FAQ

Yes. The device can work for patients who have not found success with medication.

Yes. The device does not have any contraindications with medication.

When used cranially to treat insomnia, depression and anxiety, 1 in 500 patients report a mild headache upon using the device.

Approximately 1 in 250 patients may experience an increase in wakefulness immediately after using the device. If this occurs, the device should not be used within three hours of bedtime.

Although not a side effect, improper use of the device may result in minor electrode irritation – this can occur if the sponges are not thoroughly wet before use. Please watch the instructional video and read the instruction manual thoroughly before using the device. People with very sensitive skin may find that the sponge electrodes, even when wet, cause a slight irritation to the skin – but this is very rare.

Yes. The device does not have any contraindications with medication.

The device works by generating gentle electrical pulses at patented frequencies that stimulate the brain to produce serotonin and other neurochemicals required for healthy mood and sleep.

Ideally, you should use the device twice a day for 20 minutes until your symptoms go into remission. If you no longer have symptoms, you can stop using the device and then renew treatment if the symptoms return. The device has been on the market for decades without any reports of long-term negative effects. Many patients have used the device for years.

The electrical current is so gentle that many patients do not feel it at all, while some may feel a mild tingling at the sponge contact sites. Mild optic nerve stimulation may also occur, which may produce the sensation of flashing light in the corner of the eyes – this is normal and harmless.

Many people report positive changes during or shortly after the first 5-10 treatment sessions. Results in treating insomnia are typically experienced faster than in treating depression and anxiety. The device should be used daily for up to 3-4 weeks before making a decision regarding effectiveness. While level 2 is the recommended starting dosage level, the device may be used safely at level 3 and 4, should level 2 not produce positive results after two weeks.

When being used to treat chronic pain (on the body), the device often reduces symptoms within a few treatment sessions.

The only patients who are not qualified to use the device are those with implanted medical devices, such as an implanted nerve stimulator or pacemaker, as the Fisher Wallace Stimulator® may interfere with the functioning of such devices.

Resting quietly is best, but one can engage in activities such as reading, watching TV, using the computer, or talking on the phone during a treatment session.

The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® and TMS are both non-invasive brain stimulation technologies that treat depression and other symptoms by stimulating the brain’s production of neurotransmitters. However, there are significant differences between the technologies:

1. A series of TMS treatments typically costs NZ$11,000 – NZ$16,000 and is not covered by insurance. The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® costs around NZ$1,000.
2. TMS uses high-powered magnets to induce an electrical charge in the brain. The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® does not use magnets – instead, it uses two AA batteries to deliver a gentle electrical current at patented frequencies via sponge electrodes placed underneath a simple headband. Therefore, the device may be used safely at home.
3. In the US, the FDA has only cleared TMS for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder. The FDA has cleared the Fisher Wallace Stimulator® for the treatment of depression, anxiety, insomnia and pain.
4. TMS is administered in a doctor’s office, one reason why it is so expensive. The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® is designed to be used easily by patients at home. The device is portable and weighs less than 500 grams.
5. Despite the high cost, TMS comes with no guarantee of effectiveness. By contrast, you may return the Fisher Wallace Stimulator® for a 100% refund if it does not successfully treat your symptoms within 30 days of receipt.

If the Fisher Wallace Stimulator® does not reduce your symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, low mood and/or pain within 30 days of receipt, you may return the device for a 100% refund.

Neurostimulation devices such as the Fisher Wallace Stimulator® are cleared by the FDA for the treatment of insomnia, anxiety, depression and pain.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is not cleared by the FDA for the treatment of depression, anxiety, insomnia or pain. tDCS was FDA approved in 2004 for Iontophoresis, which is a noninvasive method to deliver medicine or other chemicals through the skin with external patches and a small electrical charge. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is not typically an at-home treatment modality, and as a result can be very expensive because it often requires office visits and doctor supervision during treatment sessions. Insurance companies will not reimburse patients for purchasing or using tDCS for “off-label” uses such as the treatment of depression.

The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® and ECT both deliver alternating current to the brain for therapeutic effect, but at vastly different doses. The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® provides very gentle stimulation therapy designed for daily home use without doctor supervision – it does not cause a seizure or serious side effects. ECT, while often effective, is performed in a hospital while the patient is under anaesthesia and is designed to induce a seizure. ECT often causes memory loss. Following are more differences:

1. ECT delivers 800 – 1000+ mA of electricity, which causes a seizure.
   • The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® delivers 1 – 4 mA of electricity, which does not cause a seizure. In fact, the Fisher Wallace Stimulator® is recommended for treating substance abuse patients who are prone to seizures.
2. ECT is administered when a patient is under anaesthesia.
   • The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® delivers such a mild current that patients typically wear it while reading a book, on the computer or watching TV. The stimulation from the device is rarely perceived and is not uncomfortable.
3. ECT delivers a large amount of electricity in a single dose.
   • The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® delivers a gentle amount of electricity on a daily basis.
4. ECT typically costs NZ$40,000 and, while effective initially, its effects wear off.
   • The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® costs around NZ$1,000 and the effects do not wear off when the device is used on a regular basis.
5. ECT is indicated to treat severe depression.
   • The Fisher Wallace Stimulator® can be used to treat temporary or situational depression as well as chronic, severe depression. The device has also been cleared by the FDA for the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and pain.

There are two ways to acquire the device – purchase outright or rent monthly.

You can purchase outright in the store.

Or, you can rent the device. For more information see ‘How to Rent’.

If you purchase a device, you may return it for a 100% refund (excluding shipping) within 30 days of receiving the device in the mail. The device is effective for most patients within the first two weeks of daily use, but some customers may require three or four weeks to experience results. If you need a few extra days, call us and we will gladly extend the refund period. Your 30 days begin on the day of receipt, and, if you choose to return your device, we only ask that you have it postmarked within 30 days, not that we receive it back in 30 days.

The 30-day Satisfaction Guarantee only applies to outright purchases. Rental subscriptions have a three-month minimum term.

In the United States, the Fisher Wallace Stimulator is cleared by the FDA for the treatment of depression, anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain.

In New Zealand, the device has regulatory approval by WAND. What is WAND?