“Brain zaps” are sometimes called brain shakes, brain shocks or brain flips. GABA Glutamate balance. SSRI or Benzo withdrawal and brain zaps As we mentioned above, withdrawal or missing doses for certain medications can cause brain zaps as well. Brain zaps are a symptom of antidepressant withdrawal, or antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. Has anyone happened to them that alcohol alone caused them to have brain zaps? Usually goes away in 3-4 days, but be prepared for some nasty depression. this is my best brain zap analogy. If you have never done … The zap feels When brain zaps actually begin depends on the elimination half-life of the specific SSRI that had been prescribed, plus the person's individual metabolism. However you describe them, brain zaps are a very real withdrawal symptom when quitting or skipping doses of certain medications, including antidepressants like Cymbalta, Effexor, Zoloft, Celexa, and Prozac (rarely). Other common names for brain zaps include: brain shivers, electrical shocks, and brain shocks. But my problem now is that I get zaps … I also got them like crazy withdrawing from Effexor about 6 years ago. Let's go there now for brain zaps. Just wait it out. Search “brain zaps” on the internet and you’ll find a long string of Reddit posts, forum questions and medical papers all trying to explain why and how these debilitating shocks appear. [SIZE="3"]I get brain zaps that are described by people who are coming off of antidepressants, but I have never taken any antidepressants. While the research is not clear on brain zaps causes, scientists believe that they are part of discontinuation syndrome, a phenomenon that occurs as a result of decreasing the dosage or outright ceasing antidepressants. These started out years ago as small episodes of lightheadedness, then turned into more serious off balance feeling, once in a blue moon I get some vertigo. Here is the my best analogy I have come up with explaining SSRI discontinuation syndrome AKA brain zaps.. Have you ever licked a 9V battery to test its current level?. Not much you can do about it. I take Cymbalta, Lamictal, Adderall, and Geodon. I think my brain zaps are related to Cymbalta because when Ive missed a dose by a few hours in the past, I would get them. Those zaps are from serotonin synapses “misfiring”. Benzos and brain zaps This one is … Here's what to know about the phenomenon, and what you can do about it. They have something in common. People often describe them as feeling electrical current uncontrollably zapping their brains, which can be extremely frightening and uncomfortable. Brain zaps will generally go away within 1 … Serotonin is a naturally-occuring neurohormone in the brain, which contributes to depression when levels are too low. Happens if you suddenly stop taking an SSRI antidepressant too. WHAT DO BRAIN ZAPS FEEL LIKE? 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