What are brain zaps and Brain shivers?

[noams999]

My brain zaps are so painful that I take pain relief to soften the blow. They happen when i move my head to quickly or have too look down low, like under my bed for a book. I have tried giving up but the pain got worse. My depression and anxiety is just about all gone and I would love to drop the dose but the pain will cause more damage than what I was medicated for to begin with

[kelz1980]

I have been taking Effexor XR 150 mg for 9 years now and i have never had a brain shiver that i recall, unless i just havent noticed them when i have tried to get off the medicine. I do agree that Effexor has the worse withdrawl symptoms in the world im just interested in understanding about these brain shivers i keep hearing about. I do smoke weed every single day and have been for about 7 years. I have found that weed and this drug works with my depression/mania. Does anyone else smoke weed on top of there effexor? I wonder if thats why i never have had a brain shiver even when i have tried to wean off this drug. I still do take this medication and plan on continuiug to take it I just look at the fact that i need something to help me with my depression/mania so might as well use what works already for me then trying every drug under the sun.

[VONNER8IT]

Mandolyn wrote:

I keep seeing people saying they are having these as a side effect of Effexor. Can you please describe them?
The only real side effect I am having is feeling like a zombie. I feel tired but cannot sleep. I can stare at one thing for a LONG time, which is kinda weird. But it is only my second day- so I am used to side effects for the first few weeks when switching to a different med. I am definately going to give it time.

I've been on effexor for approx. 9 years. It's been a good, stabilizing med for depression and anxiety, however, I am all too familiar with the "brain zaps". When tapering off the dose or going off completely(which needs to be carefully titrated and monitered) I experieced what I would describe as an "electrical short" in my brain. It lasts only a second or two, but can occur several times in succesion. There have been times when I felt I was going to pass out completely. This is a VERY hard drug to withdraw from, so be careful and do it with the help of your psychiatrist.

[WishIknew]

I was on Effexor 150 mg for 1 year. I stopped taking it with the help of my doctor over 5 weeks. I went through the anxiety, bowel problems, emotional issues, and most of the other stuff that comes along. Effexor gave me black outs with just a little bit of alcohol and my memory went to hell. I have been completely off for about 1 1/2 weeks. Now I have started to experience shocks going through my arms first and then my legs. They started when raising my hands over my head in the shower and today after working out. It hurts like hell for the few seconds. Any advice. Will this go away??? I don't think my Dr believed me with the first symptoms.

[reba]

I also experienced the blackouts with the smallest bit of alcohol while on Effexor. To help with the brain shocks/zaps, people have suggested taking large amounts of Omega 3 (1000 mg, 3 x a day) and Benadryl. I personally take 2 Benadryl at night, before going to sleep, and I think this was the main thing that stopped my shocks. I have also been taking the Omega 3, but I've noticed when I skip a night of Benadryl, I do experience the shocks the next day (this is at least 2 months after stopping Effexor), and alcohol seems to make it worse. Obviously I don't want to be taking Benadryl for a long time, but the shocks were making it hard to live. I also noticed that taking steaming hot showers would help when I was experiencing the shocks combined with extreme restlessness. Not everyone has the brain shocks after stopping Effexor/Pristiq, but these are things that should help if you are having them. And I did follow the doctor's taper schedule, for the record. Also, from my personal experience and from reading up on the withdrawal symptoms of Effexor, I believe that many doctors are not even aware of these symptoms yet. You can google 'omega 3, brain shocks' and 'benadryl, brain shocks' to find more people with suggestions/experience on using these to help w/ the brain zaps.

[jesus]

The Effexorcist wrote:

Jamie saidThe other night I could not remember the Lords Prayer.....I have known this prayer all of my life

"words during conversations are still lacking".....I have had this problem since I started taking this med 7 years ago. I just stopped 4weeks ago and am just now getting the "brain shivers". Is this really permanent damage? Will the "shivers" go away? Really scared the "zaps" will come next. Uhg. Really want off...had 20 lb weight gain.

[jesus]

Have noticed tylenol helps with the brain shivers. Have no idea why, but I take it 1000mg almost everyday now. Already on omega 3, but will try benadryl at night. I am so "dizzy" I'm scared to drive.

[reba]

I too had the 20lb weight gain. Ugh. In one month, no less. I do believe they will go away, but it takes time. The first 2 months after stopping the meds, I was horrible. I really didn't want to live. I'd never been THAT bad before starting them. I would definitely try the benadryl. It seems like everyone experiences different amounts of "withdrawal" time, so it could only last a week or two.

[ttd]

I am coming off effexor and am glad. I have had dyslexic typing and thinking and just recently began to wonder if it was the drug. So far so good, no brain zaps; maybe I'll be lucky. Coming off cimbalta was hell. I was 10xs more depressed than normal and spent the week of Xmas in bed. Wonderful memories for my kids, huh?

[Dexter]

I was on Effexor XR 75mg for two months (and Zoloft for 6 months before that) and what miserable medications they are. I think they did more damage than good. With the help of my psychiatrist, I took 1/2 pill for one week 3/4 second and 1/4 the third. After the second day Effexor free I felt like pure hell. I thought I was having mini seizures. Ironically enough, I felt they were 'zaps' and upon searching Google.com I found I wasn't alone. I was so sick I couldn't even get off the couch.

I am making progress though. It's been almost one week later.

On Tuesday, I was prescribed Meclizine (which is a beefed up version of Dramamine - the motion sickness stuff.) I've been taking 25mg four times a day, and wow!- what a difference. Brain zaps are definately not gone, but 75% better. Although I got mine prescription, meclizine (Dramamine) can be purchased OTC for very cheap. I really hope this information helps.

I also take Vitamin B12, Calcium/Magnesium combo, Triple Omega's and Vitron C (Slow release Vitamin C and Iron.) I have taken these vitamins for months, but in case it's part of the magical chemistry.

I may be having an easier time because I was only on these medications for less than a year.