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Brain zaps, (proposed name: myalotinasis from Greek for brain + jolt) also known as "the electric brain thing," "brain shivers," "brain shocks," "battery head," "blips," or "brain spasms," are a fairly common and notorious withdrawal symptom experienced during discontinuation (or reduction of dose) of SSRI and SNRI antidepressant drugs. However, the effect is not only confined to withdrawal periods for all suffers, but also is experienced while actually taking the prescribed medication (although less commonly), and has been known to continue for years after withdrawal from the associated medication. Withdrawal, also known as withdrawal syndrome, refers to the characteristic signs and symptoms that appear when a drug that causes physical dependence is regularly used for a long time and then suddenly discontinued or decreased in dosage. ...
SSRI is an acronym that stands for several things: It is a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI also is used as the stock symbol for Silver Standard Resources Inc. ...
Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are a class of antidepressant used in the treatment of clinical depression and other affective disorders. ...
A recent form of antidepressant medication - Prozac Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, Venlafaxine An antidepressant, in the most common usage, is a medication taken to alleviate clinical depression or dysthymia (milder depression). ...
The phenomenon is most commonly associated with paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat), venlafaxine (Effexor), sertraline (Zoloft), duloxetine (Cymbalta), fluvoxamine (Luvox),citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro). Paroxetine or paroxetine hydrochloride is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant. ...
Venlafaxine hydrochloride is a prescription antidepressant first introduced by Wyeth in 1993. ...
“Lustral†redirects here. ...
Duloxetine hydrochloride (brand names: Cymbalta/Yentreve and in parts of Europe known as Xeristar or Ariclaim) is a drug that primarily targets major depressive disorders (MDD), pain related to diabetic peripheral neuropathy and in some countries stress urinary incontinence (SUI). ...
Fluvoxamine (brand name as Luvox®, Faverin®, Fevarin® and Dumyrox®) is an antidepressant which functions pharmacologically as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. ...
Citalopram is an antidepressant drug used to treat depression associated with mood disorders. ...
This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
In more recent years, drug companies have added to their list of potential side-effects of many of these medications the possibility of "sensory disturbances", believed to be in reference to the strengthening body of anecdotal evidence about this phenomenon's existence.
Description "Brain zaps" are said to defy description for whoever has not experienced them, but the most common themes are of a sudden "jolt," likened to an electric shock, apparently occurring or originating in the brain itself, with associated disorientation for a few seconds. They are sometimes accompanied by brief tinnitus and vertigo-like feelings. Immediately following this shock is a light-headedness that may last for up to ten seconds. The sensation can be decribed for many as a flashbulb going off inside the head or brain, coupled with a sudden sensation of pressure within the ears which is similar to the feeling of trying to relieve inner-ear pressure. Another anecdotal description of a "zap" is as though someone had opened up the person's skull and dragged a static-y blanket across his or her exposed brain. Essentially, it is a wave-like electrical pulse that quickly travels across the surface of (or through) the brain. Still another description is that it is like a bug zapper in stereo traveling back and forth across the back of the head, accompanied by a taste of aluminum foil in the mouth. Moving one's eyes from side to side quickly has also been shown to trigger these zaps and causing them to come in rapid succession. It is thought to be a form of neuro-epileptiform activity. [1][2] Sign warning of possible electric shock hazard An electric shock can occur upon contact of a human or animal body with any source of voltage high enough to cause sufficient current flow through the muscles or nerves. ...
Tinnitus (IPA pronunciation: or ,[1] from the Latin word for ringing[2]) is the perception of sound in the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound(s). ...
Vertigo, sometimes called a headrush, is a major symptom of a balance disorder. ...
An anecdote is a short tale told about an interesting, amusing, or biographical incident. ...
Epileptic redirects here. ...
Some have suggested the experience resembles a "funny bone" except that it shoots through the entire body, starting from the head. The effect may be similar to drunkenness without any cognitive loss. Driving while experiencing these "zaps" is not advised[3]. A BONE. SEE HUMORous. ...
