Brain zaps are commonly reported electrical shock sensations that are often experienced during discontinuation of antidepressant medications. Other common names for brain zaps include: brain shivers, electrical shocks, and brain shocks. People often describe them as feeling electrical current uncontrollably zapping their brains, which can be extremely frightening and uncomfortable. A person experiencing these zaps may get dizzy, feel minor pain, and high levels of discomfort.
What causes brain zaps?
Brain zaps are considered to be caused by neurotransmitter alterations within the brain, particularly those involving “serotonin.” It is believed that serotonin plays a vital role in the development of these zaps due to the fact that people typically experience them when discontinuing serotonergic antidepressants (e.g. SSRIs). The zaps may also be caused via discontinuation of other psychotropic medications including: antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, MAOIs, SNRIs, and tricyclic antidepressants.
- Antidepressant withdrawal: During withdrawal from antidepressant medications, “brain zaps” are considered common symptoms to experience. It is believed that the severity and length of brain zaps may be related to whether a person discontinues “cold turkey” as opposed to tapering off of their medication.
- Eye movements: It has been speculated that moving the eyes side to side may provoke or intensify brain zap sensations. While this is purely speculation, there are online accounts of individuals that found things like “looking to the side” can trigger them.
- Medication side effects: Some individuals have reported experiencing “brain zaps” as side effects from certain medications. These may be experienced when a person initially begins taking a psychotropic medication. It is thought that adjustments in the functioning of various neurotransmitters are responsible for the zaps.
- Skipping a dose: If you are on a medication and you accidentally miss or intentionally skip a dose, you may notice unpleasant brain zaps. When people experience the zap sensation, they quickly remember that they forgot to take their medication.
- Other medications: It should be mentioned that medications other than antidepressants can cause brain zaps. While they are most commonly experienced as a result of taking serotonergic antidepressants, benzodiazepines and antipsychotics have also been suggested as potential causes.
How long do brain zaps last?
There is no set “timeline” that says how long brain zaps will last. The zaps people experience are generally subject to individual variation. One person may experience them for a significant duration (e.g. weeks or months), while another may find that they go away in short order (e.g. hours or days). There are a number of factors that can influence how long these “zaps” may persist including: your physiology, duration you took your medication, the dosage, and whether you quit cold turkey or tapered.
It should also be noted that while some individuals experience a bulk of the zaps immediately following discontinuation, some experience the zaps during more protracted phases of withdrawal. In other words, some individuals may have no zaps for weeks, and then experience them seemingly out of nowhere.
Factors that can influence the severity of brain zaps
There are several factors that are thought to influence both the severity and duration of the brain zaps. These factors include things like: individual physiology, level of anxiety, the drug that was taken, how quickly a person discontinued, and whether they are currently taking other medications.
- Individual physiology: Since not everyone experiences brain zaps, it should be noted that severity of the zaps will vary based on the individual. People with certain genes and/or more resilient nervous systems may not ever experience zaps even when quitting cold turkey. Some individuals will experience the zaps for longer duration than others. Keep in mind that your experience with these zaps may not be the same as someone else in terms of sensation, severity, and duration.
- Medication: Another huge factor in determining the duration and severity of the zaps is the particular medication that a person was (or is) taking. In most cases, the zaps occur upon discontinuation or skipping a dose of an antidepressant medication. While it is most commonly experienced during SSRI withdrawal, other classes of antidepressants and medications (e.g. benzodiazepines) have been suggested to cause zaps.
- Cold turkey vs. tapering: If you want to decrease your chances of experiencing severe, persistent brain zaps, make sure you taper off of your medication slowly. The more gradually you taper, the less likely the brain zaps are to occur. If you quit cold turkey, you are significantly increasing your chances of experiencing these jolts.
- Duration of treatment: How long were you taking your medication? Those who were on a particular drug for a long period of time are more likely to experience the zaps. This is due to the fact that the drug induced more changes in neural functioning and neurotransmission over the long-term than it would have over the short-term. In general, the shorter the duration for which you took your medication, the less likely you are to experience zaps.
- Half-life: What was the half-life of your drug? Medications with extremely short half-lives are more likely to cause zaps upon discontinuation or missing a dose. A common example of a medication with a short half life is that of Paxil (21 hours). People are much more likely to experience zaps from Paxil than Prozac (with a longer half life of several days).
- Specific drug: Some would suggest that the particular drug that a person takes will influence the zaps. Certain drug formulations are thought to be of greater potency and affect neurotransmission more than others. The more potent the serotonergic drug, the more likely a person will experience zaps.
- Other drugs: One factor that not many people consider is that of taking other drugs. Often times people who are taking other medications will not experience brain zaps because the other medication and/or supplement is mitigating the zaps. This is why many people transition to other medications like Prozac or claim that certain supplements help them cope with the zaps. If a person isn’t taking any other drugs or supplements upon discontinuation, the zaps will likely be more severe than those who are still medicated.
- Level of anxiety: Some have speculated that when a person becomes more anxious, they are more prone to the zaps. This could be due to the fact that anxiety stimulates the central nervous system, and thus could be preventing repairs from occurring after withdrawal. In other cases, people with high anxiety may perceive the brain zaps as being worse than they actually are and/or believe that there is some more significant health problem.
Theories about causes of brain zaps
Brain zaps have long been described by individuals dealing with first-hand experience of antidepressant withdrawal. The zaps feel like jolts of electricity through the head, neck, or other areas of the body such as the spine, arms, and/or legs. In most people, the most common area to experience these zaps is in the head, thus being referred to as “brain” zaps. There are several theories in regards to what may cause them. While certain factors are suggested as causes, the specifics are unknown.
REM Sleep and Serotonin
One hypothesis is floating around the internet that suggests brain zaps are linked to both REM sleep and serotonin. Some people experience brain zaps after waking up from sleep and/or when they fall asleep. A theory is that REM sleep (rapid-eye movement) may influence serotonergic processes in the brain, and the “zaps” are a byproduct of the rapid-eye movement. Whether this has any credibility is debatable. Those who have felt the zaps while sleeping may be able to provide more insight into this experience.
