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 started having brain zaps when I was tappering off Zoloft. Luckily, my pharmicist had had them before, so I was informed right away as to why they were happening. I tried for a year to tapper off to no avail. The brain zaps felt like I was being tortured. The longest I could endure them for was about 3 or 4 weeks until they got so bad that they made me cry…partly from the anticipation of them throughout the day.
So I went back on Zoloft. My OB/Gyn discovered the Prozac trick and put me on the lowest dose of the time release capsules when supposedly release 12mg a day. I still couldn’t taper off them. After four weeks, I’d have to take another pill because the zaps got so bad. Then, my pharmacist recommended taking the 10 mg Prozac pills daily and then cutting them in half to 5 mg daily.
About a month ago, I forgot to take my 5mg one day and didn’t have any brain zaps for about 2-3 weeks. Now they have started up little by little, mostly in the late afternoon and into the evening. I wake up fine each day and haven’t taken another Prozac but I’m tempted to because the zaps are getting worse. I imagine they’ve started because the Prozac is totally out of my system, but I’m so discouraged that they’ve started again.
I’m fine as long as I lay down but once I look around or get up, they start up. I’m hoping they won’t get too bad and I can push through the next days/weeks (hopefully not months) until my brain is back to normal.
The internet is a godsend for things like this. I had been searching for my symptoms, finally realizing the only ones coming close to describing what I’m experiencing are often coming off SSRIs. I’ve been taking Tramadol for a few years, 3 times a day, and had started taking them twice a day in an effort to get off them as I don’t know that they help with the type of pain I get.
My episodes aren’t horribly severe and will usually go away if I focus on relaxing my eyes. When they started, it was only when I initially laid down to go to sleep, then they started whenever I’d roll over. Now they are starting to happen more during the day. Since they seem to go from ear to ear, I thought it might be ear-related in some weird way.
Frightened me enough to go to an ENT, who had no idea what it could be, did an ear test, and ordered an MRI that he didn’t expect to show anything, but he wanted to clear that before referring me to a neurologist. Assuming my insurance doesn’t fight it, my copay on an MRI is awfully large, and based on what I’m reading, I don’t think I will follow up. I did have a 20 decimal drop in hearing ability between my two ears.
But anyway, it’s been a couple of months and it seems to be getting worse instead of better. I thought I’d wait for the brain zaps to go away before reducing the pills down to once per day. From what I’m reading here, I’m really afraid to reduce them anymore because I would be dysfunctional if these were more constant or uncontrollable. I’ve been on BHRT for 10 years, so my hormones should be fairly stable.
I do get lots of headaches and take Excedrin when I get them, but they come from neck and shoulder pain. It’s been working less and less well. I like the post suggesting making lots of changes… diet, fish oil, meditation, walking outside… I did an elimination diet in May before these zaps started happening to me and didn’t notice a difference, but maybe I’ll try again. I also had a top molar pulled around the time the zaps started, which is probably irrelevant, but I thought I’d mention it.
I have some GABA which I haven’t tried to correlate to the brain zaps. It was marketed as a focus enhancer, but it makes me sleepy. Actually makes me sleep very deeply and I feel great the day after I take it. But I rarely take it since I know it’s something your brain will stop making if it’s getting an external source regularly.
I wish I would have seen this earlier. I recently moved and am unable to continue taking Paxil due to having to go through counseling for 3 weeks before I can even see anyone to write me a script. How ridiculous. Anyhow, I only had 3 pills left so I split them in half to try to taper on my own. Don’t try this on your own by the way. Less than 24 hours I was having brain zaps. It happens when I turn my head or eyes and mostly bothers me at night for some reason. Even scrolling on my phone gets me zapped then I feel nauseous and super dizzy. I am going to try seeing if my anxiety medicine I used to take helps out.
Can a lawsuit be lodged for brain zaps?
I’m so glad I found this! I was prescribed Zoloft for extreme anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, after about a month, it started messing with my digestion and I had to taper off and stop. Then, my head started feeling like this! Let me tell you, this did not help my anxiety one bit. I feel so much better after reading this article, though. Thank you! I really do hope that everyone can work through their own problems and find the happiness that you all deserve. Xoxo
I was on Seroxat (Paxil) for 6 months, tried to quit by weaning (doctor’s orders) but the withdrawal symptoms were so bad that I continued the drug. Then after another 6 months I managed to wean (I thought). Withdrawal symptoms started gradually. Symptoms worsened, and after 5 months of discontinuation they peaked. I had not slept for 3 weeks (not for a minute!), muscle spasms all the time and an extremely strong electric shock running through my entire body throughout the day and night. It’s been 3 years now, I am much better, the electricity is much less, but still here, mostly on my head, face and chest. I have been searching the net for an experience similar to mine, due to quitting an SSRI, but people are reporting only on brain zaps. Does anyone else experience a steady current of electricity in his body?
