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Brain zaps??

On Health & Drugs & Medications » Mental Health

22,666 words with 42 Comments; publish: Sat, 15 Dec 2007 20:15:00 GMT; (900125.00, « »)

Ok, I am new to the boards. I have a ?. Has anybody ever felt those little zaps in your head? Kinda like Small electrical zaps. Thats the only way I know how to explain it. I only got them when I tried Wellbutrin and then I got them again when I tried to get off Effexor. Needless to say I told the Dr. I was not going to take the Wellbutrin and now I continue to take the Effexor. I don't get them unless I forget my meds. for a couple of days ( I know I should not do this.) I told people about the zaps and they thought I was nuts. I was beginning to think the same thing at first. I thought I was having little seizures. Anybody else felt these things??

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  • 42 Comments
    • your not nuts they are cause that does happen.i get them to if i forget to take my med.and if you go off it then you really get the zaps its called withdrawl symptoms.
      #1; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:18:00 GMT
    • I didn't have them from withdrawal; I had them on the drug Neurontin. I called them brain shocks. I was on Neurontin for awhile and that's when they started. Oddly enough, the brain shocks didn't go away until about 2 1/2 years later or so. I've always attributed them to the Neurontin, but the fact that it lasted so much longer makes me somewhat question that guess. I still kind of have to think it was the Neurontin though; who knows how long it's going to stay in your brain. People who have taken LSD have flashbacks years later, so SOMETHING obviously still affects them from it...

      Yeah, brain shocks are damn annoying. And after awhile they would have specific triggers... light, intense color, movement, intricate patterns, and even bad memories.

      Kristina :wave:

      #2; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:19:00 GMT
    • I used to get them a lot before I even went on meds, from anxiety, and then when I went off Effexor. I posted a question on here a while ago asking what exactly they WERE, but I guess no one really knows. Anyway, apparently they are pretty common.
      #3; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:20:00 GMT
    • I had zaps for a while when I went off of Paxil. They are common and disturbing but I don't think they are harmful.
      #4; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:21:00 GMT
    • I think I know what your talking about, to me it feels like a throb & I can feel it in my ears. I didn't & don't know why it happens, but at least someone brought it up so I don't feel alone on this one.
      #5; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:22:00 GMT
    • What you are experiencing are called "body shocks". You get them from SSRI withdrawl. I know because I got them from Paxil withdrawl. Always try to remember taking your meds everyday. If you still get them even when youre taking your meds regularly talk to your doctor right away.

      SSRI withdrawl is really horrible and its worse for some people then others like if your trying to be tapered off something.

