Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

8,884 Members

129,561 Posts

1 Online

HungryAngryLonelyTired 07/25/2012

Im having small and large brain zaps. Ive been taking meds 30 years and this morning I had a appt with heart doctor. No food so I waited to take meds when I came back. 11 hours later Im miserable... I've only had Brain Zaps with vertigo, tinnitus, waves, disorientation. Couldn't drive if I had too. 3 times this year. I don't know if its the benzo or the anti depressants. But I have had them before. This is one topic I have noone to talk to but God. I feel lonely and inadequate...I just don't want to lay down until the head noises lighten up.

KimChick 07/25/2012

I've been on Effexor XR for quite some time, and I get brain zings randomly even though I am taking them regularly.

I DO tend to not eat very much on the weekends, though, and I wonder if maybe lack of food to properly work the medication IN (can't think of the right words - THANKS Topamax!), affects this.

If you were here, I could kinda make the sound that I hear in my head whenever I get one.

Haha - if anyone wants to call me, I can tell you the sound it makes and describe to you what it feels like, kinda.

KimChick 07/25/2012

To me it almost sounds like "feedback".

hotdogalice 07/25/2012

actually sometimes when my brain zap hit....it would drop me to the floor....weird weird.....glad those days are over....i dont take meds now...but i still have voids....think these were permentant for me..

deleted_user 07/25/2012

effexor gave me brain zaps. scared the hell outa' me.

for me, it literally feels like getting an electric jolt.

KimChick 07/25/2012

I've never had my Effexor decreased the whole time I've been on it, which has been years. I've heard the horror stories, and I am so scared of the withdrawal symptoms.

SwordDancer 07/25/2012

yep, same here, effexor gave me the zaps. effexor is an SNRI

I hate getting on or off that drug!

hotdogalice 07/25/2012

I WONDER WHY A DRUG LIKE EFFEXOR CAN STILL BE ON THE MARKET WITH THE EFFECTS IT CAUSES..ITS BEEN 4 YEARS AND I DONT THINK I AM WHO I WAS BEFORE THE SSNRI DRUG.....THE ZAPS REALLY TOOK A TOLL ON ME....NO ONE TOLD ME THAT YOU HAD TO TAKE THESE DRUGS AT THE SAME TIME EACH DAY OR NOT TO GO WITHOUT OR STOP SUDDENLY.....AND WE ALL KNOW THERE ARE ACCIDENTS WHERE WE ARE NOT WHERE ARE MEDICATION IS AT.....

deleted_user 07/25/2012

i know i've had some or something similar. the part i'm happy about is they didn't last, and also it didn't seem to be as bad as some are describing. maybe i'm weird and i like my brain being zinged ! haha no i'm sure it's just that they weren't as severe for whatever reason. i think this was happening to me as i came off klonopin.

care4me 07/25/2012

I get brain zaps if I even late on taking my effoxor.

Halterbroke 07/25/2012

Whenever I wean off an AD I get them, particularly effexor. Even actually if I miss a dose of effexor I get the vertigo and the brain zaps... sorry you are having this.

sarah1854 07/26/2012

Ugh, brain zaps are AWFUL! I used to get them whenever I was late taking Pristiq, however, since I started Seroquel XR as well, it isn't as bad.

Back then, if I didn't have any medication with me, I found that eating dry biscuits and sitting still helped. But that's about it.

Hang in there! I agree that you should see a doctor about it. As I said, adding the Seroquel helped with almost eliminating my brain zaps.

xx

sarah1854 07/26/2012

Oh, just if anyone's curious: For me, brain zaps feel like I have "pins and needles" in my brain/face and extremities. It makes you feel so unwell.

deleted_user 07/26/2012

I get ticks and zaps quite a bit--mixed with fatiuge and dizziness.

Join the Conversation