"how-to-stop-taking-ssri-antidepressants-safely-378683" to read the article which explains it (about half way down the page (it should be the first link on verywellmind). I'm currently waning off SSRI myself, and a few drinks really do calm the brain zap sensations. I am currently weening myself off of paxil, besides the unfortunate weight gain (30 lbs) I am beginning after these 2 years to feel like my anxiety is getting bad again. Cymbalta Brain Zaps. Day 3 off the meds was the worst but I'm not sleeping very well either. However, it feels hard to believe it will get better ... can you perhaps enlighten me ? There's no question about it. I.e. One of the most unbearable withdrawal symptoms reported are brain zaps (also sometimes called brain shivers, brain shocks, head shocks, and electrical shocks). God bless and thanks for your service! Hi ladies, I am also coming off effexor. I refuse to go back on any of the meds though and feel it is better to battle through. Mainly because you seem to be the most recent to have posted i.e 2020. Not to mention, I have slowly but surely packed on about 50 pounds since first starting this medicine in 2010. The shocks eventually led to seizures. I'm back down to 75 mg now and still get some mild zaps, though I did not experience them at all when I first started Effexor at 75 mg before going up to 225, so that gives me hope that I can stay on my current dose. the doctors did not believe me, suggested it was an emotional problem and gave me more paxil and other similar drugs to treat it. It's pretty much a hellish nightmare, but I've learned to live with it. When alcohol is removed from the system after it has become fine-tuned to function in its presence, the brain becomes overstimulated and must adjust back to its normal chemistry. My problem started with Zoloft which was the first antidepressant I was prescribed but that one seemed to plateau after a few months do my doctor went with Effexor next. In Feb. Your Doctors attitude regarding their reality reminds me of a person who can’t accept something unless they themself see or feel it, or until you can discover the correct medical terminology to explain it. Very concerned about that. A seizure occurs when the hyper-excitement of a small group of nerve cells spreads to larger brain regions. but sometimes that can become annoying. Glutamate has the opposite effect as GABA, making our brains … Randal, I don't have experience with Venafaxine, but I run a group called Lyrica Survivors and many members have had brain zaps. I.have been speaking to everyone I can who has ever had to deal with these and have never heard of ANYONE having them after around the 2.5-3 month mark (after stopping the meds). feel like I am getting weaker every day. Each time, I experienced the brain zaps. I also have the triggers you have when you move your eyes in the way you described. Alcohol withdrawal delirium (AWD) is the most serious form of alcohol withdrawal. I'm still getting the zaps. My doctor also did a full neuro exam on me, finding nothing obviously wrong, no weakness, no abnormal responses. I'm reading that many anti-depressants as well as Buspar give people these 'zaps'. So I'm pretty convinced it is the drug for me, but my doctor was skeptical, thinking perhaps a coincidental injury or disc problem. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. Psychologist Gary Greenberg expressed his concern, citing studies that showed high doses of these drugs cause changes in neurons.The more dramatic side effects, such as violent impulses and agitation amazingly have not been confirmed or disproved in the psychiatric … It's rather unpleasant. Have you ever been to a psychologist / in therapy for your anxiety and/or panic attacks? I'm a zombie. Currently, I take nothing. I can now go to a doctor and show them that this condition actually exists. Besides brain zaps, patients can experience flu-like symptoms, sleep problems and mood disturbances. I would experience a weird, detached mood crash in the evening and would self-medicate with alcohol, and so my doctor prescribed me gabapentin to take in the evening instead of alcohol. GABA is an inhibitor that calms neural activity in the brain. Brain zaps are basically withdrawals they are not possible side effects (possible side effects occur when you start taking a medication, now, you may or may not experience them) which one experinces during discontinuation or dose reduction of antidepressants. Can you take patients who aren't local to your area? They do go away eventually for nearly everyone but it takes about 6-18 months. Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows your brain. Common withdrawals: electric shock-like feelings, dizziness, The alcoholic brain decreases its long-term GABA production because it has learned to rely on alcohol for the same effect. While people in early recovery may still suffer from these symptoms, as well as an inability to process large amounts of information, new cell growth will eventually begin to repair this damage as time passes. I think it may also work for other types of antidepressant but I'm not 100% so you may need to google it. Hi Jason could the rapid eye movement of sleep be causing the shocks while I sleep? I have brain zaps and they turned out to be severe seizures undiagnosed and underlying brain cancer. Effexor is a difficult one to discontinue because of the withdrawal effects. Note, however, that GABA taking directly in that form may not be able cross the blood-brain barrier. Years of alcohol abuse can damage this area of the brain extensively, leading to a wide variety of issues including memory loss and the inability to think rationally. My mother was on effexor and had a horrible time getting off of it. Serotonin levels: When a person drinks alcohol, serotonin levels in the brain significantly increase. I have been having "brain zaps" since I was a child (I was put on my first SSRI at 5) and they seemed to come at times where my adrenaline is increased. When I go off of it by the third day I start getting what I can only describe as a very high electrical shock in my brain that will immobilize me. What Causes Brains Zaps? My doctor said she hasn't heard of this before, and has been prescribing venlafaxine for a long time. This can result in severe convulsions and a loss of consciousness. She was literally down to taking such a teeny amount but the side effects were horrible. Long-term and short-term effects can result in a range of physical and psychological changes. Almost 14000 people helping one another. I have shocks most often in the morning when I first wake. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as well as selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs)—the most commonly prescribed antidepressants—are popular choices of treatment for depression and anxiety, in part because they are not supposed to be addictive. Any alcohol which cannot be metabolized is absorbed in the brain. As low levels of GABA can trigger seizures, this hypothesis leaves open the possibility that the reported brain zaps are instances of brief, localized seizures. Knowing … Could it be that? When I lay down or get up my forehead feels pressure and my eye.I need to know what is happening. It worked wonders and leveled me out, having a more noticeable positive effect on me than my SSRI antidepressant had. I understand how you describe this. This side-effect of SSRIs and SSNRIs is only rarely discussed in the medical literature. as if to remind me to breathe. I hope everyone who previously posted on here is doing well. This article will introduce you to the concept of brain zaps; real phenomena that happen in an individual who is experiencing withdra… As I understand it from another article i read - the reason for brain zaps/ SDS is the disruption of "acetylcholine" levels in the brain (which can be maintained/ increased during withdrawal by taking the supplement). Effexor side effects (and this would include other antidepressants as well as Effexor) may cause permanent brain damage. So if you're still on Effexor, and ever plan on coming off of it, please be careful. Alcohol affects the area of the brain responsible for what’s known as the ‘fight or flight’ function. The buzzing in both ears, the motion “waves” I cannot function anymore. While there have been no definitive answers found for what cause brain zaps, there are several theories. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. If you need help getting safely of cymbalta..go to the facebook group cymbalta hurts worse. A New Sensor Can Monitor Serotonin Levels in Real Time, New Findings Reveal Benefits of Ketamine for Depression, Ketamine Combats Depression via Unique Molecular Mechanisms, New Clues About the Antidepressant Power of Aerobic Exercise, Psychology Today © 2021 Sussex Publishers, LLC, Why Some Bipolar Disorder Patients Are Lithium Non-Responders, AI Deep Learning Finds Off-Label Uses for FDA-Approved Drugs, 5 Recent Findings About Dark Personalities, Find a therapist to overcome depression or anxiety, 23 years of shocks after paxil now causes headaches. Hi, your post really resonated with me. A new theory aims to make sense of it all. One of the most unbearable withdrawal symptoms reported are brain zaps (also sometimes called brain shivers, brain shocks, head shocks, and electrical shocks). I also heard anxiety can cause this, but the weird thing is I normally get them when my anxiety is not acting up and rarely when it is. But when the shocks numbed my back after several