Brain zaps symptoms and conditions

I have been on zoloft for 18 years, mostly at 50 mg. This time period includes when I was pregnant and breastfed my son, now age 9, who is a special needs child. I regret taking zoloft during my son's babyhood but was hooked, told it would be OK by my doctors and was afraid to go off. I have never gone above a size 14 before going on zoloft, usually hovering around size 10 or 12 and wishing I was an 8. Well, I am now a size 24 and weigh over 200 pounds. My stomach is so huge people often think I'm pregnant which is a source of huge embarrassment for me. I find it impossible to control my desire for sugar which I crave to boost my energy. I am often sleepy in the afternoon yet can't get myself to bed early enough. I am apathetic about everything except my son. I have gone months without sex and didn't miss it at all -- thank god for a saint of a husband. Recently I started up sex with my husband even though my drive was still very low, as I saw it really helped my marital relationship. How nice it would be to actually feel a sexual desire before we start up. I crave wine at night to calm me down despite being on this drug. I feel like my brain is sluggish and I've lost some major IQ points. I hope that's only temporary. I have no desire to leave the house and would be happy to stay home all day which is I'm sure due to the drug. I can't get myself to exercise. I feel this drug has put me into a sort of walking coma. I want to go off and will begin soon -- I have set myself up for a tapering schedule that will extend to over a year using liquid zoloft and going down over 10% a month to minimize the brain zaps and depression backlash. I hope I can do it -- my husband wants so badly to get back the size 10 sexy woman he once knew. I want her back too. I hate this drug with a vengeance and am furious I was ever put on it. Absolutely furious.

3 days off Effexor = 3 days of hell. Brain zaps, depression, immovability, bad, BAD dreams of past relationship breakup...even thought of overdosing on heroin to escape my life`s past...no, don`t get on this crap.

This is my second time writing in. I wrote about symptoms in Feb. and now have MORE to add. I have had Mirena in for a year and a half and things are starting to add up! I still get a period though it is a little lighter than before. I am still spotting (even after all this time and there is no knowing when this will happen), heart burn, hair loss, heart palpitations (even have gone in to ER and had test run with no conclusion except I need more sleep and less stress - ha - been a mom for 9 years and haven't slept forever, why would this happen only now?) dizziness, back pain, constipation, bloating (my stomach will not go back to pre pregnancy size), gas, fatigue. My doctor says no way related! More needs to be done to make women aware of these side effects! Especially when they tell you before that there are no side effects!!!

I just HAVE to add my story here!! I was on Lexapro 20mg for 2yrs. All was pretty well. It somewhat controlled my anxiety & panic attacks (I have GAD) and it helped stabilize my moods (I am Bipolar), BUT I DIDN'T like that it made it to where I couldn't cry when I wanted to but yet cried at inappropriate times! I basically came to a stand-still with the lexapro and it KILLED my sex drive, so bad that my relationship was at risk (well, thats what I think, cuz no man is happy with NO sex!!) So, I SLOWLY came off them over a month, and even though it was very slowly, the WITHDRAWAL from this drug is just a horrible experience that I hope none of you that are taking now, will ever have to go through what I did!! I seriously thought at one point I was going to die!! I was severely sick for one week-- nausea, vomiting, the runs, hot flashes, cold flashes, the shakes, internal tremors, severe migraines, dizziness when I sat up or stood up, and I got bad electrical zap feelings in my hands & brain (which, even one month & 3 weeks later, I am still having!!) But to you all still on them, I also had weight gain on them, head rushes, dizziness, headaches, internal tremors, and I didn't like that it made me generally dumb!!! Since coming off, I still have the "duhhh" moments, getting less & less, thank goodness, now if only these darn "Zaps" would go away. But yeah, the side effects of this & the withdrawals are HORRIBLE!!! I will never take this again!! So much for newer drugs eh!!

