SSRI and Brain Zaps

ToriaRose2002 · 10-13-2003, 08:15 PM

I thought some might be interested. While i was in the diabetes forum, someone mentioned having "head shocks" or "brain Zaps" I have had these and was curious if this was due to bloodsugar levels or antidepressants. So i did a little web search. All info i found pointed to SSRI withdrawals. so i thought i would post the info here. I am only putting the link to a response from an MD. But there was a lot more info out there. I did a web search under "brain Zaps" on Dogpile.com.

http://dem0nmac.mgh.harvard.edu/foru...ideeffect.html

edited because i forgot to add the link........dah!!

Juliekaboolie · 10-14-2003, 01:08 AM

That seems downright scary, Toria!!! I have gotten the brain zaps and they only went away when I increased my dose again. It kinda makes you feel like you A) will have to be on medication for life against your will or B) you have to just live with the brain zaps. So depressing... I use Paxil for panic attacks/anxiety and am a lot better than I was a year ago. I used to take 40mg of Paxil and felt better on it but had a terrible time with teeth grinding and jaw clenching (which is a side effect of Paxil for some people). I went down to 30mg for awhile and still did fine with the panic and anxiety but still I suffered from the clenching. So I've slowly weaned over a month to 20 mg and ... knock on wood... I have had virtually no side effects and especially no brain zaps. I just have a gut feeling, though, that if I were to drop down to 15mg that I would have some issues. *sigh* I wonder if they could find something to help us wean off this stuff?! My dr had never even heard of the zaps when I brought it up 6 months ago!!!! Weird! Thanks for posting that article... sorry to go on and on ...

Annaw · 10-14-2003, 08:44 AM

When my blood sugar levels plummet I know cause I feel light headed, clammy yet warm, a little "out of it", and sometime slight nausea, and very shaky. So it is a whole body reaction.

I have taken SSRI's off and on for many years. When I went off one to go on another I'd have some "brain zaps" here and there for about a week. I'd also have some tingling or slight head aches. Now if I miss a dose I'll get some "zaps" about 12 hours after the missed dose. I don't mind it because I never forget for too long! I just take a pill and everythings fine within a few hours.

Getting on antidepressants saved my life when I started at first, and now finding the right meds for me has dramatically improved my quality of life, so it is definitely worth it for me!

I guess each individual just has to weigh their options, but they really haven't bothered me too much.

ToriaRose2002 · 10-14-2003, 04:43 PM

I too must admit that the antidepressants saved my life....finding the right combination took some time. I too get them when i forget to take them on a regular basis. The "BRAIN ZAPS" are a little frightening at times. I also have times when waking or just dozing off i hear a loud sound. don't have any other way to describe it, but i know for sure it is a sound only I hear. Anyone else??....or am i just crazy!!!

Bibi · 10-16-2003, 12:31 AM

Ia m getting off Paxil right now and I am in hell, literally....I don't know what to do. I didn't think it would be this bad...I feel like I am addicted to them and I just want them...I have been weening myself off and this is quite scary. If anyone can offer some advice or encouragement it would appreciated. I will be weening off for another month but I am scared. Thanks, Rebecca

Moonshoot · 10-16-2003, 01:23 AM

I weaned myself of Effexor before my wedding in 01, because I wanted to TTC right away. IT WAS AWFUL!!!!! I did it as slowly as possible. I think I started by taking the next dose a few hours later and then the next a few hours longer...well needless to say, that was WAY to fast! I had to go back on full force a few times and start even slower, like move the time to 30 minutes later and stay there for 4 or 5 days, then 45 minutes later and stay there for 4 or 5 days, etc. It took forever! Then I got a lower dosage from my doc and used that for a month on my spaced out plan. My brain was hazy and dizzy and having the shocks. I was miserable, but I was determined to do it and it did go away.

I wish you all the best, because I know it wasn't fun. Sometimes I really want to get back on, but I will wait until I really need it so I won't have to go through that again!!

Good luck!!

Juliekaboolie · 10-16-2003, 02:59 AM

As far as Paxil goes, I agree: it IS hell to get off of them. I have also read it is one of the worst anti-d's to get off of. One thing to try is to ask your dr for liquid Paxil (it is orange flavored) and wean off ... literally... 1mg ever 2-3 weeks. It will take forever but you won't feel as bad as you do... it should be do-able. For now, if I were you, I would go back up 5-10mg (or whatever dose you feel better at... no brain zaps, etc) and hang out there for a month before you wean back down more slowly. That is what I have done. I've gone from 30mg of Paxil to 20mg in approximately 6-7 weeks and I have no side effects. I think each time I dropped down 5mg I felt one or two days of mild anxiety. Exercise seemed to help get rid of that edgy feeling. Another thing to try (besides doing 20 minutes of exercise daily... this seriously helps) is to try and eat a small potato with NO PROTEIN right before bed every night. The potato increases serotonin which should help a bit with the withdrawals. FWIW, my dad has gotten off of Paxil (he has/had anxiety disorder/panic attacks) and is doing VERY well. He definitely had withdrawals with one of the being really poor sleep at night. He got a prescription for a sleep aid and that helped until he was feeling better. It's a pretty wicked drug but there are ways to get off of it. Best of luck toyou!!!

theflyingturtle · 10-16-2003, 03:15 AM

Hey I have no clue what ssri is? but I am not on depressents and take only met, bcps' and ibuprofin......I had some "brain zaps" not last summer but the summer before---oh I am not diabetic either---anyway I went to the doctor and they found nothing wrong---even did an mri cause she said it could be a brain tumor--said they will probably go away just as they started---I find I get them when I am way beyond exausted---after all nighters, bad sleep, etc...otherwise they don't so much bother me...and the summer I got them I was basically pulling all nighters day in and day out---I get eye twitches from this too...and the way I'd describe my zaps were like eye twitches on my head is this what you all are reffering to?

Juliekaboolie · 10-16-2003, 03:28 AM

SSRI stands for Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitor. Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro are in this class of Anti-depressants. I am unsure where Effexor goes and I know Prozac is in another class. Anyway, the only way I can describe a brain-zap is it feels like when you get a static electricity shock except it happens in your brain. When it happens to me, my vision whites out for a quick second and a loud noise sounds inside my head at the same time. It sounds weird but it's true. If I am weaning off the Paxil too quickly, it will literally happen about every 5 seconds all day long... it's awful and it's exhausting.

I hope this answers your questions!!!

theflyingturtle · 10-16-2003, 03:36 AM

Nah I'd say mine are more like twitches---I have never takin paxil or anything like that--------Well I think I was forced to take valuim once for my wisdom teeth maybe"? Not after but before? I don't remember maybe not---I think I took something for that like that but maybe not---

daculadawg1 · 10-16-2003, 12:11 PM

hi all, i've had those but i didnt know what they were. i take lexpro now but when i was on someother meds i had them. i told the neuro about them and he said they were nothing to worrry about.
thanks for posting this info,
linda mull