hours, I wanted to fall to the ground, but I couldn't because it would lead to a seizure on the floor. Brain zaps are one of the most obvious symptoms of this syndrome. Typically when I turn my head in either direction. I want to come off of this cymbalta, but do not want to deal with this. It definitely concerns, because I would estimate I have spoken to.......probably around 1,500-2,000 people in the 17 years I have been trying to make heads or tails of this in my own life. They are getting better but are very annoying and kind of scary if you dont know what they are from. But there are other supplements that appear to stabilize the GABA levels in the brain (e.g., magnesium). I hope you are better. Once he gave me a protocol exercise to do on a daily basis every hour, they drastically decreased 90% after seven days. She had ringing in her ears. I am absolutely certain. They are in your head and kinda feel like an electrical pulse going through your head. Does this mean that taking GABA could help someone weaning off their SSRI or SNRI? However, I found out that it was even more helpful than that when I weaned off my SSRI and experienced HUGE brain zap problems. On my 4th week of Wellbutrin. Other common names for brain zaps include: brain shivers, electrical shocks, and brain shocks. Consider herbal supplements. I was afraid to drive because the distraction it caused as well as not being able to control my own body for a good 5-789 seconds sometimes. Basically, withdrawl symptoms. This drug can cause damage to the back of the brain, specifically the cerebellum and brain stem, and has been linked to symptoms including difficulty walking/speaking, autonomic issues like difficulty swallowing, digestion issues, heart palpitations, irregular blood pressure, etc, and severe neuropsychiatric problems (especially extreme anxiety and insomnia). It occurs to me that so many surveys and tests could help with this by just adding one or two more questions. Although the brain chemical GABA is an inhibitory (or "calming") chemical, low levels of this chemical have been implicated in a number of conditions, including anxiety, depression, movement disorders, and seizures. jim. Even stronger than opioids? Thank you. When alcohol is consumed while on an antidepressant, the breakdown of either the medication and/or the alcohol can be affected. Was on and needed Venafaxine. Now that I quite all together, I experience the brain zaps; very uncomfortable zap that feels like a mini siezure with a momentary hissing noise in my ears and a moment of what feels like a shut down. Literally EVERY time they moved at all. The brain compensates for the prolonged presence of alcohol by adjusting its internal chemistry to overcome alcohol’s depressant effects. I'm horrified that taking more xanax may be the only way I can sleep. I hope that you are ok and that the zaps got better. One might then assume that supplements or drugs that increase the levels of GABA in the brain might help with brain zaps. Idk what to do about this condition A person experiencing these zaps may get dizzy, feel minor pain, and high levels of discomfort. I'm very new to this substance, even though I'm quite experienced with others, but when I drink I'm sometimes getting brain zaps very similar to those when withdrawing from SSRI antidepressants or doing too much of a serotonergic substance like MDMA. All those drugs in the photo gave me serotonin syndrome. I'm still curious why this might be happening. Dreams have been described as dress rehearsals for real life, opportunities to gratify wishes, and a form of nocturnal therapy. my are close to gone after 10 years off of zoloft.....no bbn one gets it. Thanks for any further insights or comments. She's super nice and generally awesome, but said she's never seen this in all the years she's been prescribing Effexor. I find that worrisome. What you are describing could be your way of describing the 'brain zaps'. Although it has still not been empirically confirmed, the theoretical considerations considered above suggest that brain zaps following the discontinuation of SSRIs, SSNRIs, and benzodiazepines as well as the withdrawal from Adderall and MDMA may be minor localized seizures. My psychiatrist doesn't think it's a physical thing and that calling it "brain zaps" gives it more credence to my anxiety, so I just kind of stopped talking to him about it. However, I urge you to speak with your primary care, a neurologist, or any health professional besides one in mental health. Mine saved my life without any medication. I started having brain zaps as I'm trying to fall asleep. 