What is brain zaps? Brain zap is the feeling when you stop taking antidepressant medications. It’s an electric shock feeling to the brain. Brain shakes happen when you stop taking SSRI’s which are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
What is brain zaps? iStock-photo credit: hafakot
Some of the common sensations that you would feel in your brain are the following:
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Buzzing Sounds
• Shivering feeling in your head
Here are some medications that if you stop you will get a brain zap are Adderall, Xanax and even ecstasy. There was a research study in over 3000 people that if you stop taking these medications you will experience selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and that is:
• Prozac
• Zoloft
• Duloxetine
• Lexapro
• Venlafaxine
• Paroxetine
A brain zap after you stop taking a hard prescription medication is considered a withdrawal symptom. These types of symptoms appear in the days or weeks after you stop taking the medication or dropping the dosage significantly.
If you are going to taper off your medication it is better to get instructional advice on how to do it properly without having to experience serious withdrawal symptoms. You should collaborate with your doctor, and they can create the best timeline on how to taper off the medication.
One of the most important things you should never do is to get off any antidepressants in an extremely abrupt way.
Some of the best ways to remove any brain zap that you may be feeling is getting some fresh air, moving your body like exercising and getting up to 8 hours of sleep per day, etc.
The Bottom Line is a brain zap that is what you would feel after you stop taking an antidepressant medication. It is a common withdrawal symptom that most people will feel. The most important tip is to have a doctor formulate a plan on how to taper off any antidepressant medication to minimize the withdrawal symptoms.
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References
1) Davies J, Read J. A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based? Addict Behav. 2019 Oct;97:111-121. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.027. Epub 2018 Sep 4. PMID: 30292574.
2) Papp A, Onton JA. Triggers and characteristics of brain zaps according to the findings of an internet questionnaire. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2022;24(1):21m02972.
https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.21m02972
