brain zaps

[nrs29]

I have been on anti-deppressants for ten years. I never knew how to describe what I was feeling till I read about brain zaps. They come and go, may have them one day and the next day they are gone. Had them for all ten years. Why do they come and go? and is their anything I should do?

[birdie0907]

I have done well. I think it only stays in your system for 2 weeks, in terms of tapering, so hopefully that means max 2 weeks of zaps for you since you had none until zero.

[rosepainter]

Thank you!  Idid the tapering 20-15-10-5 over eight weeks, I think, but then went straight to zero.  I think you are right...I should have gone to increasing alternate days on zero.  But anyway, I didn't have such a bad day today and my doc told me to tough it out some more, now that I did go to all zero.  So I'll do that for another week.  Since today was much better, I'm hopeful again.    I hope you have done well.  Thanks again.

[birdie0907]

I hope you get an answer from the doc as I see you wrote to him too. Only thing I can say is did you do a zero, then a five, 2 zeroes, a five, 3 zeroes etc? Or did you just go straight from 5 to zero?

I went off Celexa a while ago. My pharmacist had never even heard of cutting a 10 to make 2 5s that my doc had me do, and said he thought my doc was super conservative. I am sorry to hear that after carefully going to 5s you have such a bad experience.

[rosepainter]

Have your zaps ever ended?  I just discontinued lexapro and got them really badly.  It would really help me to know whether they ever stop.  Thanks.

[remar]

i have the same thing too and i'm on an antidepressant. i think it's probably the meds. but you should ask your dr. about it. take care. Remar

[azalea82]

Generally, brain zaps occur when stopping an anti-depressant.  As far as anything you should do, definitely mention them to the doctor prescribing your medication.