Malic Acid Cure for Withdrawal Brain Zaps!

[Peta O]

Sicboy13 wrote:

"Magnesium is an essential mineral, playing a key role in over 300 enzymatic reactions in metabolism. The reactions include those involved in the Krebs cycle (one of the body's energy production systems), energy storage, the breakdown of fatty acids, protein synthesis, DNA metabolism, the relaxation of voluntary and involuntary muscle tissue, neurotransmitter activity, and hormone regulation. Magnesium is stored primarily in the bones and plays a role in the absorption of calcium by the bones."
I took the above info regarding Magnesium Malate, or Malic Acid from the product description of the pills I bought. It makes sense that this product would offer some relieve after doing alot of reading up on it.
I also have noticed another positive, the neverending yawns have stopped!
I yawned about every minute for the last year while on Effexor, now that I have stopped zapping so much, and got my dizzyness under control I noticed the yawns have stopped!!
I sometimes yawned 5 times or more a minute, not anymore!

God yeah forgot about the yawns!But now that you mention it I was yawning a hell of a lot! It was quite embarrassing when in company LOL

[Nancy]

I was on doxepin for depression back in 1989 and while being treated, I noticed the brain zaps. My dr. cut down on my dosage (they stopped)and I took it daily for about a year and a half. I don't remember the dosage I was on, except that I took 4 capsules and night. After I complained about the brain zaps, he cut it down to 3. I was very fortunate that it cured my depression and was on the road to recovery after only 3 days. I took the medication (doxepin) for about 2 years. I weaned myself off very very carefully and slowly. After I weaned myself off of the medication, I developed brain zaps a year or so later. They started mostly at night, like right before I fell asleep. I went to a sleep clinic (at Washington University) to see what was happening to me and was diagnosed that my entire brain fired.....as if having a mini seizure, but not anything that they had ever seen before. I elected not to take anymore medicine for treatment. (because of the possible side effects) Over the years, they (zaps) continue......even during the day (awake hours) I work at a very busy job and don't seem to be bothered, except for the weird sensations. While on the computer, if I'm tired I have to turn the sound off because when I hear the prompts it makes me have brain zaps. It is the strangest thing and as so many have mentioned, it is so hard to describe. It has been a blessing to me to find this blog and know that I am not the only one who is experiencing this. I would really like for them to stop.....it is very, very annoying and does add to ones anxiety. Because they happen mostly when I'm tired, driving long distances it's a concern. Has anyone else ever gone to a sleep clinic or had an official diagnosis. I have prayed for a cure and as mentioned, am so glad to have found you. It concerns me also that I've had this for over 10 years now. I will be trying the magnesium, omega 3 vitamin thing. Please pray that it works for me.

[Evalyn]

Irish_Tat wrote:

I cam off effexor 150 mgs over the last few weeks. I tapered down to 37 mgs over a few weeks and then stopped completely. I always got brain zaps about 24 hours after I last took a pill, but they went shortly after I took the next pill. When I gave up I had extremely bad brain zaps, anytime I moved my eyes I got very strong brain zaps. While driving and in work it was nearly unbearable and I felt "out of it", it was very unpleasant. I took the advice I saw online and got Magnesium Malate, Omega 3 and Vitamin C capsules and took them as per instructions on the boxes. I feel much better now and the zaps are not as noticable and are fading. the only way I can tell they are still there is when I purposely look too the side very quickly. I am not sure if they would have gone on their own but since taking the vitamins etc I have noticed a significant improvement.
Another thing I noticed but could be a type of placebo is I wore a basball cap low as the peak obscurred my vision my eyes were not being attracted/distracted as much, therefore they did not move as much involuntarily and I had less brain zaps.

I have been taking malic acid andmagnesium for about 10 days and it is amzing the brain Zaps have almost completly stopped. Bless you!

[Evalyn]

I have been taking malic acid and magnesium for about ten days and Brain zaps almost completely stopped. Bless you!