The Drunkenness of Noah by Giovanni Bellini Drunkenness, in its most common usage, is the state of being intoxicated by consumption of ethyl alcohol to a degree that mental and physical facilities are noticeably impaired. ...
Driving is the controlled operation of a vehicle, which is usually a motor vehicle such as a truck, bus, or car. ...
As withdrawal time increases, so does the frequency of the shocks, before they wane completely. At their peak, brain zaps have been associated with severe headaches. They may last for a period of several weeks after the last dose and usually resolve completely within a month or two. However, anecdotal reports of "zaps" from protracted withdrawal are known to last a year or longer. A headache is a condition of pain in the head; sometimes neck or upper back pain may also be interpreted as a headache. ...
Mechanism of Action Paresthesia and "electric shock sensations" are clinical terms used to describe this symptom, though paresthesia by definition is clinically incorrect. Paresthesia or paraesthesia (in British English) is a sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of a persons skin with no apparent long-term physical effect, more generally known as the feeling of pins and needles or of a limb being asleep. // Transient paresthesia is the temporary sensation of tingling...
The "brain zap" effect appears to be nearly unique to SSRI and SNRI antidepressants that have an extremely short elimination half-life; that is, they are more quickly metabolized by the liver and leave the general circulation faster than longer half-life antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac). This attribute of abruptness leaves the brain a relatively short time to adapt to a major neurochemical change when the medication is stopped, and the symptoms may be caused by the brain's readjustment. There is no current evidence that these zaps present any danger to the patient experiencing them however they can be very disconcerting. Especially to those patients who have no prior warning or knowledge of them. The elimination half-life of a drug (or any xenobiotic agent) refers to the timecourse necessary for the quantity of the xenobiotic agent in the body (or plasma concentration) to be reduced to half of its original level through various elimination processes. ...
Fluoxetine hydrochloride (Prozac) is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. ...
The electric shock sensations reported with neck flexion seem identical to Lhermitte's sign, which appears with dysfunction of the posterior spinal cord. This suggests change at a neuronal level.[4] In anatomy, Flexion is movement whereby bones or other objects are brought closer together. ...
Lhermittes Sign is a sign used to help diagnose Multiple Sclerosis and is indicated by electric-like sensations caused by flexing ones neck. ...
Many medical professionals are still unaware of the possible occurrence of this effect. Tranylcypromine (Parnate) used at high doses is also known for severe brain zaps, which may in some cases start at the base of the spine and progress to the head, or may occur exclusively in the head. Tranylcypromine (sold under the brand name Parnate®) is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) used as an antidepressant drug. ...
Brain zaps are also commonly experienced following periods of heavy use of the drug MDMA (Ecstasy). ecstasy and religious ecstasy MDMA, most commonly known today by the street name ecstasy, is a synthetic entactogen of the phenethylamine family whose primary effect is to stimulate the brain to rapidly secrete large amounts of serotonin, causing a general sense of openness, empathy, energy, euphoria, and well-being. ...
Treatment There is hypothetical and anecdotal evidence that Omega 3 fatty acid supplementation can be very helpful to alleviate the symptoms of brain zaps. Anticonvulsant medications such as gabitril are also hypothesized as a useful treatment. A hypothesis (= assumption in ancient Greek) is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon. ...
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids found in certain fish tissues, and in vegetable sources such as flax seeds, walnuts, and canola oil. ...
In chemistry, especially biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid often with a long unbranched aliphatic tail (chain), which is either saturated or unsaturated. ...
The anticonvulsants, sometimes also called antiepileptics, belong to a diverse group of pharmaceuticals used in prevention of the occurrence of epileptic seizures. ...
Tiagabine is an anti-convulsive medication produced by Cephalon and marketed under the brand name Gabitril. ...
See also SSRI discontinuation syndrome, also known as SSRI withdrawal syndrome or SSRI cessation syndrome, is a condition that can occur during or following the interruption or discontinuation of regular SSRI or SNRI antidepressant drug usage. ...
Post-micturition convulsion syndrome, also known as piss shivers or pee shivers, is a phenomenon where one feels a shiver running down the spine following urination. ...
Spine-tingling is a reaction to either being spooked (e. ...
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