SSRI Brain Zaps | Arthritis Information

Gawd I hate the SSRI withdrawl brain zaps. I experienced them yesterday, because when I set up my weekly med tray I forgot to put the Zoloft in. Zoloft has a longer half-life, so it took about 3 days for the zaps to hit. Of course, they hit after I had been at work for an hour. Grrr! I took some tramadol, as it has weak SSRI activity... that took care of the zaps for the rest of the day at work, but it did make me a little silly.

So sorry Jaz, but at least you were silly instead of the weird feeling of the zaps. Have you ever looked into Effexor? I actually like it now that I am fully on it. I think it has really helped while the zoloft really did not help completely. Just my opinion though.

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I'm going to talk about options with the rheumatologist next month. Zoloft has helped somewhat with pain and fatigue, but I have a hard time sleeping sometimes.

But those brain zaps suck big time.

Umm, silly question...but what are 'brain zaps'? [QUOTE=babyjeepwoman]Umm, silly question...but what are 'brain zaps'?[/QUOTE]

An electric-shock sensation up and down the spine... it is an acute withdrawl side effect of the short-acting SSRIs, especially Paxil. The pharmas tried to deny its existence for years... even going so far as to imply that people who take SSRI's have mental issues and it's all in their heads. The FDA finally made the manufacturers put a warning on the meds describing the withdrawl syndrome.
WOW! and OW! Thanks for answering my question. I am taking welbutrin XL and don't have that. However, if I am feeling wonderful and 'forget' to take it for a couple of days, I notice that I feel 'dull'.Yep, these meds can be very useful for depression, pain, etc... but they are not without risks. WOW, I take Paxil Paxil has a very short half-life... you can get the withdrawl problems even if you are just late taking your dose. They came out with Paxil-CR (continuous release) to try to avoid these problems.

If she has frequent problems with the Paxil, she might want to talk to her doctor about twice-daily dosing, or taking Paxil-CR, or switching to an SSRI with a longer half-life. But be warned... some shrinks still think this is "all in your head".

http://www.breggin.com/paxilwithdrawalsuit1.html

Paxil Withdrawal Suit Resolved

     A California lawsuit against Glaxo SmithKline (GSK) charged the drug company with failing to warn the public about the dangers of Paxil withdrawal. Glaxo SmithKline (GSK), the manufacturer of the antidepressant Paxil, resolved the suit in January 2002. The results of the resolution, including any settlement by defendant Glaxo SmithKline, were not announced. The outcome was described as a resolution rather than a settlement.
     Psychiatrist Peter Breggin, M.D. was the plaintiff's medical expert and worked closely with the attorneys in formulating the suit. According to Dr. Breggin, there is published and clinical evidence that all of the SSRIs can cause serious withdrawal reactions. Paxil, because of its intense impact and short duration of action, causes the most severe withdrawal reactions.
     Paxil is an antidepressant of the SSRI class that also includes Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and Luvox. The suit charged that Paxil causes serious withdrawal problems of many kinds, resulting in a widespread societal problem when many individuals find themselves unable to stop taking the drug.
     The Paxil withdrawal suit was brought in San Jose, California on August 19, 2000 as a "Complaint for Injunctive Relief Under Business and Professions Code" (Nguyen & Farber, plaintiffs vs. SmithKline Beecham Corporation, Case No: CV791998).

JasmineRain39381.4495023148Jasmine~ I take Paxil and I don't think it works very good. My Dr said to slowly taper for about two weeks, like every other day.I take 10mgs, how would you taper to get the least zaps and side effects? Thanks! [QUOTE=moana]Jasmine~ I take Paxil and I don't think it works very good. My Dr said to slowly taper for about two weeks, like every other day.I take 10mgs, how would you taper to get the least zaps and side effects? Thanks![/QUOTE]

I just quit it cold turkey... but I know some people can take months to taper off, much like coming of prednisone.

I had a friend who was a pharmacist and she told me that taking Dramamine (make sure it's the drowsy formula one) would help alleviate those symptoms. Worked for me. You might want to try it.

Thanks guys, didn't know you could go to another so soon. I've gained a ton of weight while on Paxil too, is there any that doesn't cause weight gain, besides eating candy corn, lol? The Dr really wants me on SSRI to help wit the Fibro. I can't tell Paxil helps a thing

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Sorry to hear about your brain zaps Jaz. I was on Prozac for awhile last year and then tapered off of it and didn’t have any brain zaps. I didn’t gain weight when I was on Prozac and neither did my daughter when she started taking it. For women, Prozac actually helps with those monthly cramps and to also make your actual period lighter. My husband takes Zoloft and didn’t gain any weight from it. I do not know if that is because he is a guy and guys do not gain weight from the SSRI’s.

I really appreciate all the info about the SSRI’s in this thread. Thanks!!

Well, the brain zaps are gone. WOOHOO!!! The SSRI's are my love-hate drug... they have definitely helped me through a few rough periods in my life, but I do wonder... at what cost?

Wikipedia has a decent article on the phenomenon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI_discontinuation_syndrome

I used Prozac for a time in college. It made me constantly jittery, as if I'd just chugged a pot of coffee, and it didn't do much for the depressive episode I was having.

Most of the SSRI's are now used for PMDD, including Zoloft. I do notice it has lessened my urge to "reach out and punch someone" < =text/>_popupControl();

PMDD is why we have our daughter on the Prozac. It really has made a night and day difference for her. And for us too lol. I think I am going to get some fish oil for her too. I really feel bad for her and want to do what I can to help her with this. Before the Prozac she would get so bad that she would beg me to just let them “take it all out”. She is only 15 so of course that is out of the question unless it is medically necessary like a tumor etc. Many people really dissed us because we did put her on it. But what else were we supposed to do, let her suffer like she was??? I don’t think so. I wonder “at what cost” also with her, but I just can not see my daughter suffer like she was.

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No doubt about it... SSRI's can be life-changing, even life-saving.
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