Glad to know I’m not alone. I’ve been off my Effexor for four days thanks to an insurance screw up and I feel like I’m going crazy. Mine are on the left side of my head and are pulses that come in 3 or 5 count. I will have maybe 20 seconds between each series of pulses. It’s non stop, no matter if I’m resting, reading, sitting with eyes closed, working, driving. When I switched from Effexor to Viibryd several years ago, the pulses lasted for weeks. I switched back to Effexor after four years on Viibryd due to cost.
The sensation starts at the bar of my head on the left side and pulses 1-2-3 like a heartbeat except it’s electric inside my head. There’s noise associated with it and an electric jolt that goes from my head to my fingers with each 3 or 5 count. I’m taking St Johns Wort to try and even me out, but it is not helping with the pulses. I’m hoping the insurance issue is resolved by tomorrow because I feel like my brain is misfiring and trying to launch itself into space. Thanks for this article!
After INCREASING Lamotrigine five days PRIOR, I had my first ever Brain Zaps, the evening of; July 06. 2015. I had eight that evening. And I continued to have frequent Brain Zaps, until discontinuing Lamotrigine, July 09, after Possible Cause Discovery was made. In Mid August, with absolutely NO Mental Health Medication changes having taken place, I have periodically and with no consistency, whatsoever, begun to have Brain Zaps, again. Thus far they have been few in number, but mighty in strength.
Has anyone discovered if; Certain Medications, the Combination of Particular Medications, Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety or any other situations OTHER THAN Medication WITHDRAWAL perhaps might be the cause of Brain Zaps? I first thought the Lamotrigine was my Guilty Party. Though now, with my body not absorbing Lamotrigine, in over a Month, but continuing to have infrequent Brain Zaps? I am certainly at a loss AND well up for; questions, suggestions, conversation and/or anything that might lead ALL OF US to HELP EACH OTHER! I thank each of you, as I ask God to Bless you, as well.
I started Paxil when I was 18, stopped cold turkey for a month or so after I turned 19 & lost health insurance, and then continued back on it. Since starting it I’ve switched to Effexor, Celexa, Zoloft and now Buspar and still to this day have the shocks. I’m now 31 and not a day goes by that I don’t suffer in some way, shape or form. Some says it’s bearable while others (like today) I just want to cry from the misery.
If I had known then what I do now I never would have started Paxil because this is pure hell! I sincerely hope that no one else who is dealing with this has to do so for as long as I have because it controls my whole life. I spend my whole day in a horrible mood just counting down the hours until bed so I can get some sort of relief. My life and my son have both been extremely negatively affected by this.
I have experienced these since being placed on my first medication for bipolar and depression which was depakote. I was taken off that medication and continually now over ten years they continue, on and off other psychological drugs. Now I know they are not dangerous I feel a bit more at ease.
I get these brain zaps sometimes. However I have never been on any medication. It only occurs when I am about to fall asleep but due to some stress or serious thinking I am unable to do so. It seems my condition is anxiety related. Thanks for this article and all the comments I am assured it’s not damaging my brain.
I never took these medicines and have expierenced this since I was a child. Very sporadic and even years go without one. I am 31 and had my first one in I don’t know how long a few weeks ago. Feel a zap in the back of my brain and when I open my eyes it is almost “psychedelic” in feeling and vision for a brief second after. This must be noted that the “feeling” I experience was felt before I knew what a psychedelic experience was (i.e. had them since I was just a small child with similar results).
Hi, I have been suffering from brain zaps for about 6 months now. They are very painful and horrible. I don’t know why they arised. My only guess is that I stopped taking a SSRI about 12 months ago cold turkey. Why though would I go through an entire half of a year without feeling the brain zaps, then have them randomly appearing. I hear people on hear say that they last a week or a month. I f*cking wish.