Transitioning out of drug-induced states
Some experts believe that they are a result of the brain suddenly attempting to transition out of the drug-induced neurotransmission to which it had adapted. There are many reports of brain zaps, some of which have been so severe that doctors thought they were experiencing seizures. A couple of British psychiatrists described brain zaps as, “sensory symptoms or symptoms of disequilibrium in brief bursts” when a person moves their head or eyes.
Analogy: Scuba diver surfacing too quickly
They emphasized that this generally occurs during discontinuation from a psychiatric medication. An analogy that has been used to describe why brain zaps occur is a scuba diver who is at the bottom of the ocean, but rises to the surface too fast – resulting in unwanted effects. Other psychiatric authors have suggested that brain zaps are likely influenced by serotonin’s role in sensory functions and muscle movement.
Paresthesia
When a person quits an antidepressant, the person then may experience paresthesia or various sensations as a result of abnormal serotonin levels. These authors describe the fact that major changes to neuronal networks can occur during antidepressant treatment, thus leading to zaps when the brain attempts to function without the drug.
Length of treatment and dosage
Authors have also suggested that both length of treatment and the dosage taken may influence the severity of brain zaps. Additionally, other researchers have hypothesized that in addition to serotonin playing a role in the zaps, norepinephrine may also be a contributing factor – especially for individuals who come off of SNRIs.
Pre-Seizure symptoms?
Researchers have stated that these brain zaps could be similar to pre-seizure symptoms seen in cases of epilepsy. Since there is evidence that the noradrenergic system plays a role in seizure development, it would make sense that norepinephrine could influence brain zaps.
What do brain zaps feel like?
They are relatively difficult to describe because they affect each person differently. For some they are more severe and resemble electrical jolts, while for others they are less severe and easier to cope with. Most would agree that they feel some sort of “electrical” sensation within their head as a result of them. Below is a list of various descriptions of the zaps based on first-hand experiences.
Descriptions:
- Electrical shocks
- “Flicking cards” through your head
- Electrical jolts
- Light-bulb going off in your head
- Lightning strikes in the brain
- “Pop rocks” in the head
- Pulses of electricity
- Shivers of the brain
- Strobe light flashing in the brain
Note: These sensations are often accompanied by sensations of dizziness and/or vertigo. Others may experience symptoms of nausea and/or tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
How to stop brain zaps…
There are no known medical treatments that are prescribed specifically to stop the brain zaps. In most cases, people will have to put up with them and understand that with proper time, they will eventually subside. Below are some recommendations that may help you better deal with the zaps.
- Conduct a slower taper: If you quit your medication cold turkey, you may need to start taking it again, and then conduct a slower, more gradual taper off of it. Many zaps are caused when people quit their mediation too quickly and/or from too high of a dose.
- Go back on medication: Another option that some people pursue is simply going back on their medication. After a person is back on their medication they can then decide to taper more slowly and/or switch to a different medication.
- Take Prozac (longer half-life): A strategy for minimizing brain zaps and general antidepressant withdrawal symptoms is to transition to a drug with a longer half-life. Often an experienced psychiatrist will recommend transitioning to Prozac and eventually withdrawing from the Prozac, which should reduce the chances of the zaps.
- Supplements: Many people swear by taking various supplements to reduce the severity of brain zaps. Whether these supplements actually work to alleviate the zaps is unverified. Many individuals have said that supplementation of vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids improve these zaps to a significant extent. Some have suggested that they completely cure the zapping.
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Many people claim that the best way to deal with brain zaps is to take omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil supplements. It is unknown why the fish oil helps, but many have testified that it works wonders. While most user accounts suggest taking “fish oil” some would speculate that “krill oil” would provide similar results.
- Vitamin B12: Some have suggested that getting proper vitamins helps significantly to minimize the zaps. In particular, many people have recommended taking Vitamin B12 supplements and have found them especially helpful. The combination of the B12 with fish oil is able to decrease the severity and frequency of zaps in some people.
- Time heals all: Understand that although the zaps may be somewhat painful, frustrating, and annoying, they will eventually subside. Even if it seems like they are a permanent neurological problem, rest assured they are not. Eventually your brain will figure out how to repair itself and as your neurotransmission restores itself, you will no longer feel the zaps. For some people the zaps may last days, for others weeks, and for others even longer, but they will subside in time.
Are brain zaps considered dangerous?
If there’s one thing to know about these brain zaps, it should be that they are not considered dangerous. There is no scientific evidence supporting any claims that these jolt-like sensations cause any brain damage or interfere with the health of neurons. Although they may be highly-uncomfortable to experience, at least you don’t have to worry about them killing brain cells.
Have you experienced brain zaps?
Many people have experience brain zaps upon discontinuation from an antidepressant medication. I personally remember quitting Paxil CR and wondering why it felt like my brain was being tortured in an electrocution chamber. For most people, the brain zaps suck, but will eventually subside. If you have a personal experience with “brain zaps” feel free to share it in the comments section below. Also feel free to mention any supplements and/or strategies that have helped you cope with the zaps.
Take the “Brain Zaps” Questionnaire
Patients know that most medical professionals are unwilling to acknowledge “brain zaps” and usually attribute them to worsening of neuropsychiatric conditions and/or a somatic disorder. Because brain zaps are a legitimate [yet largely unacknowledged] phenomenon among psychiatric patients, a subset of professionals (and many patients) agree that it would be useful to develop guidelines for their prevention and/or treatment.
After being presented with a patient experiencing severe brain zaps, a clinical psychiatrist decided to conduct an investigation by formatting a questionnaire. I was asked to include the questionnaire on this page.
If you’re interested in helping medical professionals better understand “brain zaps,” feel free to participate in the following survey: Click here to take the “Brain Zaps” Questionnaire. The questionnaire results will be used to develop guidelines for brain zap prevention, minimization, and/or treatment. (UPDATE: Questionnaire is now closed).
I get these x 1 year and have never been on SSRIs or abused MDMA. Docs think I have an anxiety disorder. I went along with that for awhile, but now I believe it is organic. It’s super frustrating as I get very few nights of decent sleep. I’m doing about 3600 mg of fish oil. I will try the b-12 this week. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
I just got off celexa. I’m getting horrible zaps. I get dizzy and almost fall over when it happens. I also feel nauseous and I’m taking supplements. Any other advice? It’s so frustrating!
