When someone finally reaches the point of considering transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression, they’ve usually been through a lot already – medications, therapy, time off work, strain on family life. A fair question naturally follows: how long does TMS take to work, and what will the next few weeks actually feel like?
In Australia, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) recognises repetitive TMS (rTMS) as an effective option for major depressive disorder, especially when standard treatments have not helped enough.
What TMS Involves in Everyday Terms
TMS uses a magnetic coil placed on the scalp to send short pulses to areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. There are no anaesthetic, no seizure, and people stay awake and able to talk throughout. The RANZCP describes it as a non-invasive medical procedure with generally mild, short-lived side effects, like scalp discomfort or headache for some people.
In practice, TMS is rarely a standalone answer. It usually sits alongside medication, lifestyle changes and structured depression therapy, especially for those with more severe or long-lasting symptoms.
For people living in larger cities, access is slowly improving. Specialist centres such as tms Sydney clinics are part of a growing mix of public hospital services, private hospitals and outpatient providers offering this form of care.
How Long Is A Standard TMS Course in Australia?
Australian guidance and Medicare rules give a clear sense of the usual timeframe.
- The RANZCP position statement notes that rTMS is most commonly delivered five times a week for four to six weeks as an acute course.
- Medicare item 14217 allows an initial course of up to 35 sessions, with a further retreatment course of up to 15 sessions for those who previously responded but later relapsed.
So, when someone starts TMS, they’re usually signing up to at least four weeks of weekday sessions before anyone can properly judge whether it’s working.
Real-world data support this schedule. The RANZCP cites large naturalistic studies where about half of people with treatment-resistant depression respond to a full course. More recent outcome analyses suggest response rates around 40–45% after a 4–7-week course, which is in line with those earlier figures.
Week by week: a common pattern of change
Every person’s experience is different, but certain patterns crop up again and again in Australian and international reports.
| Week of TMS | What many people report |
| Week 1 | Getting used to the coil and clinic routine. Mild scalp discomfort or headache for some. Mood often much the same. |
| Week 2 | A few people notice better sleep or clearer thinking. Many still feel low and wonder if anything is happening. |
| Week 3 | Subtle lift in mood for a growing group. Getting out of bed or handling emails feels slightly less draining. Family members may notice changes first. |
| Week 4 | Clearer gains in responders. Less emotional “weight”, more interest in conversation, hobbies or work tasks. |
| Week 5–6 | Improvements consolidate. Some reach remission, others see a solid but partial response. Non-responders are reviewed for other options. |
These are broad trends and not a promise for any individual.
Clinicians often point out that the first real shift may only become clear after 10–15 sessions. That lag doesn’t mean nothing is happening; it reflects the way repeated stimulation gradually nudges brain networks involved in mood, motivation and thinking.
Why the Early Weeks Can Feel Slow?
For many people referred for TMS, depression has been present for years. Healthdirect notes that depression affects how you feel, think and behave, and commonly brings changes in sleep, appetite, concentration and energy. When these patterns have been entrenched for a long time, it’s not surprising that improvement comes in increments rather than overnight shifts.
Those early weeks can feel emotionally tough. You’re attending the clinic nearly every weekday, rearranging work or caring responsibilities, and still waking up flat. Psychiatrists often encourage people to look for trends over one or two weeks rather than day-to-day swings. Small signs such as making plans for the weekend, replying to messages more quickly or feeling less overwhelmed by small tasks all count.
This is also the stage when support at home matters. Having one trusted person who knows the timeline and can gently point out changes – “You’re chatting more in the evenings” – can help you keep perspective when your own view is coloured by low mood.
What Influences How Quickly TMS Works?
Several factors shape both speed and depth of response:
- Severity and duration of depression – long, recurrent episodes may need the full 30–35 sessions before strong changes appear.
- Other conditions – anxiety, chronic pain, substance use or medical illness can complicate the picture and slow visible progress.
- Current medications and therapy – TMS is often layered onto existing care. The RANZCP notes that rTMS can be combined with psychological therapies or medicines, which may strengthen overall benefit.
- Daily routines – better sleep, reduced alcohol use, regular activity and social contact all support recovery, whether or not TMS is part of the plan.
Even with good conditions, not everyone responds. Broadly, four to five out of ten people see a strong reduction in symptoms, and a smaller group become almost or completely free of depression for a time.
TMS As Part of a Broader Treatment Plan
Australian resources such as Better Health Channel and Black Dog Institute stress that depression usually needs more than one strategy: education about the condition, lifestyle changes, psychological therapies and, for moderate to severe symptoms, medical treatments.
For someone entering a programme like depression treatment Sydney, TMS is often seen as a next step after at least two antidepressant trials and structured therapy have not led to enough improvement, which also aligns with Medicare eligibility rules. Some people use TMS to reduce their reliance on higher medication doses over time; others use it to finally get a foothold in recovery so that therapy and lifestyle work feel achievable again.
Once an acute course is finished, psychiatrists may recommend ongoing review, a possible maintenance schedule, or a further tms treatment block if symptoms creep back after a good initial response.
Choosing a clinic and setting realistic expectations
When you’re weighing up where to go, it’s reasonable to ask:
- Who will do the initial assessment and keep track of progress?
- How often will formal mood scales be used?
- What happens if I’m only a partial responder after 30–35 sessions?
- How will you coordinate with my GP or psychologist?
A dedicated depression clinic Sydney or an equivalent service elsewhere in Australia should be able to walk you through the likely week-by-week pattern, explain possible side effects in plain language, and be upfront that some people will not respond despite a full, well-delivered course.
For most adults starting TMS for major depression, the realistic expectation is this: daily weekday sessions for at least four weeks, with the first clear changes often appearing somewhere between weeks three and five. Knowing that pattern ahead of time doesn’t make the wait easy, but it can make it more understandable – and that clarity itself can be a small, steadying step towards feeling better.