Brain zaps are sensory disturbances that feel like electrical shock sensations in the brain. A person may also notice a brief buzzing sound and feel faint or black out momentarily. Brain zaps can happen when a person decreases or stops using certain medications, particularly antidepressants.
Brain zaps are commonly described as a “buzz” or “jolt” in the brain or as a “white light mixed with dizziness.” Some clients say brain zaps feel like an “electrical buzz” inside the head. Dizziness and vertigo are common during these episodes.
Brain zaps are sensations described as brief electrical shocks or vibrations experienced as occurring inside the head. They can be accompanied by secondary sensations in the auditory modality and may involve a sense of momentary disconnection from alertness.
What do brain zaps mean? 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.
Yes, the electric shock sensation (also referred to as “brain zaps”) are common symptoms of anxiety. Many people experience them.
Some patients may experience brain zaps after one missed dose, while others might not have the sensation until a few days after stopping. Brain zaps can cause varying levels of discomfort. For some, brain zaps feel like a brief electric shock while others describe the sensation as a tingling or shivering.
Trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux) is a disorder of a nerve at the side of the head, called the trigeminal nerve. This condition causes intense, stabbing or electric shock-like pain in the lips, eyes, nose, scalp, forehead and jaw. Although trigeminal neuralgia is not fatal, it is extremely painful.
Occipital neuralgia is a distinct type of headache characterized by piercing, throbbing, or electric-shock-like chronic pain in the upper neck, back of the head, and behind the ears, usually on one side of the head. Typically, the pain of occipital neuralgia begins in the neck and then spreads upwards.
Brain zaps are among the common symptoms of antidepressant withdrawal. Patients often describe them as feeling like an electrical shock. However, as of December 2022, more research needs to be done on brain zaps for healthcare providers to understand why they happen entirely.
Symptoms typically begin as early as 12 hours after the last dose and generally resolve within one to two weeks.
Both the existing literature4,5 and our findings suggest that brain zaps occur only for a few weeks; nevertheless, rare instances of extremely long durations have also been reported, especially on website accounts.
Some patients may experience brain zaps after one missed dose, while others might not have the sensation until a few days after stopping. Brain zaps can cause varying levels of discomfort. For some, brain zaps feel like a brief electric shock while others describe the sensation as a tingling or shivering.
It occurs at rates ranging from 17.2% to as high as 78% with venlafaxine. There is, however, little literature on “brain shivers,”4,5 a common antidepressant-discontinuation symptom described by patients taking venlafaxine, duloxetine, citalopram, and paroxetine.
Some people report experiencing "brain shivers" or “brain zaps” when they are late taking their prescribed dose of Effexor. 2 People often describe these sensations as a very brief, repetitive electric shock-like feeling that remains confined to the brain or head.
Missing doses of venlafaxine may increase your risk for relapse in your symptoms. Stopping venlafaxine abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: irritability, nausea, feeling dizzy, vomiting, nightmares, headache, and/or paresthesias (prickling, tingling sensation on the skin).
One study found that Effexor was one of the most effective antidepressants. 5 While Effexor can be a strong antidepressant, individual effects and tolerance may vary. Working with your doctor to determine which option is right for you is crucial.
Once you're feeling better it's likely that you will continue to take venlafaxine for several more months. Most doctors recommend that you take antidepressants for 6 months to 1 year after you no longer feel depressed. Stopping before that time can make depression come back.
Do not use venlafaxine with buspirone (Buspar®), fentanyl (Abstral®, Duragesic®), linezolid (Zyvox®), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), methylene blue injection, tryptophan, St John's wort, amphetamines, or some pain or migraine medicines (eg, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, tramadol, Frova®, Imitrex®, Maxalt®, Relpax®, Ultram ...
You might also hear them referred to as “brain zaps,” “brain shocks,” “brain flips,” or “brain shivers.” They're often described as feeling like brief electric jolts to the head that sometimes radiate to other body parts. Others describe it as feeling like the brain is briefly shivering.
As the brain adjusts to and away from these types of medications, it can experience involuntary reactions, which result in a zap, buzz, or jolt feeling. The good news is that these zaps aren't harmful and disappear as the body stabilizers or breaks free from the medication.
If the symptoms develop later or gradually, they may constitute a relapse of the depression. Ultimately, these withdrawal symptoms will improve with time, but they can be unpleasant for days and possibly even weeks. In time, the brain readjusts and people should experience a return to their normal state.
Widely consulted drug information services, such as Medscape DrugInfo, American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information, and First DataBank, list the following withdrawal symptoms as “serious”: agitation, anorexia, anxiety, confusion, impaired coordination, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, dysphoric mood, ...
Signs and symptoms
Sensory and movement disturbances have also been reported, including imbalance, tremors, vertigo, dizziness, and electric-shock-like experiences in the brain, often described by people who have them as "brain zaps".
Most Effexor lawsuits have been filed by women or couples whose children were born with birth defects as a result of Effexor use by the mother during pregnancy. Common birth defects that may be caused by Effexor include: Heart defects and malformations. Physical defects such as cleft lip and palate.