Can stopping Effexor cause brain zaps?
Effexor Brain Zaps Venlafaxine has one of the highest rates of “brain zap” frequency associated with antidepressant discontinuation. Brain zaps are an electric shock sensation that may also include visual disturbances.
Are brain zaps neurological?
Discontinuation symptoms are mostly neurologic symptoms. They can be of the classic kind (eg, vertigo) or unusual sensations that feel as though they are originating inside the brain or skull. One of these unusual symptoms came to be called a brain zap.
Are brain zaps mini seizures?
Low levels of this brain chemical may trigger seizures. This leads some to believe that brain shakes are actually very minor, localized seizures. But this theory hasn’t been confirmed, and there’s no evidence that brain shakes have negative or long-term health effects.
Why do I keep getting brain zaps?
Brain zaps can mean your body is chronically stressed, such as from overly apprehensive behavior. Or, they are side effects of medication or withdrawing from medication. In each case, brain zaps aren’t harmful themselves but symptoms of a problem with anxiety, stress, or medication.
How do you fix brain zaps?
There is no known treatment for brain zaps. Many who suffer from depression avoid antidepressants altogether due to discontinuation syndrome and other side effects. Thankfully, there is an alternative therapy for depression — transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Can MS cause brain zaps?
Sudden pains are common with multiple sclerosis (MS). You might get a shocking, burning, squeezing, stabbing, cold, or prickly feeling out of nowhere. Some people call them zingers or stingers. These zaps usually last only seconds or minutes.
Do brain zaps cause damage?
Brain zaps are not harmful and will not damage the brain. However, they can be bothersome, disorienting, and disruptive to sleep. People may be able to minimize or prevent brain zaps by tapering off their dosage of antidepressants gradually.
How do you stop brain zaps?
Are brain zaps serious?
Brain zaps are electrical shock sensations in the brain. They can happen in a person who is decreasing or stopping their use of certain medications, particularly antidepressants. Brain zaps are not harmful and will not damage the brain. However, they can be bothersome, disorienting, and disruptive to sleep.
Can brain zaps be permanent?
There is no cure for brain zaps, and they usually go away over time. Once a person’s body has adjusted to the change in antidepressant dosage, brain zaps and some other side effects may decrease. Learn more about brain zaps, including causes and how they feel, in this article.
How do you cure brain zaps?