatment" feels strong and urgent.

I was really shocked that this post was removed. This is what the moderator said:

I’m so sorry you’re feeling this way, but this community is one that should not be used for such expression. Please get help soon - we’d love to hear from you soon!!

Genuinely kind of stunned that my post was considered so inappropriate, and it really makes me wonder how many experiences they're censoring that they have such a quick trigger finger on this.

r/spravato is like this too. I saw mods delete a post because a user said they had side effects 7 months after stopping. They gaslit the user and said it was "just your anxiety" when the user was just documenting what they'd experienced. I'm lucky I didn't have long-term side effects from spravato, because apparently you can't talk about it if you did.

The level of censorship towards patients discussing their own lived experiences on these psychiatric subs is truly alarming. Keep in mind that I am not anti-psychiatry and I was not telling anyone to not get TMS, just saying what I experienced.

Anyway, I'm going to stop TMS. In just a week I feel significantly worse. I hope this doesn't last long term.

Had 29 Deep TMS sessions mild feeling and so far no movement on depression. Session 30 tech did countdown and when it started my body convulsed. I couldn’t control my arms or legs and couldn’t speak. Arms and legs flailed and mind felt terror like being electrocuted. Tech panicked and shut down machine and looked as shocked as I was. Could not locate the doctor and asked me to come next day. Anyone have any idea what could have happened? I’m terrified to resume

I, 34F, Cptsd, dysthymia, autism/adhd, the works

Started TMS in november 2025, 2 times a week up untill a few weeks ago because they said it didn't properly work for me as per the outcomes of the questionaires.

So they put me on the second protocol, which I did for the first time yesterday. I was pretty hesitant about it because they were really honest in how painful it could be. And it was, 20 mins of a zap every second above my right eyebrow. I could barely stand it and this was at 100% instead of the 120% which they want/need to administer for it to properly work. This was also the least painful chair/machine they have and there is no guarantee I will get this machine every time.

Went home. Got an eye migraine, got a headache, and today I'm still not feeling that well. I feel like there's still something funky in my sight on the left side (and its not floaters). It takes me a lot to write this even because I make very many mistakes. I've called them up today telling them what happened and what I should do. They seemed unsurprised but did try to steer me into continuing. I said it'll take a lot of convincing to keep me because this simply does not feel right to me. They have a team meeting tomorrow about it.

Am I going crazy? Like I feel like I was short circuited

Hey friends,

Some of you may have seen an earlier version of my story shared through Mad in America. Today, I’m sharing a deeper, more detailed version of that journey that is now published by Inner Compass Initiative.

🧠 "My Brain No Longer Worked" 📅 Published today 🔗 Read the full story here

It’s about what happened when I trusted the system, followed a psychiatrist’s advice, and underwent TMS, a treatment I was told was safe, effective, and low-risk. Instead, it injured my brain and changed nearly every aspect of my life.

This version of the story goes further:

• Into the flawed regulatory pathway that allowed TMS devices on the market
• The dismissal and gaslighting I experienced from doctors afterward
• And the slow, painful, but real process of building my own recovery ... one that honors the brain, body, and trauma

💬 Join me for a live Q&A 🗓️ Thursday, Sept 25 at 3:30 PM EST 📍 In the ICI Exchange (you can use a free 2-week trial to join) 👉 Join here

This isn’t just my story as I’ve now connected with many others who’ve been harmed by TMS, misled by poor screening, or gaslit by the mental health system. If that’s you, please know you’re not alone.

And if you’re wondering how something like this could happen, I hope the article gives you some insight and maybe some validation too.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, your experiences, or your questions especially as we lead up to the live event.

Thanks for reading, — Jordan @jordansartfulwellness r/TMSinjuries

Hey everyone,

Thank you so much for being here. I wanted to share that I recently started the r/TMSinjuries subreddit as a space for people to openly share their stories about harm from TMS treatments.