I started on 40mg of Celexa in 2002 for depression/anxiety. In 2006, my wife told me she "didn't think it was working anymore" and I should go talk to our doctor about switching. We talked and he switched me to Effexor. No, I'm not blaming him!
After dealing with the massive increase in sweating (at the time I was running a custom A/V installation business including new construction. It was nothing for me to change shirts, underwear and socks 2 or 3 times a day in the 100 deg summer heat!) gaining 40 lbs, watching my cholesterol shoot up to 290 and my bp to 160/120, I decided I'd had enough and went back 1 month ago to talk about quitting. He shrugged, asked why, gave me a scrip for 37.5's, told me to "take them for a couple weeks, then start lengthening the days in between". And "oh yeah, you'll probably feel a little crummy for a week or so after you stop completely".
A LITTLE CRUMMY???
The brain zaps are unbelievable and by far the worst symptom for me so far. Turn your head like you have a plate balanced up there or pay the consequences, right? I had a couple 37's left and that little voice kept telling me to "go ahead, take one, it's ok." I finally flushed the last 3 or 4 pills down the toilet today to prevent me going back at all. (It's ok folks, you won't end up drinking my pills. I'm on septic and way up on the side of a mountain far from any water table.) I can't believe all the data/opinions I've read today on "SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome". Truly unbelievable stuff. With God's grace and my family's support, I know I'll join the ranks of those that have been able to leave this rat poison behind me. One zap at a time, right? ;-)

I was taking 40mg of geodon twice a day. The doctor is weaning me off.
So, he said to stop taking my evening dose. Well, I did for two nights and couldn't sleep. I was really jumpy, leg spasms, couldn't sleep, hot and cold flashes, trembling,nausea. It was like having the flu really bad. I also had a couple brain zaps. I wish I never would have started geodon. It's awful.

I have been on Celexa (citalopram) for about 13 months. I took it at night, starting with 10mg and over time worked up to 60mg which is the max. dose. My doctor switched me to Lexapro and then Cymbalta to see if they worked better, but eventually I ended up back on Celexa, that seemed to be best. I did gain about 35 pounds on it, though and was still going, along with absolutely NO sex drive whatsoever. When my husband could finally coax me into it, I couldn't orgasm at all. I finally begged him to even stop trying, the attempts seemed to annoy me. This wasn't me, so I slowly tried weaning off of it. First down to 40, then 20, then 10.

so here's my question: I've been completely off of it for 3 days now and I'm still feeling dizzy, lightheaded, have indigestion, headaches, etc. The other times I was off of it, I went right on another med, so I didn't seem to notice the side effects. Anyone who has been taken off of Celexa, PLEASE respond and let me know how long these awful effects last? I have a 2 year old I have to care for and she doesn't understand why mommy feels "woozy" all the time.

This medication was a life-saver for me when I first started taking it 7 years ago. Unfortunately, every so often it would stop being effective. My Dr. would up the dosage until I was on the highest and could go no future. So I set out to titrate off, which I did very slowly, but it was hell. The worst was when I was finally done. I felt like a junkie. I was shaking, having crazy brain zaps that made me feel like I was being shocked every time I'd close my eyes. I was sweating like a pig. My sleep was was filled with terrifying nightmares that left me screaming out in my sleep. I am 5 weeks off and still experiencing nightmares, and a few mind-zap things-but nothing like they were when I first started to come off. Yoga and meditation seemed to be the only things that helped. Each day I wanted to take it again just to feel normal. No one can believe that a common SSRI can have such horrible withdrawal effects, so I am on a quest to educated everyone I know.

Day 21 on Welbutrin XL 150 mg. - prescribed to help stop (light) smoking habit & for depression. I loved it - smoking urges not nearly as strong, more energy, very few emotional outbursts & general sense of calm, happiness & well-being. I haven't felt this good for 4 years. Have tried other meds in past but quit due to weight gain & sexual side-effects. Yesterday I developed HIVES. Damn. Saw nurse practitioner today. She wants me to switch to Lexapro. Told me to start w/ 1/2 a tab @ bedtime tonight. AAaaarrrgh! Anyone have any experience w/ Lexapro?