[JMB]

Goin to get some tomorrow mornin! Thanks Evalyn for bring this post to the forefront, totally missed it.

[JMB]

Bought the Malic acid with magnesium, I don't think they made much of a difference, It all most seem to make me feel as if my blood pressure was elevated.

[Sicboy13]

If I remember correctly I used Malic Acid, Omega 3 Fish oil, and anti-nausea pills. Don't get me wrong, it sucked for the first few days, but within 5 days I was "normal"

[Sicboy13]

still off the Effexor! I am trying to help my wife (since married) with a similar type of symptom while she comes off an anti-D as well. I am really pimping the Malic Acid, you think I sold the stuff or something!:)

[Nancy]

I recently started to take cod liver oil and have noticed that my brain zaps seem to be fewer. I am taking the liquid (lemon flavored). Also taking calcium magnesium capsules and good multivitamen. Just thought I would pass this along since it seems to be helping!

[casis]

hi, i am new to this, just stumbeled upon this while look for relief from the "zaps" and the rest crap involving tappering off lexapro. i don´,t even know if anyway will reply. but... i am in spain, pretty much all alone, going thru hell of a time with getting off anti-d. i am in terrible mental state, been taking Omega3 for a week now, not much help. today i will try the malic acid and speak to a local physician. i spoke to a homeopathic doc. she suggested Emerald 30CH or 1x.... anyone heard of it before?

[monica]

you are correct. the magnesium does help a lot. Also, muscle relaxers help also I thought I was going to just die from the zaps. boy am I glad the nightmare is over.

Sicboy13 wrote:

OK, so I read that Malic acid and Magnesium helps with the brain zaps....
I went to a local vitamin health food shop and bought a bottle of "Magnesium Malate" pills: a combo of Magnesium and Malic Acid.
As the post in the withdrawal thread said, it doesnt eleminate the zaps, but makes them very tolerable.
I took 3 tablets last night about 5:30 after my 2 full day off Effexor. Within an hour my dizzyness and zaps toned down dramatically!
I took 3 more before bed with Omega 3 and had what I consider my best night sleep in YEARS. I awoke refreshed and feeling...key word FEELING like a human being again!
I took 3 more Magnesium Malate tabs with vitamin C and Omega 3 this morning. I am having equilibrium problems as per usual when detoxing, but they dont make me almost fall over now, and my zaps went quite literally from a Spinal Tap "11" down to a 3 or 4. Quite tolerable!!!
Please try this cure anyone who is suffering! And thanks to whomever posted it originally! What have we got to lose!
Sam

[cocoon]

last time i was in ibiza i got the zaps,

please never again.

i will be taking some of these tablets and cod liver oil to maybe prevent this,

will it work?

lots of good info on here by the way, cheers

[PSA]

I took effexor for 7 years and have been off the drug now for over 2 and half years and I still get the brain zaps. I think it causes serious permanent brain damage.

[cgrace]

I feel the same way, PSA... I was on effexor for a few years and have been off for 6 years and still have brain zaps. I've been on cymbalta for about a year and these brain zaps have increased. I feel like asking my doctor for a higher dose, but can only go so high... so it seems like this would be a temporary fix. I'm gonna try Magnesium Malate and hope that it helps... even slight improvement would be nice. I dread going off cymbalta when its time.

[Dave]

Hey everyone...i havent been taking effexor for very long...maybe for about 6-8 months...anyways.....the doc has me switched to Wellbutrin 150mg...but this is the bad part....i was on 75mg effexor, and then suddenly ran out......im on my 4th day of brain zaps...im not really experiencing any of the other symptoms...maybe just not as hungry as i should be......but i have read a few posts and does the omega stuff work? all i can find around the house is Omega 3-6-9 and im not tooo sure if i should touch that or not....im only 22 yrs old, was supposed to go out on a date yesturday but i had to cancel due to this :( so if anyone has any advice or what not, i would greatly appreciate it :)