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“A rapid buzzing in my head.”

“A sudden reboot of my brain’s senses.”

“It’s like an electric current.”

If you’re gradually stopping taking antidepressants or recently skipped a dose or two, you may have experienced a mysterious side effect commonly known as “brain zaps.” Don’t worry, you’re not actually zapped, but it sure can feel like it. Often, brain zaps happen instantly, without warning, and for some people, they can be alarming and anxiety-inducing.

On Redditone person likened brain zaps to the sound of “rushing winds” in their head, similar to those of a yawn. Another described it as a “sudden onset of dizziness and disorientation” or a “mini seizure.” Online, people claim they experience brain zaps after stopping medications like Lexapro (escitalopram), Cymbalta (duloxetine), and Paxil (paroxetine), but this can happen when you stop taking any type of antidepressant, including both. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI).

Brain zaps seem weird, yes, but it turns out this sensation is actually quite common. It’s how your brain recalibrates itself after stopping an antidepressant, says psychiatrist Jessi Gold, MD, director of wellness for the University of Tennessee system and author of How do you feel? The search for a doctor for humanity in medicine.

If you’ve experienced brain zaps recently, you’re probably wondering when they’ll stop and whether or not you should stay away from antidepressants (hint: you shouldn’t!). Always talk to your doctor if you have serious concerns, but in the meantime, here’s what you need to know about mysterious brain zaps, why they happen, and what to expect when you gradually come off an antidepressant.

Meet the expert: Jessi GoldMD, is responsible for the welfare of the University of Tennessee system and author of How do you feel? The search for a doctor for humanity in medicine.

Why brain zaps happen if you stop taking an antidepressant

The exact cause is a bit mysterious. But brain zaps are likely due to a “readjustment of neurotransmitters” in your brain when you stop an antidepressant, Dr. Gold says. Antidepressants may include SSRIs (which increase serotonin levels in the brain), SNRIs (which increase serotonin and norepinephrine), and atypical antidepressants (Wellbutrin, for example), as well as IMAO And SARI.

Typically, brain zaps are associated with antidepressant discontinuation syndrome (ADS), which has an impact about 20 percent of people who suddenly stop or reduce their medication use. ADS may include flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal problems, trouble sleeping, dizziness, nausea, and tingling and shock sensations (like brain zaps), depending on the Cleveland Clinic.

Generally speaking, antidepressants help balance neurotransmitters in the brain. So when you stop taking them, your system needs time to balance again. When zaps occur, your brain essentially readapts to its baseline values, says Dr. Gold.

Some medications are more likely to cause ADS than others, says Dr. Gold, as Effexor(an SNRI) and Paxil (an SSRI). Lexapro, for example, is also commonly associated with brain zaps, but just because you’re taking one of these medications doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to develop side effects when you stop taking it.

Symptoms are more likely to occur when you stop taking an antidepressant all at once (which, by the way, is not recommended) or in cases where you are in the process of tapering off. Stopping an antidepressant should be done slowly, gradually and under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

What Brain Zaps look like

Brain zaps happen suddenly and last a few seconds, but the actual feeling varies depending on the person. “People say it feels like a shock that’s not painful, but it’s different from nerve conduction,” Dr. Gold says. Some of her patients describe a tingling sensation, and others say it’s just a generally strange feeling, she says. You might feel dizzy, dizzy, or even experience a burning or melting sensation in your head. A Redditor posted this it “feels like the autofocus of a camera.”

Zaps may occur several times periodically throughout the day, but chances are you won’t experience them all day, every day. This is something that should only happen occasionally, says Dr. Gold. While some people feel them intensely, others say the zaps aren’t too bothersome and that they come and go periodically before eventually going away. It’s personal, and some people will naturally be more sensitive to side effects than others, as they would with any other medication, Dr. Gold says.

When to expect brain zaps if you miss a dose (or miss it altogether)

Skipping just one pill doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll experience brain zaps. But, technically, if you forget to take your antidepressant for more than a day, you’re at risk for side effects, Dr. Gold says. That said, brain zaps usually appear within a few days of stopping your treatment.

