I'm getting brain zaps. How long till they stop?

Medications
1

My pdoc is weaning me off my one AD citalopram and I noticed that once I got to 10mg (I was on 40mg originally for a few months then 20 for a few weeks) my brain would jolt and feel funny.

I looked up about brain zaps and antidepressant withdrawal and realised it’s what I have been getting.

Now I’m off citalopram completely and the zaps feel so funny! How long are the withdrawal zaps expected to last?

I’m happy to be off one med at last and only need to take one AD instead of two. I only take four meds now instead of five. What a relief. Just these darn zaps get me!

Anyone else get them and how was it for you?

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2

I had that for about three weeks when I was weaned off Effexor. Very unpleasant, so I sympathize with you on this.

:heart:

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3

It took me like 3 months to get over them completely when I was weaned off Zoloft about 12 years ago. It was awful and happened a lot in the first month.

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4

The first two weeks are the worst, then it slowly recedes. I have had brain zaps from citalopram, effexor, mao-i and lots of other drugs. Try not to be scared, it will stop and it is harmless.

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5

those are uncomfortable. been through that in my 20’s. it was unbearable. i don’t think there’s anything you can do.

gotta be another med that would help stop the discomfort.

something like gabbapentin? i’m not a doctor.

6

My username is based off of brain zaps. The first med I tried was paxil and the withdrawals included brain zaps.

They lasted a few weeks I think, but that was over 20 years ago, I can’t remember.

However after paxil I was put on effexor. I was on 75mg for over a decade. I quit that cold turkey and had brain zaps and body zaps for 3 months and they were pretty intense.

They will eventually go away but it’s impossible to predict when. They didn’t do any damage to my brain, and they were not painful, they were just really annoying odd sensations.

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7

Fun fact, there is also body zaps, can come off anxiety or anxiety meds. Ive had it.
(Ive had brain zapps too)

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8

I honestly remember having them for a long time. I wasnt even on antidepressants that long. But its been a while so i cant recall how long or if my mind is exaggerating it. They are super unbearable.

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9

I had to abruptly stop the max dose of zoloft because it made me manic and I was hospitalized. I had brain zaps for quite a while. I think it’s different for everyone, different body chemistry, different meds, different titration and all.

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10

I got them from abruptly stopping zoloft. I used to be non-compliant with pills. I can’t remember how long exactly, maybe 2 to 3 weeks.

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11

Same with me. They only lasted 1 week for me though.

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12

I quit lexapro cold turkey and had brain zaps
Wasnt for very long though

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13

I’ve never had an anti depressant have much affect on me at all. I never understood it. Are they just weak compared to aps?

14

Do any of you know whether it’s common to get brain zaps, if coming off antipsychotics? Are they any more dangerous with antipsychotics vs. antidepressants?

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15

I’ve never heard of brain zaps when coming off AP’s. I think it’s specific to AD’s.

17

Well, I’d heard they can be pretty common even on AP’s, too, as one begins to taper. (Just read that a bit ago.)

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Yeah, I’m not saying for sure that’s its not possible. Just that I had never heard of it before. Some Ap’s work of serotonin so yeah, maybe its possible. IDK for sure.

edit: I will do some research

19

Took me quite awhile to find an article that mentioned AP’s and brain zaps, but here is one:

" 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."

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20

I had them reducing diazepam and also Sertraline