      #6; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:23:00 GMT
    • When I forget to take my Effexor, I usually get this feeling like I'm lightheaded and dizzy periodically and my eyesight would sort of go in and out of focus at the same time, as if I was gonna blackout. This would be accompanied by a headache and nausea. Everything I'd eat would make me want to throw up. These symptoms would happen after ~2 days of forgetting to take my meds. Are these what brain zaps are? I told my doctor about these "brain zaps" and he didn't know what I was talking about.
      #7; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:24:00 GMT
    • Yeah, when I told my doctor, he looked at me like I was nuts. Another Dr. told me that it means my meds were working. Brain zaps, as I call them are like little electrical pops in my head. It is almost like you feel you electrical impulses. I have even timed them and they happen almost 30 seconds or so. It makes you crazy. I felt like I have a bee buzzing in my head. In fact the first time I felt it, I thought I had a bug in ear, ha. :eek:
      #8; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:25:00 GMT
    • Brain zaps? What I have been having is in the back of my head from ear to ear, hard to describe, like a buzzing, high pitched noise that lasts for a few seconds, like pressure with noise. Really strange. It started after I weaned off of Effexor. Have been off of the Effexor for almost two weeks now and still have these weird zaps and ears are ringing, nausea, dizziness. My doc sent me to physical therapy and they are trying to reposition the fluid in my ears but it is not working. I still think it is Effexor withdrawal. I was on it about a year.
      #9; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:26:00 GMT
    • I totally agree with the withdrawls, I never got these before until I took Wellbutrin and I am now on Effexor. I don't think it has anything to do with the fluid in your ears, but then I am not a Dr. Although, when I told my Dr. about these things, he looked at me clueless.
      #10; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:27:00 GMT
    • Heh, when I started getting brain zaps in my teens, I thought I had discovered this weird new phenomena. I didn't learn that it is a common thing until much later!
      #11; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:28:00 GMT
    • I experienced terrible brain zaps when I begain weaning off of Paxil. You're definitly not alone there my friend. I think it was probably a good 2 weeks being completly off of the med before the zaps stopped.
      #12; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:29:00 GMT
    • You're not nuts. They're extremely common when withdrawing from an antidepressant - especially SSRIs.
      #13; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:30:00 GMT
    • Oh, they are very common. I got them from Zoloft. After a few months off Zoloft they went away.
      #14; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:31:00 GMT
    • I got them for years when I was younger but I have not had them since I was about 16. I was never on anti-depressants when I was younger or any other medication so what else can it be caused by? Maybe my mother was giving me something for being hyper active and I was withdrawling?
      #15; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:32:00 GMT
    • Please tell me if what I am experiencing is what everyone considers brain zaps. I am 2 weeks anti-depressant free and what I have almost feels like a major inner ear infection. I am feel like my ears are clogged and out of the blue I will have a kind of popping in my ears, and some lightheadedness. Kind of get weird "out of balance" feeling for a few seconds. My eyes also kind of get fuzzy. Is this the "brain zaps" you refer too. Also after being on Effexor XR for 9 months, now being off completely for 2 weeks, how much longer can I expect this to last?
      #16; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:33:00 GMT
    • First off, Kudos to being off meds for 2 weeks. The brain zaps are kinda like a small electrical zap you feel in your brain. It has alittle bit of a buzz and is constant. It is really hard to explain, but it reminds me if you have two wires that you touch together and get that little zzzz. It will drive you nuts. Mine went on like every few seconds. (20 second intervals). Yes, I actually timed them, ha. :eek:
      #17; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:34:00 GMT
    • I cant believe that GP's/doctors are not aware of head zaps. They are a phenomenon associated with coming off of SSRI's or SNRI (Effexor). I had them for 2 weeks when coming off Citalopram. Everytime I moved my head or eyes quickly it was like my brain was missing a beat and i had a sound like a lightsabre (star wars) kinda bzzzzt. It was bothersome but I overly worried coz I was suffering from depression and waiting for Remoron to work (it ever did - worst AD i ever tried.) Apparently the head zaps are worst with Effexor and Seroxat/Paxil withdrawal coz they have short half lives. I also get head zaps if I am on an SSRI (inparticular Effexor) and I have had a few drinks... I guess this shows how alcohol can interfer with how these antidepressants work.
      #18; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:35:00 GMT
    • You folks don't know how relieved I am to know that what I've had is real and that I'm not totally "out there." I have had these little brain zaps for a long time. I don't have them very often when I'm taking my Zoloft, but when I've tried to go off, I get them constantly. I remember having them before I ever even went on medication. I have also had them associated with hormones, you know, PMS. But most of the time, as long as I remember to take my Zoloft, I'm fine. I've never told a soul about my brain zaps, but it's nice to know I'm not alone. However, I wish none of us had to experience this--it's creepy!
      #19; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:36:00 GMT
    • :wave:

      I know what you mean. People thought I was nuts. Even the Dr. looked at me weird :rolleyes:

      #20; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:37:00 GMT
    • Has anyone ever had "body zaps?"

      For a long time after withdrawing from Zoloft I would lie in bed and then feel as if my whole body was being quickly "unplugged" and then "plugged back into the wall."

      I don't know how else to describe it. It's like my body was just humming along and then somebody would quickly unplug me, then I'd cycle back up again. It was always very rapid. Very weird.

      I never really experienced just classic brain zaps like people describe. Actually, I think I had one of those that was concentrated around my brain. I either had the full body zaps, or I'd have these weird electrical zaps around my shoulders, sortof like an electrical ant scurrying very quickly back and forth.