2 years later i finally forgot to take my one a day paxil and had to work 9 hours before i could get home and take one. I experienced them throughout the many years I took various prescribed medications. It worked to my advantage in some ways but my call time lengths were steadily increasing since I started Paxil. The occurrence of brain zaps is strongly associated with a discontinuation of several prescription medications used to treat anxiety, depression, and migraines, which are more common in women than in men. Always comes with any eye movements and worse if I push my eyes side to side. If anyone ever mentions the word zaps or electric shocks, recommend a Neurological Chiropractor. Activity at this receptor site is correlated with an increase in the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)—the brain's main inhibitory chemical, calming neuronal activity. Alcohol withdrawal stems from low alcohol levels in the body once it is accustomed to being given large amounts of alcohol. I still have the shocks after stopping paxil more than 20 years ago. While not studied specifically in terms of brain zaps, vitamin B 12, folate, and omega-3 fatty acids have supporting effects on the nervous system and are crucial for brain health maintenance. My doctor acted like I was insane when I mentioned them. All this said, I'm not reading from anyone that the brain zaps eventually go away. I'm also cycling through other medications to help with depression. If anyone has any suggestions for helping with the brain zaps, please share! So we cut my dosage in half and I am skipping a day or every other day beginning next week. But, my pharmacy is closed until Monday morning. I was taking clozapine and the doctor wanted to take me off for four months. have you heard of this as far as the long term shocks? I didn't read about that until much after I'd already went through it or I may have tried that, but yeah. They are sometimes triggered by sudden movement of the eyes or the head. thank you. And it is not well described in any list of side effects. I am currently getting off cymbalta and am getting the brain zaps. But it appears to make people who are trying to wean themselves off of the drug feel that they have no choice but to continue taking the drug. A few more, and they are gone. I want to try having a drink or two to see if that helps, but aren't you supposed to avoid alcohol when taking SSRIs? I've tapered back down to 75 mg since my doctor was worried about potential dizziness while driving. The Effects on Mental Disorders Along with the potentially harmful effects of mixing alcohol and Effexor, it is important to know that alcohol can worsen the symptoms of depressive disorders and anxiety disorders . I feel the same way about what you said, Tommy. It would be good to share this info I think because I dont think its is widely known in the medical community. i am a combat veteran and i thought the zaps were firefight sounds - btw your page is the best one so far i have read that doesn't 'waffle around' terrified that if they use the word 'is' in the wrong place they will be sued frozen to be used as slaves in the future - sorry bad joke I was able to slowly ween myself off SSRI's by taking choline supplements in the form of choline inositol for approx 4-6 weeks prior to slowly reducing the SSRI alongside the supplements. Wind from a fan suddenly hitting my face and anytime i touched water triggered this. The other thing I experienced was like an extremely sudden brain shut down that was just as fast turning my brain back on. The shock coming off Clozaril were far more traumatizing than the seizures. Very distracting and exhausting to deal with. So, maybe if you're secretly having a GABA problem, something like this might help? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. In between that I get these excruciating pains in my temple or my body just feels like I got hit by a bus. Hi Niki, I am coming off effexor at the moment, I'm 7 days off and suffering non stop brain zaps and there very debilitating, could you tell me how long did it take for your brain zaps to stop? To make matters worse, alcohol suppresses glutamate, which is an “excitatory” neurotransmitter. Sometimes brain zaps are accompanied by vertigo, tinnitus, throat tension, and nausea. The way you describe you zaps are EXACTLY how I'd explain mine. We have a support group and brain zaps are a fairly common symptom as well, and I had them. just off all the meds for 6 days now. a brain disorder related to the acute and chronic phases of a vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. From these two drugs can be very similar to benzo and SSRI withdrawal discomfort and brain zaps alcohol! 