How to Prepare for Your First Visit at Max Wellness
Getting ready for your first appointment with Calmare Scrambler Therapy is easy! Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure a smooth and productive experience:
Review Medication List:
We recommend reviewing this list of medications that may interfere with Calmare Therapy's effectiveness prior to treatment. These medications can sometimes slow down or prevent the treatment from working optimally. For most patients, we advise tapering off any listed medication (under your prescribing physician's supervision) so that your last dose is 72 hours or more before your first visit. If you have any questions or concerns about your medications, please call our office beforehand.
Common Anticonvulsant and Anti-seizure medications that may interfere with treatment:
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Acetazolamide (Diamox)
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​Amitriptyline (Elavil)
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Brivaracetam (Briviact)
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Carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro)
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Cenobamate (Xcopri, Ontozry)
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Clobazam (Onfi, Frizium)
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Clonazepam (Klonopin, Rivotril, Clonpam)
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Diazepam (Valium)
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Eslicarbazepine (Aptiom)
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Ethosuximide (Zarontin)
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Ethotoin (Peganone)
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Etiracetam
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Everolimus (Afinitor, Votubia)
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Felbamate (Felbatol)
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Fosphenytoin (Cerebyx)
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Gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Fanatrex, Gabarone, Horizant)
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Lacosamide (Vimpat)
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Lamotrigine (Lamictal)
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Levetiracetam (Keppra)
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Lorazepam (Ativan)
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Mesuximide (Petinutin, Celontin)
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Nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor)
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Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal, Oxtellar)
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Phenytoin (Dilantin, Epanutin)
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Piracetam
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Pregabalin (Lyrica)
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Progabide
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Primidone (Mysoline)
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Rufinamide (Banzel, Inovelon)
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Stiripentol (Diacomit)
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Tiagabine (Gabitril)
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Topiramate (Topamax, Trokendi, Topiragen)
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Valproic Acid (Convulex, Depakote, Depakene, Epilim)
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Vigabatrin (Sabril, Vigpoder)
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Zonisamide (Zonegran)
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Other Interfering Medications:
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Ketamine - Recommend discontinuation 1-3 months prior to first visit for optimal response
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THC - can impair effectiveness of treatment and decrease duration of relief after treatment
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Muscle-relaxant type medications may impede optimal response
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Some anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications may interfere with treatment
Precautions and Contraindications:
Your safety is our priority. To ensure you're a suitable candidate for Calmare Therapy, we have a list of precautions and contraindications from the device manufacturer that are similar to all other forms of electrical stimulation. Please review the list below and call our office to discuss any concerns you might have.
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You have a Pacemaker or Automatic Defibrillator;
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You have an implanted device such as a spinal nerve stimulator or implanted drug delivery system;
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You have a history of epilepsy, brain damage, use of anti-convulsant medications for purposes other than pain control;
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You are restricted from using an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) device;
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You have a history of, or have recently been treated for myocardial infarction (heart attack) or ischemic heart disease within the past six months;
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You have a heart stent, aneurysm clip, vena cava clip, or other coronary or vascular stent;
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You have a skull plate; (metal implants for orthopedic repair, e.g. pins, plates, joint replacements are allowed)​​​​​​​​​​
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You have, or believe that you may have, severe heart arrhythmia or any form of equivalent heart disease;
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You are, or could be, nursing or pregnant;​​
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You have wounds or skin irritation in areas where the electrodes are required to be placed;
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You have a history of allergic reactions or previous intolerance to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
Comfortable Clothing:
For optimal electrode placement during your sessions, please wear loose-fitting clothing that allows easy access to the areas experiencing pain or numbness. We understand some situations might require a change of clothes. Don't worry, we have a large handicap-accessible bathroom where you can comfortably change into something more suitable, such as shorts or a loose-fitting top.
Additional Tips:
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To ensure your body conducts electricity effectively during treatment, we recommend arriving well-rested and well-hydrated. This will optimize the results of your initial session.
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Also be sure to thoroughly cleanse the skin around the area of pain to be treated, remove any lotion or oil present on the area to be treated as well as along your spine. These products should be discontinued during treatment in the area where pads are to be placed.
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If needed, skin lotion can be applied shortly after treatment each day so that your skin has 23 hours to absorb the oil/lotion to minimize electrical resistance to conduction of the Calmare signal.
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Feel free to bring a notebook or notepad to jot down any questions or key points discussed during your consultation.
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We encourage open communication throughout your treatment journey. Don't hesitate to ask questions or share any concerns you might have!
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By following these simple steps, you'll be well-prepared for your first visit and ready to embark on your path towards potential chronic pain relief with Calmare Scrambler Therapy.