If you accidentally miss a dose, you may or may not notice symptoms, but if you go on vacation and forget to bring your pills with you for a week, you’re more likely to notice a difference. And if you’re very sensitive or tend to experience the side effects of other medications quickly, your brain zaps may manifest more quickly or more intensely than others, Dr. Gold says.

Are brain zaps a sign of withdrawal?

Some people think that brain zaps are a traditional withdrawal sign, similar to what one might experience with drugs or alcohol, and they worry that they have become too dependent or “hooked” on the antidepressant. himself, explains Dr. Gold. However, this is not necessarily the case: your brain has simply become accustomed to functioning with your specific medication, and it needs some time to balance out and return to your baseline level.

“As someone once explained to me, antidepressants are like glasses: if you don’t wear them, you don’t see as well,” says Dr. Gold. “When you take them off, you may have to readjust to see, but that doesn’t mean you’re addicted to glasses…you’re just better with them on.”

All medications carry a risk of withdrawal symptoms, but some are more about addiction (like benzodiazepines, for example) and others are more about how your brain adapts, Dr. Goldberg says.

When will the zaps stop?

If you gradually taper off your antidepressant medication, the zaps should go away on their own after a few weeks, but may last a few months for some people, according to a 2019 systematic review published in Addictive behaviors. If you forgot to take a dose or refill your prescription and a day or two has passed, the zaps should stop when you start your dose again.

If you and your doctor decide to reduce your dose, switch to a different type of antidepressant, or stop taking a medication altogether, you should ideally lower your dose to lessen any sudden side effects, says Dr. Gold. “You don’t just go from 200 to zero: you go to 200, 150 for a while, then 100 for a while.”

How to Cope with Brain Zaps While Waiting

Unfortunately, there is no overnight cure for brain zaps or a way to stop them from happening in the moment. “There’s no right answer: ‘For this symptom, take Advil,'” Dr. Gold says.

You can, however, treat the accompanying symptoms and find ways to manage them in the short term. For example, if brain zapping makes you dizzy, it may be helpful to move slowly and carefully until the sensation goes away or have a contingency plan in place in case you experience dizziness during exercise, for example. Staying hydrated and relieving stress can also help combat dizziness, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Above all, the best way to deal with it is to work with your provider to make sure you’re taking your medications (and tapering them off) as safely as possible, which should also help minimize uncomfortable side effects. “The only things we know help is to take it slowly during the withdrawal period and taper more slowly,” says Dr. Gold. “Sometimes (providers) can give you a low dose of Prozac to help you, even if you’re not going to take Prozac,” she adds. If you stop taking another medication, “low-dose Prozac can counteract symptoms because it has a long half-life,” says Dr. Gold.

Some people are just very sensitive and will experience side effects no matter which antidepressant they take, Dr. Gold adds. So if you’re adjusting your dose, changing medications, or even traveling and know you tend to see side effects, you probably need to be more careful, she says.

When to see a doctor

If brain zaps bother you, interfere with your daily life, or seem to get worse over several weeks, tell your doctor, says Dr. Gold. It may seem like the only way to get rid of the zaps is to avoid antidepressants altogether — or, alternatively, keep taking them forever so that withdrawal never happens — but there are other options than your provider can help you understand, she says.

Keep in mind that there’s a lot of fear about this idea of ​​brain zaps, and as scary as it may seem, you shouldn’t let it dissuade you from psychiatry completely, says Dr. Gold. “Remember, it’s just your body readjusting. You may feel more anxious, but it’s not because your body is more anxious now, it just likes to bother you.

The main thing? Continue to see your psychiatrist while you are taking an antidepressant and let him or her know what works and what doesn’t work for you. A provider can help you determine your next steps, and if you’re concerned, they can adjust your dose, switch you to another medication, or help you taper off your current medication if necessary.

“We (as providers) want you to stop taking your medication in a way that makes you feel better, does not make you worse, and does not make you falsely believe that you need the medication and cannot survive without him. ” says Dr. Gold.

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