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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by viengsone on December 25, 2002, at 23:16:50
Hi,
I am completely off my meds and have been for 12 days and still counting. I was taking Zoloft for 3 yrs and Effexor for 4 months. Everything has been fine except that I get head zaps at least ten times a day. It used to be worse, but I'm worried that these head zaps are a part of me and I have to live with them for the rest of my life. Has anyone ever gone through this. If you have can you please tell me how long it takes to go away. And if it does go away does it ever come back?Thanks
Posted by utopizen on December 25, 2002, at 23:21:03
In reply to will these head zaps ever go away?, posted by viengsone on December 25, 2002, at 23:16:50
Well, you should taper off of Effexor really slowly, same with your other med. Ask your doctor to prescribe the 37.5mg Effexor to help you do this...
I always get bad about med compliance when I come home for school break (not same bed time, etc.) well anyway got some zaps for going back on Effexor after thinking I could tough it out (no side effects, but vivid nightmares too intense to tough out). Well anyway it goes away, nothing to worry about, just crazy to think of. Just remember that it's okay, your nervous system is just a bunch of wires that transmit electrical currents all the time, and right now it's confused.
Posted by lmoore on December 26, 2002, at 1:36:53
In reply to Re: will these head zaps ever go away? » viengsone, posted by utopizen on December 25, 2002, at 23:21:03
Just want to encourage you to hang in there. I was on Zoloft for 6 years then switched to Paxil CR for 6 months. I quit Paxil 6 weeks ago after a short taper. Believe you me, the "zaps" were terrible.
Now, after several weeks off of AD's, the zaps and schwooshing feelings I had when I would turn my head are pretty much gone. I notice a very mild zap once in awhile, but it is so much better.
Hang in there.
Posted by pork chop on December 26, 2002, at 8:53:38
In reply to Re: will these head zaps ever go away?, posted by lmoore on December 26, 2002, at 1:36:53
I sooo know what you're going through with the "zaps". I had severe discontinuation symptoms from Lexapro. It felt like electric jolts were shooting from my head and exiting through my limbs. Everytime I moved my head, I got a jolt. I had to go back on Lexapro (only 5 mg did the trick) and shocks went away. It took me several weeks, but I quit taking the Lexapro alltogether last week and I still get mild sensations, allthough I can tell its on the way out. Hang in there, it's not permanent.
Posted by djmmm on December 26, 2002, at 9:33:08
In reply to will these head zaps ever go away?, posted by viengsone on December 25, 2002, at 23:16:50
I still experience the "zaps"...and it's been a couple of years since I have taken a SSRI.
I experience them now, on Parnate. I think these "zaps" are a long term side-effect of these meds (all AD's)
I first started taking antidepressants (paxil) at 15, I'm 24 now.
Posted by linkadge on December 26, 2002, at 17:36:13
In reply to will these head zaps ever go away?, posted by viengsone on December 25, 2002, at 23:16:50
I'd get the zaps whenever I made a sudden
movement, or when something startled me.I believe the problem is related to the
temporary increased norepinephrine at
receptor sides - SSRIs tend to downregulate
norepinephrine. They should decrease in
frequency over the next few weeks.
Mine were gone within two weeks.Good Luck
Linkadge
Posted by Aadika on December 27, 2002, at 20:58:26
In reply to will these head zaps ever go away?, posted by viengsone on December 25, 2002, at 23:16:50
It's been quite a while since I discontinued Paxil (14-15 months), but the "head zaps" are just as prominent and bothersome as they were when I first tapered off. I also recently developed epilepsy which a group of physicians have agreed is consistent with prior Paxil use. Be careful.
~ Aadika
Posted by Alara on December 27, 2002, at 21:12:49
In reply to Re: will these head zaps ever go away?, posted by linkadge on December 26, 2002, at 17:36:13
>> <<I believe the problem is related to the
> temporary increased norepinephrine at
> receptor sides - SSRIs tend to downregulate
> norepinephrine. They should decrease in
> frequency over the next few weeks.
> Mine were gone within two weeks.>>>
I agree with Linkadge. A small dose of an SSRI like Prozac will help you to temporarily rebalance out the excess norepinephrine until you have finished withdrawing from the Effexor. Effexor is an SNRI, affecting the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine. After you stop taking the drug, your stores of serotonin are depleted much quicker than are the norepinephrine stores, so your chemistry will be out of whack for a while. It is only temporary.
My zaps were also gone within two weeks.
Alara
This is the end of the thread.
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