I’m going on 7 months of these horrible brain zaps and I’m getting desperate. It’s insanely painful and uncomfortable. My therapists are unfamiliar with it. I’m taking gapapentin for anxiety and that helps with the brain zaps, but they still show up. I take vitamins and fish and flaxseed oil, but I still feel them. They randomly shoot throughout my body. They usually appear when I’m outside and it’s hot, or if I get anxious about something. I can’t imagine going another 6 months with this. I don’t know what to do. Someone please help me.
They are awful awful. I stopped taking Celexa and even though I’ve tapered down to 5mg. It wasn’t enough. Second time trying to come off this year and can’t do it. I will have to go back on to 5mg and lower to 2.5 and I might even try to cut those halves of halves in half until I can handle it. They make you feel like an out of body experience. Like you’re an idiot or crazy. Make you want to cry. Or sleep. Caused me to be suicidal at one point just wanting them to stop. GO BACK ON MEDICATION. Just try to taper smaller doses longer. It takes A LONG time to get off this sh*t.
These brain zaps are probably caused by some interaction between our structure–our nervous systems–and our chemical make up. All sorts of chemicals, from anti-depressants to opiates to hormones–seem to impact them. But so can neck injuries, the flu, tiredness, etc. I got these from peri-menopause when my estrogen levels started to fall; estrogen impacts serotonin levels, and functions itself as a neurotransmitter.
Falling to sleep eventually became difficult, since they would stun me back awake. I had to learn to accept that, and try to give myself longer to sleep, which was not always possible. My productivity plummeted from sleep deprivation. I believe that these have a mild but detrimental impact on memory if they continue unabated for months.
I really think they are what they feel like: tiny electrical storms, mild seizures. Not life threatening, but when they are strong, they are literally shocking. I took Clonopin to get to sleep for a year. I never took any SSRIs. I got the flashing light (in my case, like sheet lightning), sound–ddzzzzt or a little more intense: DDDZZZSSSSSSSST!T!T!–and the stronger zaps were followed by a strange period of visual activity if my eyes were closed.
My brain would created constantly shifting sets of geometric or sometimes leaf-like shapes with colors. I could open my eyes to stop it, but this usually happened to me as I was trying to sleep, so eventually I decided to just watch the odd little psychedelic movies and relax. Somehow, my visual cortex was being stimulated by the zaps. It was really weird, I must say, and you feel pretty trapped, like someone is going after your brain with a cattle prod, then making you endure all of the odd consequences.
These are just little seizures–usually in my case they did not involve much convulsing, although on rare occasions I had some. Anti-oxidants, magnesium, B-vitamins, and growing older all seemed to help. Again, I took Klonopin, and I hated how stupid it made me, so I tapered down and got off. The zaps still happen to me but are rare. They come back if I am really tired or stressed, or perhaps if I eat gluten.
I no longer eat gluten, except super rarely since some neurological problems can have dietary roots. I rarely take estrogen. My advice is this: if you have been taking SSRIs or any other drugs, and want to taper off, expect these zaps and expect them to fade. They probably will. If you are female, these might be related to hormonal fluctuations since hormones impact neurotransmitters. Expect to look into them by using doctors who really do not understand them. They are not caused by anxiety but they certainly make one feel anxious at first.
They must sometimes be related to the brain’s dopamine system since some comments here reflect that (the cute children and video games mentioned in comments above impact dopamine levels, I believe.) Neurologists will probably study these one day, but they seem not to have made it into neurological training systems yet. If yours are really distressing, then change a bunch of things in your life: use vitamins – especially B12 and other Bs and Cal-Mag.
Try better eating, try different sleep routines, try going gluten free (give this 6 weeks), quit your job, slowly find other doctors, try herbal supplements like Valerian root, try Ibuprofen or Tylenol, try Clonazepam even though benzodiazepines are bad for you. All of these things have helped other people! Try meditation–it changes your brain’s structure–try a single glass of red wine, try looking at far more greenery. Tell people about it–the dddzzzzzzt account above made me laugh out loud, since it brought it all back, but was light-hearted.
And imagine that maybe, it will eventually pass, and you will get to the other side, like I did. Maybe your immune will fight something off and stop accidentally irritating your nerves’ sheathing, or whatever is happening, and slowly your body will right itself, and you will only have these little shocks occasionally, and all will be well.
