Side Effects Appear to Be Manageable

In general, the greatest risk associated with rTMS, the induction of seizures, depends on patient selection and the intensity, frequency, and number of stimuli delivered, according to sources interviewed for the Original article: story above. Stimulation frequency of 1 Hz appears to be safe and well tolerated. No changes have been noted in ECG, EEG, memory, and neurohormonal measures.

Other potentially adverse effects are induction of muscle-tension headache in 5 percent to 10 percent of patients. These are usually mild, and patients respond well to analgesics.