This leaflet tells you about rTMS, also called repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
It tells you how the treatment works, why staff use it, and possible effects.
Please ask a member of staff if you have any questions.
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
A treatment that uses magnetic pulses - Hallucinations
Seeing, hearing or feeling things that are not there - Anaesthetic
Medicine that makes you sleep or go numb - Outpatient treatment
Treatment where you go home the same day - Psychiatrist
Mental health doctor - Anti-depressant tablets
Tablets for depression
It can help some people with depression and anxiety.
It uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain areas linked to mood. The pulses raise brain activity. This may reduce depression symptoms.
Two in three people feel much better after treatment. One in three people will recover fully.
It helps if you have depression. It also helps if you have anxiety or other conditions.
It may help if tablets did not work. It may also help if you do not want tablets.
It is not suitable if you have:
- hallucinations, seeing or feeling things that are not there
- strong false beliefs
- high suicide risk outside hospital care
- a dependence on alcohol
Treatment takes place at our Physical Treatment Centre.
This is at Alnwood, St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle, NE3 3XT.
Treatments are once a day, Monday to Friday. Each session lasts under 30 minutes.
You will need treatment for six to seven weeks.
You may miss sessions if needed. We advise no more than three days off.
We place a small coil on your head. The coil sends short magnetic pulses into the brain.
The pulses pass safely through the skull. Many people get a tapping feeling.
- It does not break the skin
- Nothing enters your body
- You do not need an anaesthetic
- You can go home straight after treatment
- You can drive or work the same day
- Trained staff give the treatments
- A nurse will supervise
- We will stay with you during treatment
- You can stop treatment at any time
- Staff can pause or restart treatment during the session
rTMS uses no needles or anaesthetic. We carry out safety checks before treatment.
The NHS says there are no major safety concerns. There is a risk of seizure, but this is very low. The risk is about the same as some anti-depressant tablets.
Most people take to the treatment well. Side effects affect about one in twenty people.
- Scalp discomfort happens most often. This normally stays mild and improves
- Some people get headaches. Simple pain relief can help
- Very rarely, people report feeling dizzy or faint
- Seizures happen very rarely. They affect less than one in a thousand people
We can stop treatment until you feel better. Most people carry on treatment the next day.
Everyone is different. Ongoing care helps keep you improving. Some people might need top‑up sessions.
Your psychiatrist may tell you about other support. This may include tablets or therapy.
Staff will ask you to sign a consent form before treatment. This tells us you want to have the treatment.
You can change your mind at any time.
- Remove hearing aids and all jewellery
- Remove hair grips and face or tongue studs
- You may bring your phone. You must put it to one side during treatment
- Wear your usual clothes
- Eat and drink normally before treatment
- You can use the toilet before treatment
The first session lasts about one hour. Later sessions last about 25 minutes.
We will check the correct pulse strength for you. This test causes small hand movements.
- You will be in a comfy chair with the coil on your head
- You will get short bursts of pulses with short breaks in between
- You will hear clicking sounds. You will feel tapping on your scalp
This part lasts about 20 minutes. We will stay with you at all times.
You stay awake during treatment. You can read, talk or listen to music.
You will need to keep your head still. The chair will support your head.
- The clicking sound can feel loud. You can wear ear plugs if you like
- You may feel tapping on your scalp. Most people manage this well
- Some people feel mild discomfort. Some people notice face twitching
- We can adjust the coil position
You do not need recovery time. Some people feel tired afterwards. This feeling normally passes quickly.
You can drive and keep doing normal daily tasks.
We will review your progress. You may need to fill out a short survey.
Take your medicines as prescribed. Your doctor will advise on any changes.
Most medicines stay the same. Some may stop later if treatment works well. You and your doctor will decide this together.
Many people keep their anti-depressants. This can reduce relapse risk.
These can include:
• talking therapies
• tablets
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is used for very severe depression
You can phone us on 0191 246 8665
Email: tms
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression
- Depression in adults: treatment and management
The Royal College of Psychiatrists
NHS Treatments
A full list of references is available on request by emailing pic
You can talk to a staff member or use the contacts listed below. See other ways to give feedback.
Your Voice
You can use this email to tell us what you think about your care. This can be good or bad. You can also ask us to tell you what happens after you send feedback.
Email: yourvoice
Comments and complaints
If something went wrong, please tell us. This will help us improve services.
Email: complaints
Telephone: 0191 245 6672
Write to: Complaints Department, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3XT.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS offer a free, confidential service. They can help if you are worried about your care. They support patients, families and carers.
PALS North of Tyne
(services in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and North Cumbria)
Email: pals
Telephone: 0800 032 0202
PALS South of Tyne
(services in Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Lotus Ward, Middlesbrough)
Email: pals
Telephone: 0800 328 4397
You can get more information about this leaflet from the Patient Information Centre. This includes how the leaflet was made. We can provide this leaflet in other formats. These include Braille, audio, large print, Easy Read, British Sign Language, and other languages.
We welcome your feedback about this leaflet. You can email pic
Published by the Patient Information Centre
2026 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref: PIC/822/0726 V4
Review date 2029
Website: www.