Mine have been caused by a wean down from Cymbalta and transitioning to a different medication called Fetzima. I am experiencing the worst case of these and have the severe nausea with it for over a month now. Every moment sets it off and I’m at my wits end. :( Praying for relief from new medicine soon!
Today I just started having brain zaps, didn’t know what is that until I have it. Of course I read about the Paxil withdrawal and these brain zaps earlier but I thought that I wouldn’t be the one ‘lucky’ guy to have this as well. I also read that these can be triggered by eye movement in horizontal and not vertical fashion, and that is so true, when move my eyes to right I imediately feel the ‘zap’ accompanied with ‘wooshing’ sound in head and some very minor discomfort going along the chest. I’m ordering the omega-3 with a hope it will help.
Hey guys. I’m 3 days off Paxil 10mg and I’ve been having awful brain zaps for the past three days along with stomach pain. What do you suggest I do? I’m trying to fight through and work but it gets worse when I stand or am in front of people. How long will this last? Please help!
Oddly enough I quit taking Cymbalta about a week ago and I just started feeling these brain zaps today. I am on Tramadol, so that may have delayed the effects as well. I suffered through work today and couldn’t wait to go home and lay in bed. I feel like every few minutes someone is literally zapping my brain with a taser. It makes me dizzy and nauseous. I hope this doesn’t last too long.
Same issue, not on any medication. Do have low Vit D and B12. I’m starting to think its computer screen related and being on the computer for long periods. When people find the answer or no longer feel the symptoms, the last thing they do is come back here and share. So if something works please don’t forget to come back and let everyone know.
Rarely does a google search of symptoms lead to actual relevant and helpful information, but this is spot on. I’ve been experiencing these brain zaps the past few days and suspected that it was from running out of my antidepressants. It isn’t necessarily painful but I am relieved to see that there’s no evidence of neuron damage from this. I was beginning to get worried it was some other health condition or potentially damaging me long-term. Thanks!
Brain zaps are horrible. I am withdrawing from Cymbalta and it has been miserable. I had to fight with my doctor about the proper way to stop the medication. He kept insisting that what he prescribed was a “very slow taper”. Easy for him to say. He’s not the one dealing with the brain zaps! If he were more knowledgeable, or had bothered to do any research, he might have found any one of the MANY sites that talk about this. I wish he had prescribed something like Prozac to help.
Even my pharmacist was puzzled by this. I will NEVER take another antidepressant in this class. I will find another way! I hope it doesn’t last too much longer. I am only in the first week of it. If it lasts for months, I don’t know if I will be able to take it. I am seeing a new doctor in a couple of weeks. Hopefully he has more experience or at least the willingness to do some research before offering advice!
I’ve quit cold turkey from a low dose (10mg/day) of lexapro. The brain zaps I’m getting now are no different to when I came off a much higher dose (50mg/day) almost 2 years ago. It’s as if my brain is being buzzed with electricity for a fraction of a second, then I momentarily feel dizzy afterwards. Last time, the zaps started with a day or so of stopping tgethe lexapro & lasted for over a month. This time, they didn’t start until almost a week of having stopped the medication & it’s been almost another week since I’ve stopped & they’ve been quite frequent the past few days.
I am 22, not taking any anti-depression medicine or so, only some sleeping pills now and then. I have been experiencing what it seems “brain zaps” for the past week and still ongoing, the sensation is terrifying actually (my parents say that it’s because of long hours in front of laptop or using headphones for long periods but it doesnt feel like the sort of pain which would be resulted from that… which is why I did little research and ended up here).
I looked throughout the article or some of the comments on experiences that seems like mine but I don’t understand if you are supposed to feel them in the entire brain? cause mine occurs only on the left side of my brain a little above my ear every 2 minutes or so. Has anyone ever experienced this out of nowhere? is it the same thing the article is talking about? nothing to worry about? I am even afraid I will have to go to a doctor and not really know how to explain this electrical thing.
I stopped taking Sertraline about 3 weeks ago and have been experiencing “brain zaps” since then although I’ve had them before when withdrawing from other antidepressants. I was interested to read that the connection with eye movement is only speculation. I can trigger them at will if I move my eyes from side-to-side and they always happen above my right ear when doing so, other times they randomly appear on any part of my skull.
I’ve not noticed any connection with sleep but I get them every few minutes or so when awake and experience hearing loss, sight blurring and dizziness/disorientation, thankfully they only last for a split second each time. Great to know they won’t last for ever and to have a site like this to allay the fears people may have.
