Clinical Application and Safety of rTMS in Japan and Overseas

Abstract Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive technique that can stimulate the cerebral cortex and alter cortical and subcortical activities, and it has been approved to treat depression in the USA, Australia, and Europe. In Japan, several manufacturers have focused on obtaining approval for rTMS. In terms of the safety and tolerability of rTMS, headache, stimulation pain, and discomfort occur at relatively high frequencies during rTMS, but these events usually improve rapidly as the number of treatment days increases. The induction of seizures is the most severe side effect of rTMS, and its rate is less than approximately 0.1%. In the practice of rTMS, it is critically important to check for medications known to modify the seizure threshold and any metal in the body, and to assess the risk of seizures.