I took 150 mg a day for a little more than five years. I was afraid to stop taking it due to the horrible way you feel just missing one dose! Yes, I gained approximately 30 lbs (and I go to the gym!), my cholesterol went way up, I had horrible nightmares, and right before I stopped taking it I started having bouts of double vision. I stopped taking it almost a year ago. I have lost some of the weight. I still, after all this time, am having brain zaps in the middle of the night, still don't sleep well, still have bad dreams and still have regular bouts of double vision. I have been to a neurologist who sent me for a brain mri (normal) and blood work (normal). He has recommended I get another doctor to look at me. In other words, there is no obvious reason for the bouts of double vision. I blame five years of Effexor XR for all of this! My doctor should have never allowed me to continue on this drug for so long!

I have night sweats also, and from reading above, i can now say its from Paxil! thanks. and i have gained a lot of weight, 28lbs. my sister takes it also, and has lost a lot of weight. when she tried to come off it, she started gaining weight again. I'm switching to Effexor because I'm sick of being fat and lazy and tired all the time. i call out sick way to much.

good luck to all of you!

The Dr. gave me Effexor xr 75mg for my depression and 0.5 mg every 6 hrs of Xanax. Since then he lowered my Effexor xr to 35mg. During that period I gained 20 lbs and now I have excessive sweating constantly at least 5 times a day just as if I was coming out a flu like symptom.

My depression is still there buy not as bad but I started to get worried about what was causing the excessive sweating until I saw this site. I will set and appointment with the doctor tomorrow and see what the next plan of attack will be.

I know I was really bad with panic attacks and depression but know I could like to not take any more medications at all. With the help of God and I will recover from my depression and panic attacks. I had depression, panic attacks rasing heart beats, could not focus, memory loss, constant crying, fear. I when to the ER twice tacking I had a heart attack. All heart exams normal.

Now I have to deal with getting off the pills and live a normal life. How can I do this?

I've been on Effexor XR 75mg for 8 months with multiple side effects; headache (feels like the top of my head will blow), stomach pains, constant nausea, excessive sweating, body tremors & a skin rash that started on my chest and has moved to my back, arms & on my scalp. The rash has to be an allergic reaction to this medication. I have went through 3 rounds of antibiotics with absolutely no response. After reading the side effects of Effexor, I am going off this drug - cold turkey. I am on day 6. You name the withdrawal symptom I have experienced them!! eg:Excessive swings in body temps- I am either sweating or chilling to the point I have to get in hot tub to stop shaking, Brain zaps, severe nausea. unending diarrhea - still hitting on day 6, nightmares, heart racing, extreme rage but I feel things are a little better today. I am sticking with this until the end. If you are contemplating getting off this drug you should talk to your doctor and keep in mind days 3 thru 6 will be the worst of the withdrawal so be ready to lock yourself in your home for about a week with hot & cold drinks(tea & 7up) blankets and pray for help to see you through.

I am going on day 4 of stopping my Effexor cold turkey. I was on 300 mg and taking 20 mg of Pexeva. I am stopping cold turkey after being on this medication for three years. The withdrawals are terrible, I don't know why any doctor in their right mind would ever prescribe this medication for anyone. I have those wonderful brain zaps every ten seconds, the only thing that momentarily makes me sane is food, as if the 30 pounds this medication has gained me aren't enough, stopping it is going to pack on another 30. I am a bundle of anger and rage directed at anyone within distance. I am at the toilet every night waiting and praying that I can just throw up. When I finally can fall asleep I am jolted awake in a puddle of sweat having just had yet another nightmare. And when I say nightmare, I mean the kind that have me screaming out loud in terror waking my husband. Minor daily tasks are ignored due to the fact that putting one foot in front of the other is too much to handle. I can't stand this feeling and only pray for the day that it will stop.

I've been on 160 mg at night for most of this year. When my doctor switched me to a different anti-psychotic (Invega), I started having suicidal thoughts, so I went back on Geodon. I feel like I am happier and starting to do more things, but I have horrible physical side effects like brain zaps, energy running through my face and teeth, pins and needles in my eyes and on the tip of my tongue...It also gives me horrible insomnia. I have to take 25 mg of Ambien and 6 mg of Ativan at night just to get to bed! and then it makes me tired in the morning, so I take Provigil to stay awake during the day. I am confused as to what to do because I feel more sane and am becoming less preoccupied with myself daily, but these physical sensations are freaking me out!