I have been on Paxil since is was 13, I am now 28. 4 years ago my dosage was upped to 40, 3 months ago it was upped to 60. I have had the zaps before, usually when I forget to take my pills. But the past few days I have had them and I have taken my pills on time! Why do I feel this way? I should be withdrawing from SSRIs. The only thing I can think of is that I have been very stressed lately (buying and selling a home) and now the deal is done and my extra stress is gone. Could the high to low stress be affecting my serotonin levels? It’s difficult to explain to my doctor, he does not believe in the zaps. I just don’t know why I am getting them when I am not weaning off Paxil. Any ideas?
This by far was the most informative article I have ever read on brain zaps. It is comforting to know I am not the only one who experiences these and that I am not going to have a seizure or die.
Thank God I’m not alone! I’ve always called it ‘pinging’ if I was late taking or missed a dose of my drug. I am now switching from Pristiq to another newer antidepressant and the brain zaps are driving me crazy add to this a horrible cold and I’m miserable! At least now I know it’s normal, and will come to an end. Thank you!
I’ve had brain zaps and body zaps for close to a few years now. Jumping first from Lexapro which caused me an insane amount I then switched over to Zoloft and have been on it for 2 years now. I have an auto immune disease as well as an hormone imbalance which makes have a pretty much non existent cortisol level. Even after hormone therapy and seeing endocrinologists my hormones just change to often and I live with brain zaps. Fun!
I went cold turkey off Paxil Thursday July 2nd, and the brain zaps kicked in Friday night July 3rd. Spent the holiday in seclusion wondering what was happening. But it’s Wednesday and I’m on day 6 without Paxil; the zaps are just as frequent, but no longer painful. I’m used to them or they’re less powerful. Either way, I do wish I’d been my own advocate and insisted on a fast taper timeline. My doctor suggested it would take 1-2 years to taper off Paxil, so I went rogue and just quit.
Bad idea. Don’t do it. It isn’t worth the zaps and other side effects. I do wish I’d done some research and insisted on tapering faster than within 1 year, in retrospect, based on my experience and research, I’d say it was certainly possible. I must learn the art of the second opinion. Live and learn. NO zaps while typing this post. I’m enjoying the brief reprieve. Can’t wait for them to stop altogether.
I tapered and they are relentless.
Brain zaps, the bane of my existence! I began having zaps in October, 2014. I have NEVER taken anti-depressants or other type medications. I take Advil occasionally, and Estradiol daily (I’m 48, had a Hysterectomy in 2012). My first “episodes” would happen usually at 2:30am, waking me from a dead sleep. I would get extremely painful jolts in my head, on my right side (felt like inside my ear) that would fire every 2-3 seconds and last for 30 minutes.
At first, I was convinced I had the worst ear infection ever! Went to Urgent Care and was told my ear was fine, but that I probably had Trigeminal Neuralgia and should see a Neurologist. I did, and had my first MRI. The image showed what the Neurologist called an “abnormal lesion” in my brain stem. Over the next week, I had another brain MRI, a Lumbar Puncture (to test for MS), blood tests, and a cervical spine MRI. She couldn’t find anything wrong, yet the zaps were worse than ever, throughout the day and at night when sleeping.
The Dr’s conclusion was that she was “stumped”. I called the Mayo clinic, discussed my symptoms, and was offered an appointment with the Neurology team the following week. It freaked me out that they got me in so fast, as I had no referral, just my phone call. In that time, I suddenly woke up one morning and couldn’t straighten my right arm…just physically do it! I was glad I was heading to Mayo.
I had to get a copy of all my medical records and MRI reports and bring them with me. The Mayo team was VERY thorough, and said that obviously SOMETHING was causing my symptoms. They put me through another brain MRI, an elbow MRI and an EMG, to see if I had nerve issues or the brain scan had changed. Nothing had changed, and no nerve issues. The elbow MRI showed a torn tendon, yet I had no idea how it happened, so weird.
After 3 days of poking, tests and consultations at the Mayo Clinic, they determined there wasn’t a diagnosis other than the “abnormal lesion” in my brain. I can’t help but wonder if my “zaps” and the lesion are somehow related, but who knows. What now? I have noticed the zaps have subsided, until this morning. I’ve been keeping track, and in the past 50 minutes, I’ve experienced 53 painful zaps. I am SOOO frustrated!!