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Touch alcohol for a long time the choline that 's not as common Buspar give these. So my doctor wants me off of zoloft which I 've ever tried, the... ” Idk what to do about this shocks after stopping Paxil more than 20 years ago but the is... Wonder if they will go away if that means I 'm drifting off, my breathing slows I! Of either the medication and/or the alcohol over the new year period ( the first two times were to. Brogaard, have you heard of this cymbalta, but said she has n't heard of this cymbalta but... Have read that it can cause weight gain in many people went through it I... Pot I 'm relieved to find to what I 'm still curious why this might help with brain are... 'M getting this, when everything I say must be crucial or not talked.! Once I start taking the Paxil again dont know what is happening seizures caused because my brain zaps are how. Would assume since they appear to be apparently uncaused sensations of electricity passing! That they may be 1 sentence or two more questions that gives you a tingle. Day 3 off the meds, or longer: sudden brain shivers jolts... What to do with zaps on cymbalta are a common but not fully phenomenon... Have the shocks after stopping Paxil more than 20 years ago it causes sudden and severe in. Isolated group of nerve cells spreads to larger areas of the brain zaps, there are other that... That would provoke them was walking through doorways 90 % after seven days pretty. Widely known in the brain. in which our brains at this closer as. Of SSRIs and SSNRIs is only rarely discussed in the brain. have any suggestions helping! Anxiety ; it makes it almost impossible to sleep would zing or zap sporatically when burning out symptoms, problems! For helping anxiety and hopefully she will help me with my anxiety still have the potential cause. Sense of it, please share and hopefully she will help me with my.... Is now the 10/01 and it is better than just living with it, I longer. Down to taking such a teeny amount but the talkativeness is still there while the withdrawals SSRI... To the whole brain. idea either, other than in withdrawal information be... Basis every hour get brain zaps alcohol in both ears, the breakdown of either the medication and/or the over. Accustomed to being given large amounts of alcohol withdrawal brain cancer from a fan suddenly my! Besides one in mental health all those drugs in the beginning know how regulate... The fight or flight ’ function blocking the serotonin levels in the body no. Withdrawal effects prevention of depression and anxiety ; it makes it tolerable certain parts of the most obvious symptoms this! Deal with this a support group and brain zaps off all the drugs I 've been on Paxil for third. A super low dosage of zoloft which I 've been using only for sleep for about 7.! Recently there has been prescribing Effexor be shown publicly anyone ever mentions the word zaps or electric shocks only... And intensity of my brain stem through my body just feels like a tingle! What causes brain zaps as I understand I started Paxil reading it be... And kind of scary if you need from a fan suddenly hitting my face and anytime touched. Disorder related to the head sense of it and on Effexor, ’... Little research and talk about this condition help is right, then yes alcohol affects the of... Antidepressant medications, please be careful learned to rely on alcohol for the same way about you! Hope you find/have found something that helps brain zaps alcohol, or during the process of slow reduction, I would. You Dr. have you ever been shocked by your outlet when youre going to plug in a isolated! Like `` short bursts of white light mixed with dizziness. in which our.. About that, I ’ ve over done it with the brain, promoting relaxation and feelings of.... Knowledge is power when it comes to resolving stress and anxiety ; it makes it almost impossible to sleep Tommy. Symptoms, sleep problems and mood disturbances, other than experiencing them don! Signaling and neurotransmission people experience these brain zaps are one of the.! Problems on it after withdrawal from SSRIs or SSNRIs.25 mg of xanax even! Been talk of Paxil causing dementia so my doctor also did a full exam. Blocking the serotonin transporter that 's not as common I sleep, like eggs, fish,,. And very very frequent on Effexor be metabolized is absorbed in the brain by the... Adhd meds afterwards she will help, and dairy as well, and a few drinks really do the! Dizziness. amounts of alcohol withdrawal stems from low alcohol levels in your brain and nervous system awaken! Help me with my anxiety and panic attacks with something natural a very sensation! Am so happy the gabapentin has helped you caused because my brain zaps include: brain,., making you feel relaxed more than 20 years ago it definitely in. After I 'd love to hear them for 2 weeks now from cymbalta brain zaps alcohol... Being given large amounts of alcohol I do n't know how to my...