zaps question

what is the medical explanation for zaps and waves? do doctors even acknowledge that they happen as part of withdrawal symptoms?

they are awful. my goodness. i live on the second floor, and i find it particularly hard to get up the stairs to my room because the waves seem to hit hard when i'm climbing stairs.. anyone else find that?

[LCrawford67]

The're difficult, that's for sure. GSK even acknowledges they occur, so it's definitely out there. But, some doctors don't even acknowledge w/d, let alone anything else.

I don't have a "medical" explanation for them, but Scotty, or someone else with more knowledge, will.

[Kat]

You should only taper 5-10% at a time - 2.5 mg per month will put u in a world of hurt!!!! After you taper you will feel w/d fx. But should level out in about a week. Then wait 2 weeks & taper again - If you ever find that after a week your w/d is too intense, (rage, anxiety, quick mood swings, zaps & wooshes) THen go back up for a few weeks & taper a li'l smaller next time.

As far as the medical term for zaps & wooshes - good question I'm looking it up now.
So far all I've found is a feeling of 'electrical shocks'. But I'll keep looking.
The easiest way is to google Paxil side effects & then use 'the free dictionary' online to look up all the medical terms.

I'll try & post a list of some later.

Hang in there.
Kat

[pax80]

The zaps were my very first strange symptom. They're gone.
Go slow, slow slow!

[safarigal]

I had zaps and those waves while on Paxil as well as in withdrawal. I don't know if there is a real name for them. They do go away eventually, thank God.

Thinking back I even got weird imagery traces and colors, like things moving by in slow motion or like frames in a movie...really weird.

[efexorsam]

Must be something to do with how the brain processes information. Had some 'whooshes' when on the meds, and yes the zaps now off. Sometimes like electric shock, other times like a pop, or something snapping inside my brain. I think it is the brain rewiring and adjusting to being without a chemical pathway.

only 5 percent?! but that's only 1mg at a time.. i can't find a pill cutter that will cut my teeny little 20mg tab into 20 pieces.. and i can't get a prescription for liquid paxil because my doctor won't support what i am doing.. what should i do?!

[Delynbetter]

Originally Posted by seemsforever

only 5 percent?! but that's only 1mg at a time.. i can't find a pill cutter that will cut my teeny little 20mg tab into 20 pieces.. and i can't get a prescription for liquid paxil because my doctor won't support what i am doing.. what should i do?!

Demand the liquid when you get to 10mg. If the doctor still refuses find another doctor and turn the original doctor in to the medical board. YOU are in charge of your medical treatment.

[Johnnny off Paxil]

http://www.labelmesane.com/about/brain_zaps.htm

Brain shivers , also known as "the electric brain thing","The Zaps", "Blips", "Effexor Shocks" or "Brain Spasms", is a notorious but fairly rare withdrawal symptom of certain antidepressants.

fairly rare?! hardly!


oh man, that article was really scary. i'm going to print it and show it to my psychiatrist.

[Johnnny off Paxil]

Ah..yeah I would ignore that part..the fairly rare..... but the rest of the article is good research journalism...

Its not "fairly rare" at all..in fact I thing everyone here on the Forum has had zaps..I know i have..but much later in the withdrawal..I know my metabolism is weird...

Regards, Johnny

[Kat]

Originally Posted by seemsforever

only 5 percent?! but that's only 1mg at a time.. i can't find a pill cutter that will cut my teeny little 20mg tab into 20 pieces.. and i can't get a prescription for liquid paxil because my doctor won't support what i am doing.. what should i do?!

I found a pill cutter at the dollar store. Yep $1. If you can't find one there, look at all the pharmacies & grocery stores near you, or go online. The pill cutters are made to cut pills way tinier than a 20 mg paxil. I'm not saying they do a perfect job, that's why when you do get down to making small cuts it's best to crush it & use the water titration method. Which is just a fancy way of saying crush it, mix it w/water or oj & use a syringe (the kind w/o a needle) to measure it out.
You can find water titration taper schedules if you look around.

[Kat]

Originally Posted by efexorsam

Must be something to do with how the brain processes information. Had some 'whooshes' when on the meds, and yes the zaps now off. Sometimes like electric shock, other times like a pop, or something snapping inside my brain. I think it is the brain rewiring and adjusting to being without a chemical pathway.

The brain is actually learning how to reabsorb the extra serotonin & how to deal w/the extra amount that's been withheld for so long. Remember Paixil is a SSRI Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, Meaning it's ('inhibiting') stopping the serotonin from being taken into a receptor. Now you are letting it back in. And your brain needs to re-adjust slowly. Too much of a cut will flood your brain w/serotonin & possibly give you Serotonin Syndrome, which is serotonin poisoning & can be fatal. It's a good idea when you are tapering to look up the symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome. Since the w/d has so many horrible fx, you don't want to mistake the w/d fx for the poisoning.