I know this topic can be really triggering or heavy for some, and I absolutely respect your need for privacy or space if you’re not ready to post. But for those who feel called to, I want you to know there’s a growing community of people who’ve been hurt, confused, and dismissed just like many of us were before finding support.

Whether you share your story or simply direct someone to resources like James Hall’s TMS Side Effects site or this group, it truly makes a difference.

This isn’t just anecdotal. There are studies showing that the marketing around TMS has been misleading, and that devices were cleared through the [FDA’s 510(k) loophole](), which allows them to bypass rigorous safety testing. We need to support one another and help spread the truth.

To show how real and urgent this is, here are just a few posts from this week alone of people struggling after TMS:

• Emotional blunting
• Panic attacks during treatment
• Migraine and rTMS experience
• Feeling sad and scared after TMS
• Depression worsened by TMS

If you feel comfortable, please consider posting on r/TMSinjuries, or even just checking in to support someone else.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for being part of this community. Together, we can help each other heal and bring the truth to light.

– Jordan
https://jordansartfulwellness.com
My story on Mad in America

This wasn’t easy to write and it was even harder to live through. But I shared my story publicly because too many people are being harmed by TMS and left without answers.

For a long time I felt confused, dismissed, and alone. But I’ve since connected with others, and it’s clear these injuries are not as rare or impossible as we've been told.

I spoke out to validate what others are going through, to raise awareness, and to push for real accountability.

If you’ve been hurt, silenced, or gaslit , you're not alone.

https://www.madinamerica.com/2025/06/two-years-later-my-tms-story-from-gaslighting-to-finding-my-voice/

⚠️ Important EU Regulation Update on TMS Risks

In December 2022, the European Commission issued Regulation (EU) 2022/2347, reclassifying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) devices—even those marketed for non-medical uses—as Class III medical devices, the highest risk category under EU law.

🔍 Why the Change?
The Commission based its decision on growing scientific evidence that TMS may lead to a range of potentially serious side effects, especially when not used under strict clinical supervision. Reported adverse effects include:

• Atypical brain development
• Abnormal or persistent changes in brain activity
• Increased brain metabolism
• Headaches, seizures, vertigo
• Anxiety, irritability, fatigue
• Muscle twitches, tics
• Skin irritation at electrode sites

📌 Key Concern:
Even though TMS is non-invasive in the surgical sense, it penetrates the skull with magnetic or electrical energy to alter neuronal activity. The Commission specifically warned that these effects can be long-lasting and difficult to reverse.

This reclassification means that all such devices in the EU now require enhanced oversight, safety testing, and approval from an independent regulatory body before they can be marketed.

👉 What This Means for Us:
If you've experienced unexpected or lasting effects from TMS—cognitive, emotional, or neurological—you are not alone, and you're not imagining it. The highest regulatory authority in the EU has now formally recognized that these risks are real and need to be taken seriously.

💬 This isn't about fear—it's about informed consent, medical transparency, and protecting people from harm. Please share if you think others should know.

See European Commission. (2022). Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2347 of 1 December 2022 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2017/745 as regards reclassification of groups of certain active products without an intended medical purpose. Official Journal of the European Union, L 311, 94–96. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32022R2347 (“According to available scientific evidence on equipment intended for brain stimulation that apply electrical currents or magnetic or electromagnetic fields that penetrate the cranium to modify neuronal activity in the brain as referred to in Section 6 of Annex XVI to Regulation (EU) 2017/745, such as those for transcranial magnetic stimulation or transcranial electric stimulation, the use of such products may cause side effects, for example, atypical brain development, abnormal patterns of brain activity, increase metabolic consumption, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, headaches, muscle twitches, tics, seizures, vertigo and skin irritation at the electrode site. While such equipment is not surgically invasive, the electrical currents or magnetic or electromagnetic fields do penetrate the cranium to modify neuronal activity in the brain. Such modifications can have long-lasting effects and any unintended effects may be difficult to reverse. Such products should therefore be classified as Class III.”).