[Vossie42]

I've been experiencing constant low level brain zaps and mild tingling in my hands and lips. The tingling has been there for so long that I don't remember when that started or what changed at that time that the tingling might be caused by. Before I took lamictal, I would get brain zaps only when I took my medication late. Now I get them all the time. It's pretty mild and not as bad as when I was Cymbalta which I stopped a couple weeks ago cold turkey. (My pdoc replaced it with Wellbutrin SR. Wellbutrin SR was an epic fail, but that's another story.) I'm currently on 75 mg Wellbutrin (the regular kind, not SR or XL) and 200mg lamictal. I think the constant brain zaps started when I started lamictal a year and 8 months ago. At the time of starting lamictal, I was on 60 mg of Cymbalta and not on Wellbutrin. The brain zaps while on Cymbalta were bad enough to interfere with work. I remember having constant brain zaps really bad on another medication but can't remember which one. I've taken Effexor, Effexor XR, Celexa and Lexapro in the past 7 years.

Does anyone else get these low level brain zaps 24/7? And what about the ringing in the hands and lips. All responses appreciated.

I think the tingling and brain zaps are caused by two different things.
From my experience, I got tingling in my hands and lips when I was low on calcium. Try chewing some Tums and see if that works.
I also get brain zaps on different meds. I never know when or if it will happen, but no doctor has been able to give me a reason. I hate the feeling. I always wondered if I was going to black out or have a seizure but so far (thank God) nothing bad has happened; just a nusance.

[Vossie42]

Hmm, low calcium causing the tingling... Not sure about that since I eat 1-2 servings of green veggies everyday. (I really do. ) But the tingling is very minor and not high on the priority list. The brain zaps are the worst. They completely interrupt your thoughts and actions. I feel like a human bug zapper. Before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, I did have the constant feeling that I was blacking out for microseconds throughout the day. And I may have actually been experiencing mild narcolepsy. I understand feeling like you're going to black out.

[Dror]

I got brain zaps when I stopped my ssri's on several occasions.

[cybermember]

Calcium is most abundant in dairy foods as well as supplements.

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium/

Brain zaps are known from withdrawal from SSRI's. Have you recently changed your medication?

I deffinately noticed the brain zaps when coming off any SSRI or taking Geodon. I wish someone could give an explaination of this. My P doc just dismisses it.

[cybermember]

Originally Posted by Calista+12

I deffinately noticed the brain zaps when coming off any SSRI or taking Geodon. I wish someone could give an explaination of this. My P doc just dismisses it.

I'm currently taking an SSRI and Geodon and don't have any brain zaps while taking Geodon.

[gmacpearson]

Hi - I have the same thing after coming off of Effexor.
Nasty. I searched a lot and found the best explanation of what it is:

1. The sensation you are referring to is a latent sensory response between the eyes and the vestibular network. This phenomenon often occurs while under certain medications, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Paxil. In the absence of medications, the same sensation has been described in persons suffering from sleep deprivation.

The actual sensation is fairly difficult to describe initially because of its transience, lasting but a brief instant and feels to some like a pulsing sensation, a zap or electrical shock or jolt in the brain. To demonstrate that it is actually sensory in nature, you can temporarily extinguish the sensation by forcefully looking both extreme left and right until the sensation is no longer triggered. Waiting momentarily and then looking to extreme gaze once again will reconstitute the sensation.

It is not a clinical sign of neurological disease, but rather merely a latent sensory response that becomes amplified. The oculovestibular network is responsible for sending signals to the brain regarding balance and orientation in physical space, so any disturbance can induce sensations of nausea similar to that experienced in motion sickness. Realize that when you look on extreme gaze in either direction, the signal and coordinated response with the vestibular network is increased as it would be when the body is in motion.

Best regards,

J Cottle, MD

So I did my research and basically this is what it means:
The vestibular network transforms movement, sound and rotation into understanding of the physical world.
The term LATENT SENSORY RESPONSE means that it is a response that is always there (Latent=unseen but present)
Basically it is a normal response that is greatly amplified.

So it is actually nothing to worry about - It also passes over a period of time 1-4 weeks. Apparently taking magnesium supplements and malic acid (you can get this combined as magnesium malate) and Omega-3 and vitamin c are excellent for reducing its severity and length. Magnesium helps boots your metabolism of the drug which lessens its effect.

So relax and don't worry - It will pass!

[nickmanning]

Originally Posted by gmacpearson

Apparently taking magnesium supplements and malic acid (you can get this combined as magnesium malate) and Omega-3 and vitamin c are excellent for reducing its severity and length. Magnesium helps boots your metabolism of the drug which lessens its effect.

Anybody have any luck getting rid of brain zaps using these supplements?

[Tauren]

You say you quit Cymbalta cold turkey 2 weeks ago. That would DEFINITELY cause brain zaps. You're supposed to taper off slowly from that one.

PsychCentral says Omega 3s and B12 are supposed to help...

Brain Zaps: Causes & Treatments For Electrical Shock Sensations

When I accidentally quit Paxil cold turkey (I ran out) I found lots of fresh air and lots of water helped minimize the effects.