So glad I looked this up. I was beginning to get extremely worried for my mental health. These zaps are awful. Time to be more responsible taking my medication!
Such a helpful article! I’ve experienced brain zaps on and off since the mid-2000’s when I started treatment for depression due to other health problems. As I was jerked from one med to another these zaps would occur. Not knowing how to explain them I called them “bleep-bleeps” because of the sound some people experience with the zaps.
When trying to describe them to various doctors, no one could tell me what they were, why they were happening or what I could do about it. It simply was put in the category of “idiopathic” with the rest of my problems. I’ve been through benzo withdrawals and opiate withdrawals. I’m not sure what’s worse, but SSRI withdrawals are pretty bad. I’m currently withdrawing from Cymbalta for the second time. I stopped Cymbalta (duloxetine) this time mainly because of cost (thanks, Obama) and pretty bad tinnitus.
I tapered as much as possible, even halving the dosage by taking out half of the meds out of the capsules. I’ve been completely off for several days now and the zaps are just miserable. Cymbalta does not come in enough of a variety of dosages for proper tapering. Lilly, the manufacturer, knows this as does the FDA as indicated in a report that describes “Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome”, found here: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Advisor…/UCM172866.pdf. To date, Lilly hasn’t done anything about it.
Having gone through this twice now, I highly recommend to *stay away from Cymbalta*. This article is the BEST description of the symptoms and causes of brain zaps that I’ve ever read. It’s both informative and encouraging. Bravo, GLOOM! And thanks!
God bless your hearts, am going through the zaps, will endure them and never get back on antidepressants again, very dangerous and doctors really push you to be on them.
I ended up with a terrible dose of the influenza A right at the same time I quit my 5mg of Lexapro. Anyway, my doctor prescribed me a small dose of 25mg Prednisolone for 5 days for the exacerbation of my Asthma. I had horrific brain zaps but the moment I took the short course of Prednisolone they 100% stopped and I have not had a single one since. I call it a miracle cure.
What was the exact course of the Prednisolone?
Glad I found out what this was. I don’t have them often — once a week if that. I’m not coming off medication but I am on Lexapro for anxiety and depression. I guess it’s a side effect of the medication. I’m glad to know though that I’m not in danger.
I have been on 100 mg of Zoloft for about 2 years. Suddenly out of no where about 3 months ago,( 2/15) I began experiencing brain zaps which started just every now and then and accelerated to every single day from early am to hours after taking the Zoloft. My Dr. increased it to 150 mg QD which helped for about a week. I am now suffering daily with these zaps to my head, shoulders and arms every time I move. I am fed up with it. The Dr. thinks it’s anxiety related, but I am not anxious. I am on the Zoloft for legitimate life experiences which are causing depression, not anxiety.
I want to contribute with my history. At my twenties I had mild brain zaps occurring when my fewer temperature was rising, not when it was already high. The zaps where triggered, not only by side to side moment of my eyes, but also by certain thoughts, like an unknown behind your back, or picturing unpleasant pictures in your mind, even just for a fraction of a second.
At my forties, I tried some meds for depression, and narcolepsy. Don’t remember the meds I was on and off. But now zaps caused by withdrawal where more severe, and was cured by low dose of amphetamine 15 mg. (Discovered by coincidence). Later (no nacolepsy detected), I was on 150 mg Effexor per day for 15 years. I did some cold turkey breaks for months or a year, of my own, without any problem, (did not know there should be any).
The last break was after 8 years of Effexor usage. Last year I (my doctor), replaced Effexor with Woxra, and did the Effexor withdrawal in two weeks. This time, after 15 years on Effexor, I got serious brain zaps. I feared getting a seizure at my job. I discovered at that time (like others in this forum) that just a little dose like 5-10 mg Effexor removed all brain zaps. After this try we got back to Effexor. Haven’t been doing drugs or excessive alcohol. Regards. -Seth
What is Woxra?
I must say that I am relieved to find that I am not alone regarding recent episodes of “brain zaps.” HOWEVER…I differ from most of you since I was NOT using antidepressants, or discontinuing any medication. In October 2014, while playing an online game, I experienced a sharp pain/zap sensation, which was so intense that I had to hold my head and close my eyes. This lasted a few minutes and was the first time. The CAT Scan was good.
In May of 2015, it began happening again, although not terribly intense at first. The intensity and frequency grew gradually as I stressed over the possibility of an aneurysm. Two trips to the E.R. and I was prescribed Prednisone steroids, which seems to help lessen the severity and the frequency, but has not eliminated these electric shock sensations. This is so debilitating that it has altered my ability to sleep since oftentimes during episodes, I am unable to lie down without the spinning sensations and it has even awakened me out of my sleep.
And, with what seems like vertigo, at times I have difficulty walking and can’t drive. One doctor said it’s vertigo and that I may have crystals forming in my inner ear. The E.R. doctor said she found inflammation of the temporal arteries. The Rheumatologist said I may have Temporal Arteritis, but the Ophthalmologist argued strongly with her over the phone that it is NOT Temporal Arteritis since I had only one of the indicators.
Now they want to perform a biopsy and remove a section of the artery on both sides of my temples to examine for Temporal Arteritis, but I’ve decided to reject the surgery, since they indicated the risk of nicking the nerve, which could result in permanent damage or possibility of stroke. The medications I was taking at the time of the first and subsequent incident’s of brain zaps was:
a) Hydrochlorothiazide (blood pressure)
b) Gabapentin (for pain)
c) Meloxicam (arthritis and nerve pain).
d) Prior to the Gabapentin and Meloxicam, I took Ibuprofen for my pain.
Shortly after learning that both Gabapentin, which is an anticonvulsant drug for epileptic seizures, and Meloxicam can cause dizziness, I immediately discontinued taking them, but the symptoms persist. In lieu of the fact that I am experiencing these “brain zaps,” even though I was not taking antidepressants or discontinuing any medications, I would like to hear from anyone else in the same or similar circumstance.
