Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro

sergei91 · 12-11-2009, 06:44 PM

I have a strange situation that we (my doctor) and I can't figure out. I'm on 20mg of Lexapro for treatment resistant anxiety and have been getting brain zaps while on the medication, especially when I exercise. I personally think my brain is a mess because I previously was on 100mg of Zoloft AND 50 mg of Pristiq, my new p-doc weaned me off of those earlier this year and switched me to Lexapro. We even tried increasing the Lexapro but that made it worse. My doc who is very knowledgeable in the neuroscience and psychopharmocology areas assures me that it is not from the Zoloft or Pristiq w/d and is not common to get the zaps while on an ssri only from discontinuation. Anyone out there have any similar experiences?

Here are the meds I'm currently on;
20 mg Lexapro
75 mg Anafranil
5mg Zyprexa

My the zyprexa and anafranil are left over from my old p-doc, my new doc wants to wean me off of the Zyprexa and then the Anafranil.

JessG · 12-11-2009, 08:59 PM

I also experienced zaps while on a full dose and not tapering. I've noticed I get them less or not at all since I've been weighing my pills. I'm not positive but it's my opinion that I got the zaps from the inconsistent weight of the pills therefore getting a slightly different dose of the drug every day. That's just what I think.

jule1 · 12-12-2009, 06:51 AM

I think it is definitely withdrawal related to the Pristique and Zoloft you were previously on. I tried other medications too in withdrawal but they only made the problem worse if anything. They didn't help and take away the withdrawal for sure.

scotslass · 12-12-2009, 07:13 AM

Sounds like withdrawal from the other drugs.It will pass but I understand how crappy it is when you have it.Hang tight!

paxilgirl · 12-12-2009, 07:47 AM

You are experiencing zaps from the WD of the other meds.

scotty · 12-12-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sergei91

My doc who is very knowledgeable in the neuroscience and psychopharmocology areas assures me that it is not from the Zoloft or Pristiq w/d and is not common to get the zaps while on an ssri only from discontinuation.

Well, that very knowledgeable doctor doesn't have a clue. You have discontinued an ssri(in fact an ssri, and an snri) which puts you in the withdrawal category.
Now you're on two antidepressants AND an antipsychotic which means that anything can happen side effect wise.

efexorsam · 12-13-2009, 10:08 AM

I was on effexor for a long time- pristiq is nearly the same thing I believe- maybe even stronger. It took at least 6 months for the worst of the zaps from stopping that to finish. I am certain as others have said that your zaps are the withdrawal from your previous medications.

scotia21 · 12-14-2009, 06:30 AM

I had zaps after I hit "poop out" on Paxil. It is very likely related to the stopping of the other meds and could be related to the increase in the dose of your Lexapro. I agree with Scotty that your doctor who says that he knows a lot about this stuff really doesn't know much.

sergei91 · 12-15-2009, 04:25 PM

Thanks for all who replied. I'm seeing my p-doc tomorrow and will discuss this info with him. Is there anything that helps the brain zaps go away, obviously I've been off the Pristiq and Zoloft for too long to go back on, and increasing the Lexapro made it worse.

efexorsam · 12-15-2009, 04:31 PM

I don't think there is anything that will make the zaps go away, except time. I and many others have found that a high dose of omega 3 fish oil can help at least take the edge off them.

sergei91 · 12-15-2009, 07:12 PM

How much fish oil is helpful? I already take 1 1100mg pill a day.

efexorsam · 12-16-2009, 03:10 AM

From what I've read, it's the EPA value you want. Look at the label. A 1000mg capsule may not be enough as many only have around 150mg EPA. I take a liquid and ingest around 2000mg EPA which is around 8000mg of omega 3 oil.

scotia21 · 12-16-2009, 06:39 AM

If you are having anxiety issues then be very careful with the fish oil supplements. I tried to take them and they made me want to claw my own skin off.

efexorsam · 12-16-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotia21

If you are having anxiety issues then be very careful with the fish oil supplements. I tried to take them and they made me want to claw my own skin off.

