Brain Zaps

[Carey01]

Has anyone experienced "brain zaps" --- I have experienced this sensation several times in the past few months.  I have been describing it as brain spasms but when I goodle brain zaps it appears a lot of people have them.  Seems to coincide with coming off SSRI's which I have never taken.  I am having an EEG on Thurs because I am worried it may have been a mild seizure -- now im not sure.  Does anyone know about these things>

[DibbyD]

So its pretty obvious what these zaps are. I spent a good deal of the day trying to grasp what the heck was going on in my noggin. Looked and looked only to find no real definite answer. Well here's my 2 cents. Depression is caused by many things but on a chemical level it is primarily due to low serotonin levels. The function of SSRI's is to stop serotonin from being recycled in the brain, specifically in the synapse. Allowing for a surplus of serotonin to accumulate. That is where electrical signals are sent out and need serotonin to complete these connections to receptors. So basically more serotonin = more connections = happy mood = happy person... By stopping the medication abruptly its like opening the flood gates and letting all that built up serotonin out and back to be recycled. Leaving the synapse with little to no serotonin left to make the necessary connections. The brain will attempt to send signals out with little to no regard for amount of receptor sites they may or may not have. So... the zaps are "NEW" connections and as bad as they feel and sound as I have just described... I think it is the bodies / brains way of healing its self.  Eye movement has be noted to be a contributing factor. Especially a side to side glance motion and I concur. My only idea on that is that Due to the fast movement of the eye and the VAST amount of information being sent via electrical pathways throughout the brain that allow us to have perception (sight). With the lower lvls of serotonin the Brain still wants to have that ability to give us sight so it jumps and skips to new connections... when that moment occurs. "ZAP!" To me I can only explain it as a constant hiss like the white noise tvs make. Constant yet very faint. Then its a instant Whoosh ! Like an indy car flew past ya at 200 miles an hr.
http://imgur.com/gallery/Q9YcCRW/new

[Carey01]

I havent had them for a while.  I did have the EEG and it was normal and I also had an MRI which too was normal.  I hope I never get it again but its almost 2 years later and I still dont know what it was.  

[Karmazoic]

I've had these before, for me it was definitely from coming off Lexapro.  I was prescribed Lexapro for anxiety, tried it for awhile, and while it semi-controlled my panic attacks, I didnt like the way I felt on it, so I stopped.  When I started getting the "brain zaps" I did some research and figured out that it was from the Lexapro withdrawal.  They lasted for a few months - 3, maybe?  I dont get them anymore, but now I get weird adrenaline rushes for no reason at all and I'm dizzy almost all the time.  I never felt bad (besides the panic attacks) until I went on Lexapro, now I feel like all of this is from the drug.   I just feel like a completely different person.  

[0161sezweb]

hey, i have the brain wave thing when i am falling asleep. its really scary! its in my forehead & feels like a wave turning over! its anxiety i think. are you still getting them? cheers x

[808dude]

I have been having what I think can be described as that.  Kinda like a wave of sensation that goes through your head?  It happens really fast.. without any real pain, just kinda funny feeling.  I notice them when I am trying to fall asleep mostly.  Is that what you had?  Did you find out what they are?