I would also like to thank “hummerbird” for her contribution, which are ALL the same symptoms I have had (including bronchitis in Dec 2014, which can increase the risk for Labyrinthitis). The doctors have not taken my mention of the periodic bright flashes of light at the outer edge of my left eye or the recently diagnosed tinnitus into consideration…YET! And I didn’t think to mention the involuntary rapid-eye movements, which have also taken place, since I didn’t think to include that.
But instead of allowing a biopsy, I will try the ENT doctor first and report back any new information. Thank you all for taking time to share and may God bless and heal you all soon.
I’ve been on citalopram 20 mg for about three months now and recently decided that I no longer want antidepressants in my body. I quit cold turkey and immediately felt what I now know to be called brain zaps. This article was so helpful alerting me that I was not alone or going crazy. It is a real feeling that I had trouble pinpointing for myself. Sometimes you feel its mind over matter, but in this case, your whole body wants to succumb to the prickly shock like feeling. Only time will heal all, but I suggest tapering as once you start to feel this way, you do not want to go back and start over.
I have had exactly these for years. Call them the “zip zaps”. I finally found a doctor who doesn’t trivialise these and actually believes me! It was a relief to discover this article if only because so many other people experience the same thing! Mine also started due to antidepressants. Unfortunately now affecting my balance and causing some tremors too. What I need to know is why is nobody researching this if it’s so common? What are these medications doing to us long term?
Thank you everyone who has posted on this and other websites. Having been on Sertraline for over 6 months I made the big mistake of telling my GP that I did not think they were working. I was told to come off them (150mg) straight away and go on to something else. Boy has it messed up my head. No mention of such possible withdrawal symptoms so here I was, already predisposed to stress, now thinking I had a tumor or something. I now realize that this is to go on for several weeks or months but at least I can stop stressing about it. Thank you everyone and best of luck. What a pity so many of us are having to suffer unnecessarily.
Switching from genetic paxil to genetic cymbalta. I’ve experienced these zaps with a missed dose in the past. I changed from paxil to cymbalta just over a week ago. Today the zaps hit me. I’m very tired today so I think that might be the instigator. Hoping a better sleep will make tomorrow better. It really is alarming, but I’ve survived them in the past and I know I’ll survive them again. Good luck with finding peace of mind everyone.
I have been experiencing ‘brain zaps’ occasionally for a few years now, they feel and sound like loud electric shocks. The only medication I am on is HRT. They always occur during the first couple of hours sleep at night, and are accompanied by a bright flash of light during which I see a zig zag pattern momentarily. I am sure an outside noise causes my sleep to be suddenly broken causing this sensation. I feel no pain, dizziness or nausea, and just go back to sleep. Occasionally I have experienced this more than once in one night. Does anyone else experience the flash of light?
The zigzag lights and flashing lights are a sign of what they call a ‘silent migraine’. I used to get them a lot and eventually they caused full blown migraines. I eventually found out I had labyrinthitis in my right ear which was causing the tinnitis, brain zaps, vertigo, lightheadness, the looking back and forth with my eyes would sometimes start what is called nystagmus. At that time I’d have to take migraine meds. It was later when I saw ENT she put me on Flonase (which you can now get over the counter) and after a couple of months of that, things started to settle down. I guess it’s the steriods in the Flonase that takes down the inflammation of the inner ear. Surprisingly my migraines went away!?! Hugs and health, hummerbird.
I awoke from a nightmare which I can remember every detail of at 2:04 a.m and did not want to go back to sleep for fear of the nightmare returning. Four minutes later I felt as if there was a static electrical field tingling around my buttocks. it moved down to my legs and then up to my thorax, then stopped. Four minutes later the same thing happened, then another four minutes passed and it happened again, only weaker.
Ten minutes later there was a very weak repetition. Then I heard my dogs barking and got up to go out and make them stop. At that time I went to the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror and see if my pupils were normal, which they were. I went back to bed and slept another seven hours with a less dramatic but memorable dream. I was afraid when it was happening because my father had told me that he had felt a tingling on his scalp when he had his stroke which left him hemiplegic, but I did not wake up my wife to take me to the hospital.
I have taken vitamin c and baby aspirin and 40 mg atorvastatin for the last year and a half, and am not stressed. I had a few drinks in the evening before the event, as usual. I have never had the wandering electrical field sensation before. It is a very strong sensation, lasts about ten seconds, with no discomfort or other affects once it has passed. The sensation stopped at my thorax and did not go to up to my head.
I was glad to see that other people have the sensation throughout the entire body and not just the brain. My shocks (more like the static electrical effect) each began at the buttocks, left that area moving down to the legs, left that area and stopped at my thorax. I will post again if it reoccurs.
I’ve been experiencing brain zaps with the discontinuation of narcotic pain medication. I’ve been subscribed these medications for the past ten plus years. I recently quit taking a newly prescribed medication because of the way it made me feel. With the discontinuation they have been extremely harsh. I’m not on any antidepressants. Do you think adding an antidepressant at this point would take the brain zaps away?
These brain zaps are very debilitating. They’re causing migraine headaches vertigo insomnia confusion and worry. with the brain zaps being caused by a different medication would this be a more serious problem? Has brain zaps been recorded as a symptom side effect of discontinuation of pain medication? Is there a certain point that brain zaps would cause you to go to the hospital.
I started experiencing zaps to my head, brain zaps, while meditating and the first one happened just before I experienced my first vivid meditative vision. I have never experienced them while falling asleep or waking from sleep, only while awake, during meditation, usually always before the vivid meditative visions start. They feel like a lightning bolt strike entering down to the crown of my head and into my brain. The first time it happened it startled me as it was loud and made me feel a sense of nothingness, nonexistence, for just that moment of the strike.
Ever since that first time of this happening it has happened regularly only during meditation for the past three years. I had always wondered what caused the brain zaps to happen and so happy knowing I’m not alone. I also am able to cause a rumbling sound within my head that I have total control over the volume of it whether loud or quietly or anywhere in between as well as being able to control whether I make it happen only on the right side, the left side, or both sides simultaneously.
