Alpha-Stim

Date: October 1, 2009
Author: Brian S. Earthman, MD

Location: Iraq

Indications:  Anxiety, Insomnia, and  Depression

Tracey,

I am just finishing up my deployment in Iraq and will be heading home.  Thank you for loaning me the Alpha-Stim units to use for treating the soldiers during this deployment. 

As you know, I started using Alpha-Stim in my private psychiatric practice in Austin, Texas in the fall of 2008.  The results from treatment with the Alpha-Stim product have far exceeded my expectations.  I went in thinking that Alpha-Stim might be useful for a handful of patients that had mild symptoms and were adamant about not taking medications.  After seeing some initial results I decided to offer Alpha-Stim as a treatment option to all of my patients with depression, anxiety, insomnia, or migraines.  I was taken by surprise at how many patients were thrilled to have an alternative to medication.  Not every patient responds to Alpha-Stim treatment but my observation is that Alpha-Stim is as robust as medication treatment.  The amazing thing is that there really are no side effects.  I do occasionally get a patient who gets dizzy but that stops after the treatment is done.  The lack of side effects has been particularly important here in Iraq.  The soldiers need to be alert and ready to go at a moments notice.  This presents some obvious problems for prescribing anxiolytics and hypnotics that can impact cognitive function for over 12 hours after taking them.  With Alpha-Stim they get 20 minutes of treatment and are more alert than before treatment started, a tremendous advantage.  Many of the soldiers I have treated have had remission of their symptoms without ever starting a medication.

Please keep up the work you do in the insurance and legislative arenas.

Thank you,

Brian S. Earthman MD