Brain Zaps

Hi all.
I've read on here about people experiencing brain zaps. What exactly does a brain zap feel like and where do you feel it?

Well, I start to get them if I miss a dose of Zoloft and if I just stop it can get quite bad. Before I knew what others called them, I would describe them as sort of a strobe light in my head. No lights of course but it feels like a very fast vibrating type beat. It can make me scrunch my face if it's bad. They are very uncomfortable and I think you would certainly notice it. Its a feeling that cant really compare to anything else I have ever felt. Amy

I get dizzy and lightheaded.

Can it be caused by medicationd that you're taking, not just when you've missed?

A few days ago I started feeling really odd feelings. Like I get super lightheaded and then the tips of my fingers go numb for a few seconds. Other times its like I feel a jolt, of sorts, go through me. Just like with the lightheadedness, I get a jerk in my hands.

I thought that it could be a side effect of a medication, but it sounded so much like what other people had talked about. I've lowered the dose of my Seroquel to start weaning off of it because of the lightheadedness and numbness. I hope it makes them stop. It really is an awfl feeling and it happens SO often!

Am I the only weirdo who finds brain zaps pleasurable?

I got them when I went off Effexor cold turkey....it literally felt like electricity was shooting through my brain.

Paige - have you had your blood pressure checked? The numbness and lightheadedness sound like what I felt like when I had extremely low blood pressure. Are you weaning off your meds with a doctor?

I get brain zaps if I miss a day of my Cymbalta....and if I miss two days....I start to withdrawal.

I know some people take Seroquel and find it very effective for their disorders. At one point my med practitioner started me on 25mg for anxiety relief and it put me to sleep for, literally 18 hours..... I had to stop taking it because I couldn't function. I'm not sure that you are experiencing the same type of brain zaps that people who miss their SSRI's/SNRI's experience, but it definitely sounds like a plausible side effect for the Seroquel. All I suggest is that, if you are weening off of it that you tell your practitioner so they can help monitor things.

Keep us posted if you like, and good luck!!

The only time I ever had them was when I was coming off of a medication.
It felt rather unpleasant in my opinion. It was pretty much the equivalent of something electrical and sharp passing through my head at full force. It would usually jolt me up and out of whatever I was doing at the time. I wasn't a fan. But I guess I could see why some people would like it. Its a trip, I guess. ;]

I get them randomly when I'm talking; I'll trail off in midsentence because I suddenly forgot what it was I was talking about. It's kind of draining sensation for me.

Im same as "cant stop crying" I went from 150mg of effexor to nothing, and its the only time Ive had brain zaps, I cant really explain them kind of like a small voltage of battery, I was scattered and absent obviously, I think I remember telling myself not to panic maybe experienced 10 a day for the first 3 days then less and less. I had dizziness at the time too, my partner had just given birth to our first child, I was all over the place, but I dont think the zaps are uncommon as I remember the mental health nurse new what I was talking about when I described that symptom.
It would be best to check with a psytrist as they are obviously a warning sign of some sort...
have a goodun

Can't Stop Crying,

OH MY GOSH! I can't believe it. This is EXACTLY what happened to me when I was coming off Effexor. There is no way I could stop cold turkey, weaning was hard enough. I called them "brain shocks" and when I told my pdoc, he didn't know what I was talking about. The brain shocks were very disturbing to me, especially since my pdoc never heard of this. I thought it was maybe a precurssor to having a seizure, they really scared me, This is the first time I've ever heard of anyone else having this sensation.

THANK YOU!

I haven't thought of my blood pressure being a problem, no. I guess it wouldn't hurt to check it.

All of my med changes are being monitored by a doctor. She's taking me off Seroquel and switching me to Risperidal.

This lightheaded stuff is really getting old though. I really, really, hope that it goes away soon!

Thanks for the advice!
I started at 50mg and then went up to 100mg. After about a week on the 100mg dose is when I started getting the yucks.

its a zap of electricity that suddenly goes thru you head..For me it never hurt!

Okay, I ran across the hall and had my BP checked.
(I work with medical professionals, but they don't need to know what I'm on or my psych issues)
It was 113/70 - 88pulse. So, it looks like everything is okay, medically. It has to be the stupid pills that are causing this, right?