I can control this and keep it going for as long as I wish. It has the sound of rolling thunder which is strange because I have those lightning bolts to my brain. That is something I found I could do as a child. I actually found, through a Google search, that there are others that experience the head Thunder but most only have it happen while yawning, others can make it happen at will but not independently in each side and can only keep it going for up to 10-15 seconds. It’s said that less than 2% of the population are capable of the independent on each side but again only 10-15 second durations.
I am one of the only ones that has control over the volume as well as being able to keep it going for as long as I wish. I can make it a nice C tone which I do at times to aid myself into my meditative visions. I am able to keep the visions going as long as I keep my mind silent without thought because as soon as you “see” something and focus on its color or any kind of thought at all about what you are seeing the visions abruptly stop.
I’ve been taking Zoloft for anxiety attacks for about 20 years. I’ve never heard of brain zaps until I found this informative place. Mine, however, are very wonderful. One person here described them as euphoria. That’s as close as I can get to describe the sensations. But your speaking of visions is what makes me reply.
I’ve had one vision during a brain zap. I closed my eyes and clearly saw a working set of vessels which I believe to have been the trigeminal/cranial complex. It was in black & white but the vessels all were pumping or moving in concert and tightly held together to each other. I think this is the area below the skull at the neck some have been referring to here.
Anyway, as you said, I clearly saw the living vessels &/or nerves active and moving in sync and then as if in a tunnel, the vessels moved quickly away from my brain-sight, getting smaller and smaller until they vanished! This happened after a long flight. I do have trigeminal neuritis which is how I know exactly where this nerve is in the head/neck zone.
I am positive this nerve is involved when I read the other posts here. I hope some researcher reads all these posts. They are pretty amazing. Thanks much :)
After taking it for two and a half years I’m in the tapered withdrawal process from sertraline (altruline 10mg) which consisted of reducing the dose by half each week, and am on my first week drug free. All through the process I’ve been having zaps but this last week they have increased to some 5 or 6 per hour all through the day. I find some comfort in reading they should eventually subside. To reduce them I take Tylenol which seems to have some effect. At least my body doesn’t hurt that much. Hope this helps…
I’ve been on Risperidone 3mg and 112.5mg Venlafaxine (Effexor) Brain Zaps drive me crazy. Thick head for ages, then zap zappety zap. Dangerous tablets to take as my physical health has suffered tremendously.
Hi all, I found this page after trying to find the way to describe the feelings in my head for the past week, Brain Zaps sum up this highly unsettling, and at times outright scary feeling perfectly. Unlike most others on this site, I don’t have a history of depression and I have never been on any sort of medication other than antibiotics now and again, I do however have a history of alcohol abuse which I withdrew from around 6 months ago (admittedly I have 4 or so beers a week now, as opposed to the 16 per night i used to consume), and I was partial to taking Ecstasy (MDMA) for a few years during my misspent youth.
My brain zaps started pretty much a week ago to this day, I was sat at my computer and I had a feeling of an immense electricity jolt just exploding in my brain starting from my upper neck and dissipating through, and across my brain in less than a second. Whilst I have had this sensation (albeit much much milder) in the past (maybe 4 or 5 times a year at most), this Zap really took be back, to the point where I had to lay down for about an hour to compose myself. It actually reminded me of an experience that I had around 10 years ago after a particularly heavy weekend involving MDMA where it pretty much felt like my brain just blew out and rebooted, like everything was reset.
Since this mega zap, I haven’t been myself at all throughout the week that has past, I feel like I have mild vertigo, almost like a feeling that I am very slightly hungover and I have stepped off a boat. I feel detached from my head like I am sometimes looking through the eyes of someone else (again mild), and the feeling of a slight pressure at the base of my skull at the back of my head. I’m pretty much a social person, I have spoken at industry conferences etc, but lately I have been getting anxious when I go out in public, and I am finding it difficult to look people in the eye when I am talking to them etc.
Although alarming and unsettling, I can pretty much power through this, and anxiousness and ‘panic attacks’ are well know symptoms of alcohol withdrawal so I am pegging it down to that. Going back to the brain zaps though, my usual day for the past week has consisted of waking up and feeling fine, I jump on my computer for an hour or so and that’s when the feeling of mild vertigo/stepping off a boat begins, if I spend too much time in front of the computer then it seems to increase the frequency of the brain zaps which are happening 15+ times per day now, but have dropped off in intensity as the week has progressed.
I certainly don’t think the computer monitor is the cause of the issue, but I am almost certain that it increases the rate of zaps with prolonged use. One thing that I had noticed, is that when I have a zap, my body seems to kick into fight or flight mode, it’s like it doesn’t know what to do and is waiting for me to ‘act’ upon the zap. I have found that applying pressure to the back of my neck at the base of my skull, and then running my fingers down either side of my spine (again, base of the skull, upper neck) with a hard massage like pressure applied seems to have a calming effect.
After a few minutes of feeling a little light in my extremities I seem to return to normal bar the sensation of still feeling like I have just stepped off a boat. I’ve been to the doctor and to no surprise to anybody my blood work is completely normal, and the ECG in regards to my heart didn’t show any issue either. I am scheduled to see a neurologist in a few days so I shall report back then, I have also got some Vit B12/Vit D, and Omega oils to see if they can take the edge off it.
I have a feeling that most of this is happening to me personally due to the alcohol withdrawal, possible connected to PAWS as it has been 6 months since I massively decreased the amount I drink. In the mean time it just seems like something that I have to deal with each day. Probably not a lot of help to anyone, but I figured I’d type my stuff out above in case it helps someone find this page, whilst this feeling is highly unsettling, at least there is a sort of security in knowing that I’m not the only person on the planet that is feeling like this. Frank’s description (above) of a phantom or ghost like feeling passing through your head is also an extremely apt description in my case.
Started having seizures 8 years ago, Kepra stopped the Epilepsy but I had mood trouble, GP put me on 40mg of Celexa, Progressively became numb in Male parts, Decided I’ll try tapering off to get back my feeling of being a Man, cut the dose to 20mg for a month, then 20mg every other day, then off completely. I’m glad to say that was the ED problem and I’m coping with mood since now I am on Depakote for the epilepsy, but brain Zaps (Shivers) have been bad. At first the sensation of Flu (body temp OK) I would explain it to my Neurologist as a slinky sound in my head when I moved my eyes side to side.