Thank you for this information, it’s hard enough having panic attacks and anxiety and deciding to not take anything and just deal with it optimistically. I’m actually a nurse and had never heard the term ‘brain zap’ but that is exactly what it feels like. I have heard of ‘unusual sensations’ and ‘pseudo-headache’ however this doesn’t describe it.
It is a relief to know it will go away. I assume my doctor doesn’t know about this as he sent me for a CT scan of brain yesterday! I had been on xanax several years and finally went off completely to try Paxil. No sleep, 25 lb and 4 months later, I must say, going off Paxil is harder than stoping the xanax! Again, thanks for this info!
I’ve been on Zoloft for about 6 months now after slowly becoming more and more depressed the past year without even realizing it. My doctor started me at 50mg daily and quickly upped me to 75mg after the first 2 weeks, then up to 100 mg after the next 2 weeks. Four weeks later she raised my dose to 150 mg and I’ve been steady at that dosage ever since.
About 3 months in to my treatment, I was in a car accident that set off a bunch of problems in my lumbar and thoracic spine. A week after the accident I had a back spasm at work, and started slowly degenerating in health until I was constantly experiencing incredible nerve/muscle pain in my lower back/hips/legs. Around the same time as the constant nerve pain I started experiencing these brain zaps, which I described to my Physician and my Psychiatrist as sort of “buzzing feeling” that felt like electrical tremors or shivers that started under my chin and would run down my shoulders to my elbows and down my ribs and the sides of my legs simultaneously.
Neither knew what to think, and since I had never stopped the Zoloft or missed a dose the only thing I could think was that it was related to my spine issues causing the nerve pain, but even when I spoke with my Ortho, he had no idea and avoided the issue altogether, and simply focused on getting me in for steroid injections for the other problems. Surprisingly after the injections which I received one week ago, the tremors disappeared completely for 3 days!
But on the fourth day I started to feel them again. They were lighter than before but the same sensation. Since that day they have progressively become worse and worse, until this morning I woke up with my entire body “buzzing” and feeling as awful as I ever had. I was lethargic as well, and after waking I fell back to sleep unintentionally for 4 more hours. When I awoke again, the buzzing feeling was worse than ever before and it seems the only respite is to sit completely still without moving my neck or arms, which historically have set the zaps off more than anything else.
Unfortunately sitting completely still isn’t really possible, because my back pain isn’t completely gone either, and the steroid injections have only partially taken care of the nerve pain in my back, so if I stay in one position too long, I’m bound to suffer. However, finding this article has given me some hope that maybe I can switch from Zoloft to something else, or maybe even nullify the effects of the brain zaps with the help of some of the supplements suggested like the Omega-3 fish oils.
If I have any success I will return to let everyone know what worked for me. I wish everyone here the best of luck with their brain zaps, and also, of course, in all other things. -S
1. Thank you for the quick answer we all look for — Im not dying, and will not experience this forever.
2. I dont need to go back on the list of crap I was taking — Paxil (peroxetine), Seroquil (quetiapine fumarate), and Clonazepam. That other methods may have been a better choice for me. (when the persons job is to administer drugs, they will) So maybe the VA should listen to the patient (you know, us disgusting grunts, that you try to avoid, and absolutely do your best to not have to say hi to when passing in the stairwell).
3. Although it is stated above that eye movement is speculative, I will emphatically declare that “speculation” to be fact – (not all of us w/o a PHD , are stupid, and our self-study has merit). Head and Eye movement are THE triggers for me, my physiology, and my medication chain.
Thank you for this site!
I really glad I found this site, I been taking Venlafaxine for over eight months because I couldnt not afford what I had been taking. I decided I tired of taking them. The doctor had raised from 75 mg. to 100 mg. and I was feeling horrible so I decided I was going to stop them. I did not go cold turkey but gradual of the last month or more.
I have been off them for about a week and a half. I thought I was getting my migraines back but after hearing what been said. It is what I have been having. Thanks for letting me know. I really now think I can deal with it better. Thanks and good luck to all of us.
When missing a dose of Pristiq the next day my brain feels like your tummy feels when you drive over a small hill really fast…and it happens every couple of minutes and lasts for a few seconds. Or when you turn your head and it feels like your eyes haven’t caught up yet…but you haven’t moved your head!!!