      None of this happens anymore, fortunately, but it lasted for months after withdrawing. Of course my psychiatrist thought it was my anxiety and not the withdrawal, but I never had any of these zaps before taking the medication, when my anxiety was at the height of its intensity.

      --CarrieLynn

      #21; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:38:00 GMT
    • Some doctor somewhere needs to research this more. So I'm asking again, what are they? Is it the actual electric current in your brain? Does anyone here know? :eek: :eek: :eek:
      #22; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:39:00 GMT
    • I'm not sure what they are, but I'll do some research and then post it here. Just look out for a post about it from me in the very near future. I've noticed that my psych doc does the same thing. He tells me my weight gain isn't from my effexor xr, it's from another medicine. He says my insomnia isn't from my medicine, it's from stress. But I have NO STRESS in my life anymore...Doctors don't know crap about meds in my opinion. They don't want to lose us a patients because then they'll lose money the insurance companies pays them. :nono:
      #23; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:40:00 GMT
    • Ok. So far I have read that it's called a vasospasm. This is the definition for it: sharp and often persistent contraction of a blood vessel reducing its caliber and blood flow
      #24; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:41:00 GMT
    • wow! I just stumbled onto this site kinda by accident and my son is 13 and has been telling me he has these. He has never been on any sort of anti depressant or prescribed or otherwise drugs either. Am very curious.......keep readin and postin tahari : )
      #25; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:42:00 GMT
    • Good news all!

      Someone beleives us! I spoke to my Psychiatrist and Psycologist about these electrical zaps....

      They both agreed it can happen. They say it is really electrical...all of our bodies run on electric somehow...

      They do go away. Some never get them at all..

      Some get it really bad like me "I could cook toast in my head!" :bouncing:

      I will be zoloft free 3 weeks on Saturday and I was on this for almost 8 years. I did go cold turkey. I still get get them on occassion. But NOTHING like I did.

      But it does get better...And we are not crazy! :bouncing:

      #26; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:43:00 GMT
    • Thanks for the info!!!
      #27; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:44:00 GMT
    • I think some people are just more sensitive to electicic zaps than other people. I know that getting a static shock isn't painful to me, but I've met two other people who find them incredibly painful. I also don't get the "zaps." I bet that it's related. I wonder if people who get the zaps also find static charges painful. That would be interesting to study.
      #28; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:46:00 GMT
    • One more thing...

      When I take head cold meds...It does take the Zaps away....Hmmmm..interesting...

      Did you guys ever notice that when you are congested it gets worse? CRAZY!

      I am taking sudafed..and no problems..not one zap zip or buzzzzz all day long today! :eek:

      #29; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:47:00 GMT
    • Well, I know that in winter time and fall, I get shocked by touching things around me outside...sometimes even inside. It's ver painful to me! I also know that when I forget to take my AD medicine, I get brain zaps. BUT!!!! when I was younger...a lot younger... I was never on AD's or anything of the sort but I always got zapped in the head (brain) and good god was it ever painful! My head would jerk for no apparent reason once in a great while and all I can say is it felt as if I strained my brain! lol! :eek:
      #30; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:48:00 GMT
    • Tahari,

      Thanks lol. Just read your post and hehe got a great chuckle outta strainin your brain. I needed that. My son thot it was pretty cute too. High five for the lil laugh.