I’ve read on another site that the sensation of a Phantom being passing through you, was close to what I was feeling, The sound was similar to the Alien space ship sound from Robinson Caruso in Space. I’m happy to say now on the 3rd week free of the celexa I’m getting better! I’m feeling up beat that this is going to go away 100%. I just wish the Dr. would take this Syndrome more seriously, my son is just finishing up school in the field and he is listening to me rather intensely. Good luck to you all. -Frank
I have not been on antidepressant tabs. Got a bad brain zap and wanted to pass out, followed by nausea and then dizziness. I lied down, but still feel lightheaded.
Coming of venlafaxine. These zaps drive me nuts.
Kat I am in the same boat withdrawals from venlafaxine are making me feel like absolute rubbish. I tapered for several months and my symptoms are still quite severe. I was actually so excited to find other people referring to ‘brain zaps’ silly me thought I had coined the term and it’s really comforting to hear others describe the symptoms of the zaps.
I actually thought something strange was going on that maybe no one else had experienced. I have the sweats and the aches, my sleep quality has always been crappy but it is certainly worse. The brain zaps worry me the most because when I’m driving I imagine what would happen if suddenly instead of a short quick zap I may get a longstanding zap or a succession of zaps without stopping.
Honestly I mainly just feel out of control and a bit disgusted with my body I feel like a junkie and these symptoms are a terrible. Honestly in all my years on this medication a health professional has never explained the severity of withdrawal to me and I have actually not felt this ill for a long time.
If there was some kind of timeline that I could look towards to help spur myself on that would be helpful but reading peoples symptoms last sometimes for years I’m not feeling too positive! Thanks all for sharing your experience this has been just what I needed, I felt so alone before stumbling on this page. Good luck to all of you with your journey.
Thanks for this great info. I thought I may have missed a few doses of Wellbutrin and then started getting these awful brain zaps. I feel much better now knowing it’s most likely not a brain tumor!
I too am glad to have found this site. I’ve been on effexor xr (175mg) for about 9 years. I’ve never had a problem, but in the past year I’ve noticed the brain zaps occurring off and on. They appear to get worse when I’m down or stressed. They get worse when I drink coffee too. I notice they occur when my eyes move side to side, and are especially bad while I’m shaving… I’m guessing because of needing to shift my eyes a lot. This is happening without a change in dosage, so I’m very concerned that being on this medicine for so long is having a detrimental physical effect on my brain.
Good to find this site. I keep getting little zaps on both sides of my head just above or behind the top of my ears. They’re not painful, just a bit uncomfortable and they come and go in a flash. However I’m not on any drugs and never have been. Might pay a visit to the local Doc and see what they have to say.
Wow, I didn’t know this existed. I experience “brain zaps” when I see little girls do cute things. Probably why I couldn’t watch Shirley Temple movies. I have experienced them also when little boys do cute things it’s just more prevalent with girls. This is also helpful in my consideration of coming off of Paxil.
I first started experiencing these head zaps in 1999. My primary care doctor sent me to a specialist, and after his testing he told me I had anxiety. He put me on a medication called Celexa. This took care of the problem for quite some time but after a while the head zaps came back. Then he added another drug called buspar. That also seem to help for about a year. I never really paid much attention to the short bout of attacks that came after that for about three years. Then after a while they returned and were very strong.
I change doctors and they continue to put me on the same medication, until I experienced a small and very slight stroke and then my whole life changed. The doctor I’m working with now sent me to several other people to try to figure out what is causing these and I explained to him that it was over anxiety however you did not understand how I came to that conclusion. It seems to me like I was kicked to the curb until I came across this posting.
Now I thoroughly understand that not all doctors agree with each other. I am going to search out a doctor who deals in mental health, who may help me get through this anxiety and put me on the right medication needed to help slow down some of these annoying electrical shocks in my brain. Thank you for this wonderful posting that has helped me understand and realize that I have not gone to the proper people to address this issue.
I have been experiencing brain zaps on and off over the past 4 months or so. However, I am not, nor have I ever, taken any kind of antidepressants or other drug mentioned. I do take 100mg thyroid medication and 4000 iu vitamin D daily. I don’t understand why I am getting them!
I have been having the same issue. I’m not on any antidepressants either, but do take thyroid medication as well. Mine is 125mg.
I’ve taken several of the drugs mentioned on this site, over a period of 10 years. When I first tapered off and stopped I had brain zaps every few seconds, also triggered when moving my eyes back and forth. They have reduced in frequency but I still get them 10 years after stopping SSRI’s. When I first reported this to my physician he had never heard of such a thing. Now it is finally being explored. My personal opinion – these drugs damaged my brain.
These shocks have plagued me for many years. I wish mine only involved my brain. I feel my shocks in my brain, face, chest, down both arms into my hands and feet. They do not feel nearly as strong in my feet. Those symptoms are coupled with dizziness and nausea. This nausea hangs around for several hours after the shocks subside. These experiences are horrible. :(
Thank goodness… Thought I had a brain tumor for a minute. Cold turkey quit zoloft… been over a week now. Hope it ends soon. :(
I’m having brain zaps right now having forgotten to renew my prescription for venlafaxine yesterday. I’ve missed three doses, yesterday’s and this mornings. Zaps are getting worse. Headache, electric current running throughout my body especially strong in head and neck. Thank you so much for this article, I was worried something terrible was happening to me. My partner is on the way to the chemist now to get my meds for me.
I’m relieved that I found this site, and I feel like a huge weight as been liften off my shoulders. I kept thinking, “oh my god what is this? is it harmful?” and to find this site and know that it doesn’t cause damage is a HUGE relief. :)
Although, with mine, they are very painful and its like an electrical wave that starts in my head and sometimes goes down my back and legs. It all lasts less then 10 seconds, but it only happens when I try to fall asleep. Can “Brain Zaps” cause any different symptoms of its own? e.g headaches, dizziness, light headed, and feeling very off?
Thank you for the very informative and helpful article!
