Get Well and Stay Well — with VNS Therapy™
When other treatments haven’t worked or have stopped working, it may be time to consider a different approach.
How VNS Therapy™ Works
VNS Therapy™, Explained
VNS Therapy™ (Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy) for Difficult-to-Treat Depression
Innovative Treatment
Who is VNS Therapy™ for?
The VNS Therapy System is indicated for the treatment of chronic or recurrent depression in patients who are in a treatment-resistant or treatment-intolerant major depressive episode.
How does VNS Therapy™ work?
VNS Therapy works by regularly transmitting small electrical signals from a neurostimulator (similar to a pacemaker) through a thin lead under your skin to your left vagus nerve in your neck.
What to Expect with VNS Therapy™
Procedure
The procedure is typically done under general anesthesia in about 1-2 hours. Most people go home the same day (although some hospitals may want to keep you in overnight).
Starting Your Therapy
Your VNS Therapy System is switched on by your psychiatrist approximately 2 weeks after the procedure.
Monitoring
Your psychiatrist will monitor your progress and may adjust the settings on your VNS Therapy System over time.
Other treatments
VNS Therapy is known as an adjunctive treatment - this means that it is given along with your normal treatments.
Safety Profile
Safe and Well-Tolerated
VNS Therapy is not a drug. It does not cause the same side effects as antidepressant medications, such as fatigue, sedation, weight gain, and dry mouth.
The most common side effects with VNS Therapy are as follows and generally only occur during stimulation:
- Hoarseness or changes in voice
- Prickling or tingling in the skin
- Sore throat
- Increased coughing
- Shortness of breath
VNS Therapy is well tolerated and side effects tend to be less noticeable over time. Your psychiatrist can reduce your side effects by adjusting the device settings.
The most common side effect of the surgical procedure is infection.
You can find more safety information here.
Results with VNS Therapy™ May Get Stronger Over Time
The effect of VNS Therapy is not immediate, but over the course of months, you may notice a significant improvement of your symptoms. In a 5-year study of 795 patients with depression that is difficult to treat:
VNS Therapy™ + traditional treatment delivered superior reduction in depression symptoms vs traditional treatment alone over 5 years.
Improvement
Nearly
Recovery
More than
Quality of Life
VNS Therapy shows a significant improvement in quality of life, including mood and overall well-being.
Suicidal Thoughts
Patients treated with VNS Therapy in combination with their usual treatments showed a greater reduction in suicidal thoughts compared with those using usual treatments only.