Hi Everyone,

Doctor put me on Geodon about 3 months ago. I started out 60 mg in the sample package the Doctor gave me. After using the sample pack I was prescribed 2 60 mg tablets (120mg) at night. It worked well for awhile and all of a sudden it seemed to stop working for me. I read a lot about how this drug is a nasty one and decided to cut down to 1 tablet (60 mg at night) The very next day I was trembling and having hot and cold flashes along with "brain zaps" and heart palpitations. I was hoping the Lamictal would cushion the side effects of the Geodon. Well it sure didn't do that and I know as the day goes I will have the same symptoms as I did yesterday.
The Geodon website makes this drug sound like a miracle drug but does state that heart related issues are there especially for the elderly people. This is a nasty drug that I hope I can get off and maybe go back to Lexapro because I have ADHD and not Bi-Polar.

I was a completely different person on this medication - different temperament, different likes and dislikes, but the worst part was not having any emotions! When I reported still being depressed to my Dr, she just upped the dosage (from 75 to 150mg) and I hardly remember anything from the time I was taking the high dosage. Coming off of this medicine, I would almost have cravings for it, severe dizziness, the "brain zaps" others have mentioned, and rage like I have never felt before or since. So glad I got off of this stuff!

I'm a 37 yr. female. I was diagnosed with depression/anxiety about 6 yrs. ago.I take Effexor XR & about 3-4 mo. ago was prescribed 10mg. of Lisinopril for my high blood pressure.Med worked for that :)
My side effects from this med are the dry hacking cough at night.(Comes and goes) Loss of sex drive(even worse)
And about 2wks ago I started feeling really down.Crying, angry,withdrawn & having suicidal thoughts due to all the added feeling's.I had ran out of my meds(BP) and missed about 3 days.Best thing to happen :) 'Cause just a couple days ago it's like the old me returned!!! I'm HAPPIER, the depressed feeling's are GONE. I care about myself alot more than I have in a long time.Just bad brain zaps(on & off) from the sudden stop.
I've been reading on here how some side effects came on slowly,and I'm one of them this has happened to. I have MORE energy too now that I stopped.
I thought maybe my anti- depressant med. needed to be adjusted again(even took one extra pill) and that didn't work.It was my BP med making me feel terrible. Anyone who has depression should really watch for any added changes. I'm SO GLAD I found this website!!!
I thank everyone who has shared they're experience's.

I have been on Effexor XR since May 2007. I started out with lowest dose 37.5mg and then was increased to 75mg in June or July. Since then I have been experiencing weird dreams (vivid), fits of anger, compulsive behavior, suicidal thoughts and tendencies. I have asked my doc to take me off the meds because I don't like who I have become on them. But all they did was increase my med dosage to 150mg. I want to just stop taking it all together but am afraid of the withdraw symptoms if not slowly taken off of it. What should I do?? I would not recommend this antidepressant to anyone!!!

I would like to stop taking paxil, I have been on it for 3 yrs. When I skip my medicine I get what feels like electrical shocks in my neck & head. I wasnt sure if I had a pinched nerve at 1st but began to associate this with the event that I had not taken my meds. I also have onset of panic attacks & rapid heart, & terrible terrible forgetfulness, as to even what cabinet I would like to open, I open the wrong one, go into the wrong doorway, wrong driveway. I am very concerned. I have told my Dr. that I would like to get off this Paxil but Ive been told that it would be best since I was suffering from anxiety attacks in past. I would like to be committed to be able to handle the withdrawls. If anyone has been successful in stopping Paxil and now feels pretty back to normal, please let me know. Thanks

Brain zaps, tingling in hands and fingers. I take 300 mg, 150mg AM and 150mg PM. Sometimes before I take my PM dose I get the electrical sensation, I call brain zaps in my ears and tingling in my hands and fingers. I have had about a 12 pound weight gain and still going. The weight gain is depressing in itself. I also have the excessive sweating. YUK!

