New Treatments for Depression
Khaled Bowarshi • October 9, 2025
What’s New in Depression Treatment (2025): Fast, Personalized Options in Tampa & Wesley Chapel | Florida TMS Clinic

Why this matters

For decades, most antidepressants targeted serotonin and could take weeks to help. The latest science looks deeper: brain circuits, neuroplasticity, inflammation, metabolism, and sleep. The result? Faster relief and more personalized care.

This page summarizes patient-relevant highlights from a 2025 peer-reviewed overview of new depression treatments and how they translate into real-world care at Florida TMS Clinic.

⚡ Advanced Brain-Stimulation Therapies

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) uses gentle magnetic pulses to activate mood-regulating brain circuits. It’s noninvasive, well-tolerated, and avoids systemic medication side effects. Learn more in our TMS Therapy overview.

What’s new in 2025

  • iTBS (intermittent Theta Burst):~3-minute sessions with outcomes comparable to longer protocols. See our iTBS page.
  • SAINT (accelerated TMS): condensed courses completed in several days for rapid symptom gains. Read about SAINT.
  • ONE-D schedules: a 1-day intensive (20 iTBS sessions over ~9.5 hours). ONE-D details.
  • StimGuide 3D neuronavigation: image-guided precision to the depression circuit (left DLPFC).
  • tDCS: low-intensity direct-current stimulation under study for adjunctive and maintenance use.
  • VNS/DBS: options for the most treatment-resistant cases as targeting improves.
At Florida TMS Clinic

How to start

💨 Rapid-Acting Antidepressants: Relief in Hours–Days

Esketamine (Spravato®)

Targets the glutamate NMDA receptor , enhancing neuroplasticity and helping mood circuits “reconnect.” Many patients feel improvement within hours to days, even after multiple medication failures. Esketamine in Tampa & Wesley Chapel • Esketamine for Anxiety

Neurosteroids: Brexanolone & Zuranolone

  • Brexanolone (Zulresso®): IV therapy FDA-approved for postpartum depression.
  • Zuranolone (Zurzuvae®): an oral neurosteroid under ongoing study for broader mood indications.

These treatments modulate GABA-A signaling — a different pathway than SSRIs/SNRIs — and can complement therapy and lifestyle care.

🍄 Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies (in research)

Trials are exploring whether guided use of psilocybin, MDMA-assisted therapy, and DMT/ayahuasca-derived compounds can support deep, durable mood improvements when paired with psychotherapy.

These are not yet available at our clinic. We monitor evidence and access pathways and will update patients as regulations evolve.

🔬 Anti-inflammatory & Metabolic Pathways

For some patients, inflammation and metabolic factors contribute to depression. Research highlights:

  • Anti-inflammatory agents(e.g., celecoxib/minocycline in select cases) may reduce symptoms when inflammation is elevated.
  • Omega-3s & vitamin D show benefit in specific biological profiles.
  • Gut-brain (microbiome) strategies and insulin-sensitizing care can support mood and cognition.

Your plan is personalized: we consider mood, sleep, energy, stress, and health markers to choose the right mix of treatments. Curious about investment? See our TMS cost guide.

🧪 Novel Neuromodulators & Molecular Targets

New compounds aim to be precise and circuit-smart :

  • TAAR1 agonists(e.g., ulotaront) for motivation/energy circuits.
  • Next-gen NMDA modulators fine-tune glutamate with fewer side effects.
  • Orexin antagonists to improve sleep-mood regulation.
  • Kappa-opioid receptor modulators to counter “emotional blunting.”

These are emerging options; availability depends on regulatory status and clinical fit.

📱 Precision Psychiatry & Digital Therapeutics

  • fMRI/EEG markers help predict who responds best to TMS, esketamine, or medication.
  • AI-assisted mood tracking and wearables flag early relapse so we can act quickly.
  • Data-informed dosing & targeting support sustained remission.

Explore our local care pages: TMS in Tampa • TMS in Wesley Chapel.

🚀 How to Start at Florida TMS Clinic

  1. Call us: (813) 867-2378 for a quick, friendly intake.
  2. Personalized evaluation: we review your history, goals, and timelines (and coordinate with your current providers). Meet Dr. Bowarshi.
  3. Your plan: advanced TMS, esketamine, and holistic supports — tailored to you.
📞 Call (813) 867-2378 📍 See Locations

📍 Our Locations

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Wesley Chapel
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Serving Tampa Bay, Wesley Chapel, Pasco County, and surrounding communities.

Disclaimer: This page is educational and does not replace medical advice. Treatment plans are individualized and depend on clinical assessment, indications, and current regulatory guidance.

Florida TMS Clinic — Think Outside the Pillbox
Tampa • Wesley Chapel • (813) 867-2378

Florida TMS Clinic Guide to TMS Therapy Devices

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A complete overview of TMS devices with head-to-head comparison, including NeuroStar, BrainsWay, MagStim, MagVenture, NexStim, Apollo, Ultimate and Blossom.
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Esketamine Depression Treatment [2024]

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Maintenance TMS [2024]

By Khaled Bowarshi • February 4, 2024
Maintenance TMS: How Long Does TMS Last? | Does Maintenance TMS Help? | Depression Relapse After TMS Therapy. What To Do Next? The benefits of TMS therapy can last for a long time. Durability is the terminology we use for how long a certain treatment effect lasts. A couple of durability papers showed that two-thirds of patients kept the effect of TMS therapy for 6-12 months after the treatment. We don’t have good published data on the long-term durability of TMS beyond 12 months. But from anecdotal observation of our patients, those who make it beyond a year without recurrence of depression symptoms remain well for years and may never need TMS retreatment. Those who relapse early may need retreatment and a plan of maintenance and prevention of relapse. Please note that each case is unique, and our general answers might not apply to you and your specific circumstance. With that disclosure being said, let's be specific with the answer now.
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If you have been suffering from anxiety that didn't improve with talk therapy and classical medications treatment. It might be a good idea to bring up Ketamine or Esketamine as a treatment option. This is particularly important if you also have comorbid depression. Esketamine is an FDA-approved treatment option for Treatment Resistant Depression, which means that your insurance will cover the treatment when indicated.
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By Khaled Bowarshi • February 4, 2024
Alternative treatments for depression include Meditation, Yoga, Acupuncture, Guided imagery, Chiropractic treatments, Hypnosis, Biofeedback, Aromatherapy, Light Therapy, Curcumin, Saffron, St. John’s Wort, SAM-e, Ginkgo biloba, TMS, Esketamine, and VNS. Learn more about future alternatives like Psilocybin and MDMA.
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~ 5 MIN READ This article will discuss the use of TMS therapy or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in treating insomnia and other sleep disorder. The neuromodulatory technique rTMS is a treatment method approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for patients with major depressive disorder that has not responded to antidepressant medication. The device utilizes magnetic fields to generate localized electrical currents in neurons just a few centimeters below the scalp, creating depolarizing and normalizing effects. Localized brain stimulation impacts neural plasticity, activates compensatory processes, and influences cortical excitability. Additionally, rTMS has been used in various clinical trials to study and treat neurological and psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), epilepsy. Several studies have found that Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) can benefit inefficiency and sleep quality.
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~ 2 Minute Read. Before starting TMS Therapy, you must know the risks that could be associated with TMS. In this article, we will discuss the absolute contraindications of TMS, relative contraindications of TMS, and then the side effects of TMS. You will notice that TMS is for the most part doesn't have systemic side effects. TMS side effects are local like local scalp discomfort at the site of the TMS coil placement.