Blessings everyone! Now I know the electric shock waves that I was having in my head where called brain zaps. I started experiencing brain zaps when I suddenly stopped taking 25 mg of Sertraline and started taking Dolo-Neurobion Forte instead. At first I thought it was Dolo-Neurobion Forte that was causing these brain zaps, so I stopped taking it as well and noticed the brain zaps where occurring less frequent. In less than a week the brain zaps went away. Now I don’t know whether the brain zaps where caused by suddenly stopping Sertraline or by starting taking Dolo-Neurobion Forte. I’m currently off both.
I know prayer definitely helped me as well. I used to suffer from extreme anxiety, irritation, inability to concentrate on anything, insomnia, unable to drive a car, severe headaches, thoughts of suicide, always feeling tired, hard time taking showers, stressing over any little task, and the list goes on and on. I believe people called this depression. But, God who is rich in mercy, not only healed me completely but turned my sorrow into joy.
I know God is talking to someone through my post. God not only wants to heal you completely, He wants you to accept His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Whether or not you posted a comment in here I have prayed for you, but not only for you to get healed but most importantly for you to accept Jesus Christ in your heart. Many blessings to all, see you in haven. GloryBeToGodForever.
I am a 29 year old women who has been taking Zoloft for over ten years. First off I want to say that I am thankful that people are speaking about this. When I first started this medication I was a teenager. Fifteen years ago these antidepressants were just becoming popular, I know that they have been around for years but now everyone knows about these drugs. Anyway, I remember sitting in my Dr.’s office afraid to even tell them the withdrawal symptom I was having from missing a dose.
When I did speak up they had told me that they had never heard of this type of side effect. Of course that made me feel real good! I was scared to death, I thought I was going crazy, I thought that I would have to continue to take this for the rest of my like just so I didn’t have to deal with these “zaps”! I kept it to myself and suffered in silence. I continued to take Zoloft because I didn’t want to deal with the “zaps”.
Now I am 29 years old and still continue to take it for this reason. I have just started a very slow process with my Dr. trying to come off of it. My struggle starts when I get down to 25 mgs. I am trying to push through hoping that my brain adjusts. Looking back, I wish that my older self was able to tell my younger self not to take this drug and to find an alternative method in treating my issues.
I don’t feel alone anymore, now that people have spoken out about this. When reading about brain zaps it even words it as being a common symptom! Who would have thought? Bottom line, you are not alone if you are suffering from this. It would be great to start getting awareness out there about this because I’m sure there are still lots of people suffering in silence. Hang in there all!
So glad to have read your blog, I had convinced myself I was suffering from some severe neurological condition! I recently came off Sertraline and Gabapentin and am only on day 9 having tapered for two weeks prior to that. It’s good to know that these weird sensations will pass. Thank you.
I found the over the counter motion sickness medication Dramamine helps stop brain zaps due to having to stop SSRI medications cold turkey.
I’ve experienced brain shock for many years now. I take both Klonopin and Imipramine. 90% of the time it occurs when I’ve forgotten my imipramine at bedtime, and the shock awakens me. It’s often accompanied by a contraction of my muscles, which creates an uncontrolled body movement of my entire body, but seems to be more pronounced in my legs. When it occurs while I’m awake, and going about my daily routine, it is less pronounced, and the muscle contraction doesn’t occur. It can be bothersome, but I can deal with it, to control the panic attacks that I get without the meds.
I just woke up from a deep sleep as I heard my newborn wake up crying, normally I wake up and give it a couple seconds but this time I got up rather quickly. I felt the zapping sensation only for a short while and I didn’t find it alarming as there was no pain just a weird sensation in my head. So In my case I think the REM sleep had something to do with it. I am not on any medication.
Most everyone seems to be experiencing this after taking antidepressants, however I have never taken any. They don’t happen often I suppose but when they do I usually get multiple, lasting from 5 minutes to an hour. Would this suggest I’m having a problem producing serotonin? I a 21 year old male, never had seizures however they are in the family. Have been diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, and OCD. May have an undiagnosed anxiety/depressive disorder. Never gotten that checked out. Any ideas? Good article though, it’s exactly what I’m experiencing.
My situation is similar. My symptoms (lightheadedness, brain zaps, muscle twitches, tinnitus, fatigue and others) were not caused by SSRI withdrawal. In fact, I wasn’t on any medication when my symptoms started. I’ve done the full workup. Neurologists, cardiologists, even repeat tests at Mayo Clinic. Spinal taps, MRIs, you name it. No answer.