      Peace2ya

      #31; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:49:00 GMT
    • hi to everyone who suffers brain zaps or shocks. My brain zaps started when withdrawing from Effexor XR about three years ago. Every doctor I mentioned them to dismissed these as the ravings of a neurotic woman and just prescribed more antidepressants for me. I was reluctant, and managed to stay off them for over a year. the brain zaps did not go away, but fluctuated in severity from time to time. I have been interested in some people's comments about ear and balance problems. I began having fleeting feelings of loss of balance for no apparent reason during the first year after ceasing to take Effexor. Then two years ago, I went deaf in my right ear, overnight, followed by a sense of swelling in my head, loss of balance, nausea etc. Although I no longer feel ill from this, my hearing has not returned and I still have a sense of fullness in my ear. I have always suspected that this could have been caused by the Effexor. Official diagnosis: 1st specialist Menieres Syndrome, 2nd specialist said some kind of virus. Following loss of hearing, I again suffered a serious bout of depression. At this time I was prescribed Cipramil (an SSRI), and to my surprise the brain zaps went away completely while I was taking this drug. Unfortunately, due to other problematic side effects, I ceased taking Cipramil at which time my brain zaps returned. Then I tried Avanzor (mirtazapine) for my depression. Big mistake! The brain zaps returned with a vengeance. At this time I not only got shocks when I was sleepy or relaxed, but everytime an unexpected stimulus occurred in my environment. For example, when an air hostess reached in front of me (but didn't touch me) unexpectedly, the visual stimulus caused a brain shock. These were also far worse when I had a virus and was running a temperature. In addition, some of the shocks now felt like an electric shock in my deaf ear. frequent short shocks also occured when waking with an associated noise in my head, like gravel being shovelled.

      Subsequently took Cipramil again, but this time shocks lessened in severity, but did not go away completely. I have also tried Aurorix, with no lessening of shocks and not much help for depression either.

      I have been to a neurologist, and had electrodes attached to my head to measure electrical activity in my brain. No obvious electric surge or anything showed, however he did admit that something seemed to be happening, since I pressed the event marker at a similar phase of brain activity each time I had a shock. My daughter and a friend who are studying neurology at university have postulated that the sense of electric shock might actually be caused by a sudden massive release of neurotransmitters or something like that, so it may really be a chemical shock of sorts.

      Three years down the track from taking Effexor, and nearly two since I took Avanza, I still suffer shocks regularly, but with gradually reducing severity and frequency. Still worse at some times of the month than others. I am currently taking St Johns Wort for depression, am afraid to try anything else, but still struggling.

      #32; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:50:00 GMT
    • Wow, of all the replies to this post, you hit it on the head of what I am feeling, too. I get the visual stimuli also. Even just a sudden noise.. I started this thread of Brain Zaps and I thought I was alone. I take Effexor and it scares me to ever go off cause of these zaps. I think it would drive me nuts. I do believe it is chemical some how and a sudden release of something. thanks for your post. :eek:
      #33; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:51:00 GMT
    • I have had the full-body zaps. Like electricity running through your body. :eek: It only lasts about 1 second. I am on Effexor XR, Remeron and Ativan. It seems to happen when I am really nervous.
      #34; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:52:00 GMT
    • :wave: I was at my therapist last week and asked about these "zings" I getin myhead from time to time for 10 years or so and no one seems to know about them. She said look up brain zaps online ! Thank God somene finally knew what I was hearing. I told her to imagine a meteor shower and every now and then one or some have a very highpitched zing sound to it.

      I told her my clonezapam gets rid of it.

      She said that makes sense because it has to do a muscle behind the ear and an anti-anxiety medicice would help. I have anxiety disorder and now depression and I have had these zings before they diagnoised me or put me on meds but theydid start around the time I started to show anxiety problems in my mid 30's. I am in my mid 40's and getting them alot the last 2 weeks and was concerned.

      She said don't worry your not hearing anything going on inside your brain. I really didn't understand all the muscle behind the ear information she was giving me so she said to go online and type "brain zaps" Anyone out there no what she was talking about with the muscle behind the ear?

      #35; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:53:00 GMT
    • :wave: I was at my therapist last week and asked about these "zings" I getin myhead from time to time for 10 years or so and no one seems to know about them. She said look up brain zaps online ! Thank God somene finally knew what I was hearing. I told her to imagine a meteor shower and every now and then one or some have a very highpitched zing sound to it.

      I told her my clonezapam gets rid of it.

      She said that makes sense because it has to do a muscle behind the ear and an anti-anxiety medicice would help. I have anxiety disorder and now depression and I have had these zings before they diagnoised me or put me on meds but theydid start around the time I started to show anxiety problems in my mid 30's. I am in my mid 40's and getting them alot the last 2 weeks and was concerned.

