What are brain zaps?

[Dreday XTC]

Ive been this forum just unregistered and wondering what is a brain zap? I know that its a possible side effect of consuming my usual .25? Any potential risk or danger if youre driving when this happens? Will it go away?

 

[Captain.Heroin]

What drug specifically are you talking about?

Brain zaps are very uncomfortable.

Symptoms described as "brain zaps", "brain shocks", "brain shivers", "brain pulse-waves", "head shocks", "pulses", "flickers", or "cranial zings" are withdrawal symptoms experienced during discontinuation (or reduction of dose) of antidepressant drugs.[3][4] These result from a global downregulation of serotonin receptors in response to increased levels of serotonin in the synaptic cleft, but the specific mechanism through which this creates symptoms is not understood.

from this source

I have experienced brain zaps from Zoloft withdrawal before, and it was the worst thing I have probably ever experienced in terms of a drug withdrawal.

 

[madmeri]

I delayed my dose of effexor (forgot to take it until the morning) and just missing them by 12 hours caused this. Hurts somewhat, and is annoying as hell. I've had them when driving, for me, nothing really happened.

 

[Lightning-Nl]

I believe the exact cause has something to do with the fact that the SSRI is no longer inhibiting re-uptake of Serotonin and because of this Serotonin levels drop. And the brain zaps people feel are are dis-regulation of Serotonin.

Don't quote me on that - but that's what makes the most sense - given the drugs mechanism of action.

 

[Lespaul57]

Brain zaps can be very uncomfortable. I experienced these whe switching from Effexor to celexa. These can be caused by quitting cold turkey any SSRI. The best way to avoid brain zaps is to take your medication around the same time everyday. If you are trying to quit an SSRI it is best to taper the medication down over several weeks sometimes a couple of months. I hope this helps. I am just speaking from my own experience with SSRI's.