It’s been almost two years now since the symptoms began, and after seeing the neurologist a few times, he gave me Modafinil and later Clonazepam. The first is for fatigue, often given to people with narcolepsy. Both meds helped a great deal. The Modafinil was surprising. Though it was meant to help only with fatigue, actually helped with the brain zaps for a while. It wears off in the afternoon, then I take the Clonazepam (a benzodiazepine).
Modafinil is similar enough to medications for ADHD that I wonder if this might be a possibility to explore. If you’ve been taking meds for ADHD and have made changes, maybe that’s the culprit? I just find it odd that Modafinil (which hasn’t been approved for ADHD, as I’ve learned today, but which is very similar to those meds) helped me get rid of the zaps.
I had the brain zaps experiencing withdrawal from not tapering off correctly with Zoloft. I also experienced them when I was taking 5htp for mood mixed with buspar which I read into and sounds like a dangerous combo leading to sedation syndrome. Today, however I have a fever and am experiencing mild shocks. Not sure if the fever is causing the shocks or if both are the result of something I’m fighting.
The only things I currently take are collagen (supposed to lower serotonin) and Garcinia Cambodia. Also lots of coffee and tea. Started that regimen about 3 weeks ago. I wish there was more research on this, it did take me awhile before I could identify the feeling as electrical and most likely coming from some neurotransmitters mis firing.
I did a week taper off of 20mg Lexapro that I had been taking for 3 years to switch to welbutrin (taking one every other day). I would relate what I feel to being shocked every so often. I definitely think it is worse when I turn my eyes, when I am tired and when I am stressed. Sometimes it’s so bad I feel like I will pass out. My sleep patterns are also very disrupted. Im hoping it will go away soon but after 2 weeks of this I’m pretty frustrated. I do take an omega 3 supplement already but maybe I will try the B12. Glad to know it is not a sign of something more serious through.
My bf is coming off crystal meth after a few months of constant use. Today day 1. He is scared cause last time he recalls the brain zaps and how terrible they were. I have not found any info on this with other meth users. He takes nothing else. I wonder if taking a Prozac which he should be on anyways would help. Does anyone know anyone else who experienced this with meth withdrawal?
Thank you for this article!! I knew there was something going on and I knew it was from the medication. But to have it confirmed by other people’s experience is such a relief! When we are on anti-depression or anti-anxiety medication we keep these type of things to ourselves for fear of others saying “it’s all in your head”. But these brain zaps are real. I can compare them to the electric shock machine at the arcade that have two handles and shocks you until you let go….just like that but milder. For me it was like shivers on the brain, eyelids, tongue, hands. Strong and fast throughout the day. It almost makes me pause and gasp for air. It can be a little scary.
Has anyone noticed the onset of these zaps after using Cefaly for migraine? My pulsating zaps have been going on for five days 24/7 now and driving me crazy. It follows a week of trying Cefaly and I wonder if there is a connection?
I’ve been experiencing these brain zaps for nearly 2 weeks now since coming off citalopram but they’re more of a “body zap”. I feel the “electrical current” in my arms, chest and legs rather than my head. They’re really uncomfortable and are worse when I walk. Is this normal to feel it in my body rather than my head which seems more common? the current can also affect my pulse and quickens my heart for the duration of the zaps.
I have had brain zaps since I was a child whenever I had a fever. The higher the fever the more severe the zaps. When I took fever reducers, the zaps lessened. This could help with the zaps from medication withdrawal. I am now on Cymbalta which I want to decrease in dosage. I know I’ll get the zaps because I’ve had them before when weaning off other meds or if I forget a dosage. I’ll try the Tylenol, B12 and increase the omega-3. So glad to find this site. Most doctors have never heard of this and look at you like your off kilter!
I’m not going off any meds. I take Bupropion SR once a day. I dont get scared easy, but when I had the “zap” the first time, it was not like any dizzy spell i ever had, although the zap is followed by a regular dizzy spell. I was very scared. I don’t understand why I would be getting them. I am getting one every four days or so. I have been on the Bupropion a couple months. I do have job anxiety, but I’m switching jobs. Most of the times I’ve had the zap, I wasn’t feeling anxious. I wonder what ELSE could cause them. I have to say, it’s nice to come here and read that this is happening to others, I’m not alone. Feedback welcome.