Was put on Cymbalta after taking Prozac because I just did not feel "myself". While on the Cymbalta, I could not sleep at all and my psych tried Rozarem first, then Lunesta and then Ambien CR instead of taking me off the Cymbalta! Still did not keep me asleep. Within two weeks of using this drug (with the Cymbalta) I had a "medicinal black-out" - one of the side effects. I apparently thought my husband was walking the dogs and went out garage where I fell down steps, cracking two ribs. I walked in and told my husband I think I fell. He thought I was drunk and just put me to bed. I have absolutely no memory of any of this. Also had three pychotic breaks while taking the Cymbalta and finally took myself off of it. This is day 17 of withdrawal. I don't hate anyone enough to wish this on them. You have brain zaps (like a cattle prod), vertigo, pain in your joints and muscles that make you scream. I would not let anyone go on either of these drugs, ever! I just went to a specialist yesterday in St. Louis that told me all my symptoms were related to my Mitral Valve Prolapse and that I have MVP Syndrome and I'm not crazy at all. For all of you suffering from panic attacks, depression, eating disorders, heart pain, insomnia, etc., have yourself tested for MVP. I have known I've had this heart defect since my late teens and I'm now 48. No one has ever told me that these symptoms are related to my prolapse just psychological issues!!

I know there are times when people need medication to help them with depression, anxiety, etc. but I really think there are better anti depressants out there. I found effexor HORRIBLE! it was a b**** to get used to, and i was so dizzy, tired, anxious and just felt horrible for a while.
After my body got used to it, it was alright, but trying to get OFF effexor was even worse! i have never experienced anythign like that. I felt SO depressed and anxious and DIZZY and this carried on for about two weeks. I felt trapped. I even took some work off while getting off it because I couldnt' function properly at all. Also, my sex drive went down to zero. I'd defintely reccommend trying out a different anti-depressant than this one.

All I can say is that this posting has made me feel a bit less crazy... At first I loved Yasmin. I lost a sugnifficant amount of weight and felt very good about my body... 3 or 4 months into it I started having severe panic attacks. I had never had a panic attack before so it scared me even more because I did not know what was going on. I was having panic attacks on the subway ride to work. Many times people would move and sit me down and offer me water because I would turn white and start sweating. I thought maybe it was stress so I began to see a therapist... Which helped a bit but I did not want to take any other medicines that the doctor kept pushing on me so I stopped going. The attacks stopped but the emotional rollercoaster continued very much. I cry ALL THE TIME and get mad very easily. My boyfriend is very supportive of me and helps me get through the depressions and anxiety-- but I don't think it is fair for him to have to do that. More recently I have been getting "brain zaps" that make me a bit dizzy for a moment and then go away. It is very odd... I've also gone and been tested for every allergy ever because everything I eat gives me a stomach ache. I thought it was maybe because I was having too much caffiene but I stopped drinking that and the attacks stopped-- but not the depression and anxiety in general. I never really pointed to the BC until my best friend said she and another friend were having the same symptoms and we were all on the same BC... That said, I'm currently looking for one that doesn't make me insane!!! And doesn't make me gain weight... I can't gain weight or I will stop taking it. So if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!!!!!

Hi everyone,
It has been a while since I posted so I wanted to say hello and let you know that things do get better. I am now 8 months Yasmin-free. I am still on the effexor xr (still 37.5mg/day) for the anxiety that the Yasmin caused. I am totally off of Xanax now and cannot wait to be off of the effexor.
My bloodwork came back this week. Thank God that my thyroid and almost everything else is now OK. However, my cholesterol and triglycerides are way too high. And... since starting effexor, I gained 15 lbs. I need to get off of it, but the doc won't let me.
But the good news is that the tremors, the blackouts, leg pains, palpitations, brain zaps etc.... that I was experiencing on Yasmin are pretty much gone. And, I am so much better to my husband and kids now that I am off of the evil "Yasminpoison"!
I am in my mid-30's and never thought that this would happen to me. I lost so much time off of my life because of that little poison pill.
Your posts are so powerful and help me understand that I am alone in this. You should never feel alone in this, so many of us have suffered and are suffering terrible effects of Yasmin.
take care everyone!