This was a really good article on brain zaps, thank you! I am quite familiar with the BZs. I had been on antidepressants off and on for 20 years. I currently tapered off Cymbalta over a 9 month period. I experienced NO brain zaps. Tapering is the key when getting off these nasty meds. I feel really bad for everyone experiencing withdrawal symptoms. I went thru some really crappy ones myself. I had nausea, ibs, muscle aches and pains flu-like symptoms, uti, bouts with anxiety and crying. The list goes on :(.
The best advice I can give to anyone is, know that it will end and there isn’t anything permanently wrong with you. Take a multi-vitamin and Omega 3, meditate, practice deep breathing, go for walks. Withdrawing from these nasty poisons will wreak physical and mental havoc but you won’t die from it. I will never allow myself to get sucked into the antidepressant rollercoaster again. Our bodies aren’t meant to have these toxins in our systems.
Hi Maria, I found your message very positive having suffered these zaps for the past 2 weeks. I came off Citalopram by choice and decided to go cold turkey. I am taking B Vits and Omega 3 and as I am retired, I can rest when I want. Being positive!
I took both trazodone and Prozac for a very long time (10+ years). I very, very slowly tapered off trazodone and still had the zaps for weeks. They finally went away, and then I decided to go off Prozac (fluoxetine). I quit that cold turkey. I was fine for a couple weeks, but then the zapping started. Am currently going through it now and it is worse in the morning and as I am active I don’t notice it as much toward the end of the day, but it’s still there.
The restless leg feeling has been more also, which I deal with by taking homeopathic Hylands for restless leg, which has always helped. I hate this feeling. Everytime I dart my eyes back and forth it feels like they have electrodes attached to them that zap me every time I do it. It’s nauseating and very frustrating that it’s still going on. I can’t wait for it all to be over and my brain to be back to normal…if there is such a thing. Horrible feeling. Will never go on an SSRI again.
I started getting brain zaps when I was prescribed Xyrem for narcolepsy close to a year ago. It was very scary, and I thought I was having seizures. Both my sleep doctor and the Xyrem pharmacy insisted that they couldn’t possibly be from the Xyrem. They said “it’s not a documented side effect.” I quit Xyrem within a couple days of the brain zaps starting, but I am still having them now almost a year later. It seems to happen most when I am waking up in the morning, or if I try to take a nap. They are often accompanied by a headache. Has anyone else on Xyrem ever experienced this?
I have had brain zaps for over 20 years. I have not been on any medication for ten or fifteen years, so at least for me the hope they will subside is unfortunately not true. Over the course of years they were less pronounced or more, and now in the past couple years worse than ever. They mostly happen when I lay down to sleep or am very tired. As soon as I close my eyes they start, over and over. Trying to sleep while being punched in the head by these severe blasts can be very disheartening indeed. I have pretty much given up hope anything will ever make them better. At times I suspect maybe it is more than brain zaps, but so far no doctor knows what in the world I am talking about.
My current one calls them migraines. I do sometimes have other symptoms like white flashing lights, even when awake. My brain zaps are very hard ones that slam into my head. Though I am not now on any depression meds, there was a long period in my life when I was on them, a whole mess of them one after the other (over the course of time), including combinations, as doctors sought to treat my severe OCD. I was on every major one existing then. It does not seem that my particular struggle with it will be solved, I wish I could find something that at least could lessen the severity.
I quit klonopin cold turkey about 2 1/2 years ago and I continue to have “brain zaps” and nausea. The brain zaps are not painful and it’s more of an annoyance than anything but the nausea really sucks. I’m going to start taking B12 and fish oil to see if it helps…
Have experience SEVERE brain zaps while discontinuing my Paxil cold turkey…it was AWFUL!!! Right now I am on day 12 of methadone maintenance detoxing/withdrawal and am experiencing brain zaps again for the second time in my life EVER and its just as bad I remember them. No ever told me you could get brain zaps from methadone withdrawal!
I was on sertraline a couple of years ago for a while then suddenly went cold turkey. At first I couldn’t understand what and why I was feeling these electric shocks in my head but I soon managed to work out it happened whenever I moved my eyes to the left or right. Interestingly I am now on St John’s Wort and experiencing the same sensations. The difference to sertraline however is I am still on st John’s wort. Another key difference is it is not triggered by eye movements and happens sporadically.
I first had these electrical shudders through my spine when I had a strong manic depressive episode–not while on any med. Years later I came down with chronic fatigue syndrome and all hell broke out in my brain–the fireworks, the tinnitus, occasional loud noises in my head, and every night when I was trying to relax into sleep, an involuntary shake of my head and a scary moment that jolted me awake because it felt like my body’s systems had suddenly stopped.
Years went by and I got better. One by one the symptoms subsided. The last one–the involuntary head shake also disappeared. Yay! Recently, though, as I am dropping off to sleep, or if I have stayed up too late, I have a mild brain zap, from right to left over the top of my brain. I associate it with being overtired. Why it has begun again I have no idea. I have been taking lots of vitamins and supplements for brain support – fish oil, turmeric, resveratrol, alpha lipoid acid, magnesium–because of having tremors following a bout of traveler’s diarrhea. The tremors went away.
I was feeling good, but the nightly zap began and in the last six months I have had two episodes where my brain completely failed to record something in short-term memory. A recent study showed that CFS patients have diminished white matter in their brains. When I first got sick 30 years ago I feared for my brain. Ironically, I am now feeling mentally sharper than I have in decades, but something seems to be changing in my brain. At 62, with a long history of CFS, I worry that the results in my brain are beginning to show. Alas.
I started getting brain zaps while playing Mahjongg on the iPad. Absolutely addicted to it, I was. Was on the computer or iPad 12-14 hours/day. Only got the zaps at first when on the iPad. After a couple months, started getting them all the time. Relieved to find other people experiencing the same symptoms-doctors seem flummoxed. Afraid I was having seizures, but zaps is definitely it! Was on Effexor for 3 months 10 yrs ago, cut dose in half for a week, then went cold turkey because it made me fat, lazy, & ditsy, & I decided to work to heal myself from within. Hoping I can cure the Zaps with rest & nature. No more computer games for me. Thanks to all of you for sharing.
I had brain zaps when I went off of Paxil about 15 years ago. I take my current meds as I should. I am finding that when I get sick, such as a cold etc., I get them. All of these comments relate directly to medication, while mine is illness related. Thoughts?
