VNS Therapy™ Magnet FAQs

Only the VNS Therapy magnet should be used with your VNS Therapy System. If you lose your magnet or need extra magnets, contact your doctor.

In an emergency, you may try other strong magnets. The use of other magnets that are not supplied by your doctor will not harm the VNS Therapy System, but there is no way to know whether a magnet other than the specific VNS Therapy magnet will work.

The VNS Therapy magnets are very strong. They can damage televisions, computer disks, credit cards, and other items that are affected by strong magnetic fields. Keep your magnet at least 25 centimeters (10 inches) away from any of these items. Do not carry or store the magnets near them.

Results from magnet stimulation differ for each person. Some people report that the magnet stops all or most of their seizures, lessens the intensity, or shortens the duration. For others, the magnet has limited or no effect.

No. Whether you use the magnet or not is completely up to you and whoever is with you. It may also depend somewhat on whether the magnet has helped before.

The generator has a sensor (the reed switch) that recognizes the magnet and starts extra stimulation.

Based on normal use, the VNS Therapy^™ magnet should have an approximate service life of 3 years.

Use the magnet as often as you like, but not longer than 4 hours in a row.

Continuous or frequent magnet use will deplete (use up) the generator battery and could hurt your left vagus nerve. If you need to use the magnet a lot, you may want to have your Normal Mode settings changed.

Discuss this change with your doctor during your next visit.

Yes. To stop stimulation, hold the magnet over the generator and keep it there. Use this method if you have unusual or painful stimulation, and call your doctor right away. The magnet will stop all stimulation while it is held in place. You may need to secure the magnet by taping it over the device.

The VNS Therapy^™ magnet can damage computer disks, credit cards, watches, and other items affected by strong magnetic fields. Keep your magnet at least 25 centimeters (10 inches) away from any of these items. Do not store magnets near such items.

The magnet is used to start and stop stimulation. Your doctor must activate the Magnet Mode before you can start stimulation with the magnet.

No stimulation will be delivered while the magnet is kept over the device. Normal Mode and magnet-started stimulations will resume only after the magnet is removed.

Use the magnet in these three circumstances:
1. To start stimulation when you are having an aura that comes before a seizure, you think a seizure is starting or any time during a seizure
2. To stop stimulation
3. To test that the device is operating properly

To order a new magnet, contact your doctor.

In Australia, Epilepsy Action Australia sell the magnet on their webiste, https://www.epilepsy.org.au

You should carry the magnet with you at all times. You may also want your family members or caregivers to carry a VNS Therapy^™ magnet, so they can apply it if they see you having a seizure.

Dropping your magnet should not affect the magnet’s strength. This is a common problem with low-power magnets. The VNS Therapy^™ magnet is a high-power magnet and should not lose its strength when dropped or if the casing cracks.

The magnet overrides your normal treatment schedule, whether or not the device is “ON” at that time. Once the magnet-activated stimulation ends, the device will return to the treatment schedule set by your doctor.