      She said don't worry your not hearing anything going on inside your brain. I really didn't understand all the muscle behind the ear information she was giving me so she said to go online and type "brain zaps" Anyone out there no what she was talking about with the muscle behind the ear?

      #36; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:54:00 GMT
    • I also had these 'brain zaps' when I was on Paxil, and they worsened when I was withdrawing from the AD. I could feel them in different locations inside my head, only for a brief moment. It felt like it somehow connected right behind my forehead and nose most of the time though...or they were in the back central location of my head. They were very short and quick. I still have them, and its been about 9 months since I quit Paxil. I wonder if its a long term effect.
      #37; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:55:00 GMT
    • For the two whoel months I was off of zoloft before I had to go back on I did get those body zaps. It felt like really strong adrenal surges??

      Has anyone ever had "body zaps?"

      For a long time after withdrawing from Zoloft I would lie in bed and then feel as if my whole body was being quickly "unplugged" and then "plugged back into the wall."

      I don't know how else to describe it. It's like my body was just humming along and then somebody would quickly unplug me, then I'd cycle back up again. It was always very rapid. Very weird.

      I never really experienced just classic brain zaps like people describe. Actually, I think I had one of those that was concentrated around my brain. I either had the full body zaps, or I'd have these weird electrical zaps around my shoulders, sortof like an electrical ant scurrying very quickly back and forth.

      None of this happens anymore, fortunately, but it lasted for months after withdrawing. Of course my psychiatrist thought it was my anxiety and not the withdrawal, but I never had any of these zaps before taking the medication, when my anxiety was at the height of its intensity.

      --CarrieLynn

      #38; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:56:00 GMT
    • Good old brain Zaps. have had many of those.

      I was always troubled with trying to explain the unexplainable zaps.

      Your not crazy.

      Have you noticed yet the body jerks. This usually happens when you are trying to fall asleep or during sleep. For no apparent reason, you leg will kick, an arm will flop or my favorite, the full body jerk.

      You got to love those medications side effects.

      The worst is just at the peak of sexual pleasure, your brain zaps and stops all the fun.

      Hang in there. Your not alone

      Enod

      #39; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:57:00 GMT
    • I started Lexapro 10 mg each day for anxiety in December. I recently stopped taking the medication about three weeks ago. I shorted my dose each day for two weeks then quit. I work in a hospital with a lot of Doctor friends. I have spoken with them about this. They are not absolutely one hundred percent sure about the "brain zaps" but I am sure they are caused from withdrawal symptoms. I'm sure like a lot of you when you have tried to describe this feeling to others they look at you like you are out of your mind. Well, this is how I would describe my "brain zaps" I notice it mostly when my head is still and I move my eyes from side to side. It usually lasts only a few seconds each way. I also get this swooshing feeling in my ears. I'd say I loose minimal hearing for only a brief moment. Anyway, I have had multiple scans done on my head and it along with my brain are perfectly normal. The only logical reasoning behind these feelings are from stopping the Meds. Apparently the half life on those things are outragiously long. Hope they go away soon. They seem to be my only symptom at this time. I am hoping they go away in a couple of weeks. My advice to those of you with this same problem is not to give up. If you pray, pray a lot. It will get better!!
      #40; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:58:00 GMT
    • Wow, other folks with "Brain Zaps". I get them too, but only when I am off AD's. Except for Wellbutrin, which causes unbarable zaps. When on paxil, effixor, and recently cymbalta, no zaps. I went off cymbalta 2 weeks ago, and they are back. Along with ringing in the ears. Been to neurologists, etc. Had all sorts of tests, but nothing is wrong. Considering going back on cymbalta to stop the zaps, but want to wait a few more weeks to see what happens.

      I have, in the past, started taking AD's just to get rid of the zaps. I have actually fell down the stairs from a zap, so they scare me a bit...

      Any new information on this? All I get from my Doctors is comments like "Interesting..."...

      #41; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:59:00 GMT
    • This is scary stuff. Ive been on lexapro for over a month and even though its been great so far, I always wonder if I'm going to have to go thru stuff like this when I decide to go off of it. I have my fingers corssed I wont.
      #42; Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:00:00 GMT