I am so glad to have found this site! I have been pretty forgetful with taking my anti d’s in the morning every day and when I don’t, I get these zaps. They are never painful, but they are very very odd, and even harder to explain to someone. I’ll take the meds now when I’m supposed to and when it’s time to stop, do it slowly. Cheers guys. -D
I recently stopped taking Zoloft cold turkey (bad idea I know) and I have been having severe brain zaps. Sometimes I feel like I’m going to pass out. Hopefully they will subside soon because it’s really taking a toll. But the zoloft induced suicidal and homicidal ideations. So I think I’d rather deal with these honestly.
My zaps are not due to discontinuing meds. I take an antidepressant that controls them.
I have been taking sertraline 50 mgs for 2 years due to depression brought on by an MI aged 46. I have missed 4 days due to forgetting to hand in My repeat prescription and pharmacy closed for weekend. My brain zaps normally come on within 2 days of missed sertraline. I tend to describe my zaps as my brain bouncing around inside my skull. Upon walking, standing. Looking to the side. Also anger sets it off too. I’m hoping to wean myself off it within the next few months.
I’ve been having these as well intermittently. The first bout was six years ago. I attributed this to the Fluoroquinoline called Cipro, which I had a terrible allergic reaction to. I ended up going to a cardiologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, but no explanation was ever given. The second was three years ago but that time, no medications were present whatsoever.
Now, I’ve been having them off and on for the past few months. No medication just blindingly high stress. The latest bout which is currently happening today/yesterday has been the worst. It has been happening bad when I try to sleep, just before where I would normally lose consciousness it’s like there’s some disconnect between my body and brain occurs and it feels like my heart just stops, along with a strong electrical shock through my head then I feel disoriented and nauseous.. so here I am 37 hours awake, horribly unbalanced and afraid to drive home from work in this state.
I am so surprised that there is still no actual medical definition or information out there on this as it seems fairly common. It’s like the medical profession has decided we are all crazy. That is what the psychiatrist decided some years back when I gave him my symptoms and even directed him to a site with people who had experienced similar (AS NOBLE AS IT SEEMS, DON’T EVER EVER DO THIS!). His diagnosis was that I was simply suffering anxiety, that I must have gotten on the internet one night and read about it and magically manifested the symptoms… and that none of this is real but all internet phenomenon. Thanks Doc!
Yep, I’ve had a very similar experience when describing these to a professional… “must be anxiety” is always the response due to no medical documentation of the condition. If they had actually experienced a brain zap, they’d realize that these are a legitimate concern, not an exaggerated or hypochondria-based symptom.
Must be anxiety, what a load of codswollup I am 72 and been getting brain zaps for over 30 years. I have been on numerous anti depressants and Valium for 25 years, I went cold turkey in 1982 and they started with a vengeance. I am not a Psychiatrist but it is simple logic to me, continuous damping down of the brain with the chemicals they formulate to relieve us of our anxieties and depressions results in damage to the actions of our neurotransmitters so that when we go cold turkey or even try to wean ourselves off them our brain starts firing up again but because the pathways are broken it uses more electricity stocked up and blocked trying to get across the neurological pathways resulting in a shock, more so when our brain has been resting for awhile. Mine are very infrequent now as my brain is probably adjusting, though I do take cod liver oil every day, plus lots of Honey lemon and limes in a large cup of tea.
Hi Michael, found your message after looking at lots of messages on this website. I have come off Citalopram 20mg after 2.5 years as I don’t feel I need it. The zaps started immediately – I have gone cold turkey – and I am ok at night but zaps, tinnitus and dizziness occur a lot.
As I am nearly 70 and lead a quiet lifestyle, I can continue and hope things improve. Luckily I am fine at night as I have been taking Phenergan (Promethazine Hydrochloride) an anti histamine which causes drowsiness as a sleeping aid for some years. Over the counter it is Sominex but I get it on prescription.
Hello Gloom, Thanks for the info and discussion here. I’ve never had problems with depression or anxiety, so when I started getting these symptoms—which I’ve just learned seem very much like SSRI withdrawal—no doctors assumed that my problems were caused by anxiety. I was lucky in this regard. I imagine that if you do have anxiety in your medical record, it would be natural for doctors to assume that your symptoms are due to anxiety or some such thing.
These symptoms are very strange and hard to describe to someone who hasn’t experienced them. But so is everything. If you tried to describe the scent of a rose to someone who’d never experienced it, you’d have a difficult time of it! I think anyone reading this should be cautious about automatically assuming the problem is anxiety or depression, even if you do have these problems.
If you’re withdrawing from meds and you think this is the culprit, you still might want to get a full workup to rule out other possibilities, especially if you feel these symptoms are going on for too long. I’ve had the full workup, and nothing dangerous came up. Which is good, but also frustrating. I’d like to know what’s going on. I started out with lightheadedness which became constant, then I started getting the brain zaps (I called them “mild electric shocks”) which also became constant.
During extreme episodes, I’d get muscle twitches, brain fog, extreme fatigue and sensations too bizarre to describe in a comments section. Speaking of which, sorry about the onslaught of commenting from me…I’m hoping someone out there has found some answers.
I was taking Zoloft for about 4 months and couldn’t deal with the weight gain. My doctor switched me to Wellbutrin because it wouldn’t cause weight gain. The doctor just told me to stop Zoloft and start Wellbutrin. I thought it was strange but; did what she said. I immediately stated having “Brain Zaps” which I thought was from Wellbutrin, but it appear I should have been weaned off of Zoloft. I’m doing great on Wellbutrin in spite of the zaps. Waiting for my Psychiatrist appointment to talk with him about the issue. Right now; I’m willing to deal with the zaps because I feel much better; with no sadness or depression. I do hope that the zaps will subside but; time will tell.
I’ve been experiencing brain shocks for nearly a decade after being prescribed Effexor XR. I continue taking it, not because it’s helping my depression, but instead to reduce the intolerable amount of brain shocks that occur when attempting to wean off. It’s mind-blowing and incredibly disheartening that there isn’t more substantial information on this in all regards.