Maybe thats a problem- perhaps it has made my itching worse, but I can't say it causes me anxiety. For me the itching (a sign of healing but also due to deregulation of pain receptors according to the good man at antidepressantsfacts.com) is bad with or without fish oil. Makes me think clearer though

12-11-2009, 06:44 PM	#1
sergei91 Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11	Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro I have a strange situation that we (my doctor) and I can't figure out. I'm on 20mg of Lexapro for treatment resistant anxiety and have been getting brain zaps while on the medication, especially when I exercise. I personally think my brain is a mess because I previously was on 100mg of Zoloft AND 50 mg of Pristiq, my new p-doc weaned me off of those earlier this year and switched me to Lexapro. We even tried increasing the Lexapro but that made it worse. My doc who is very knowledgeable in the neuroscience and psychopharmocology areas assures me that it is not from the Zoloft or Pristiq w/d and is not common to get the zaps while on an ssri only from discontinuation. Anyone out there have any similar experiences? Here are the meds I'm currently on; 20 mg Lexapro 75 mg Anafranil 5mg Zyprexa My the zyprexa and anafranil are left over from my old p-doc, my new doc wants to wean me off of the Zyprexa and then the Anafranil.

12-11-2009, 08:59 PM	#2
JessG Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 404	Re: Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro I also experienced zaps while on a full dose and not tapering. I've noticed I get them less or not at all since I've been weighing my pills. I'm not positive but it's my opinion that I got the zaps from the inconsistent weight of the pills therefore getting a slightly different dose of the drug every day. That's just what I think. __________________ Prescribed Paxil in Mar. 1998 for social anxiety 1st attempt to taper in 2002 by 2.5mg drops. Crashed somewhere between 10-15mg "Doc" upped Paxil back to 30mg. 2003-2005: Up and down from 27-35mg(?) Tapering since Dec 2005, from 35mg Stayed at 20mg for ALL of 2008 2/23/09:19.5mg 4/10/09:18.7mg 5/23/09:17.5mg 6/18/09:16.5mg 7/20/09:15.5mg 8/22/09:14.8mg 10/28/09:14.5mg 12/02/09:14.0mg 02/09/10:13.5mg 03/09/10:13.0mg 04/06/10:12.6mg 06/30/10:12.2mg

12-12-2009, 06:51 AM	#3
jule1 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,914	Re: Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro I think it is definitely withdrawal related to the Pristique and Zoloft you were previously on. I tried other medications too in withdrawal but they only made the problem worse if anything. They didn't help and take away the withdrawal for sure. __________________ Was on Effexor (150mg) @January? of 2006 until January 1, 2008. Weaned off over 3 month period with no instructions of weaning from doctor. 24 months off Effexor January 2010 and still protracted withdrawal Supplements: Tryptophan, Magnesium, Fish Oil, Calcium D, Stress B Complex, Ashwagandha, tapering .5 mg Xanax at bedtime 2/15-.4375mg 3/12-.375 mg 4/5-.3125 mg 4/23-.25 mg 5/21-.1875 mg 6/17-.125 mg 7/13-.0625mg 8/29-0

12-12-2009, 07:13 AM	#4
scotslass Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,720	Re: Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro Sounds like withdrawal from the other drugs.It will pass but I understand how crappy it is when you have it.Hang tight! __________________ 12yrs of 40mgs paxil July 2008-October 2009 down from 40-6mgs,Crashed big time back up to 8mgs,little relief from anxiety and depression Nov23,up to 10mgs,hoping to stabilise here for a while March 18/10 dropped to 91/2 mgs April 17/10 dropped to 9mgs May 16/10 81/2 june 17/10 8mgs July 8/10 7.5mgs Aug 12/10 7mgs

12-12-2009, 07:47 AM	#5
paxilgirl "Stinks of lavender" Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 11,222	Re: Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro You are experiencing zaps from the WD of the other meds. __________________ Paxilgirl Put on Paxil for situational depression in August 2003. Was also on .5 mg of Clonozapem. Started on 10mg and increased to 30mg. Weaned off during the summer of 2004. Became PAXIL FREE October 4, 2004. Completely recovered!!! When you stop learning, you start dying.

12-13-2009, 10:08 AM	#7
efexorsam Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: England Posts: 443	Re: Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro I was on effexor for a long time- pristiq is nearly the same thing I believe- maybe even stronger. It took at least 6 months for the worst of the zaps from stopping that to finish. I am certain as others have said that your zaps are the withdrawal from your previous medications. __________________ Various ssri's since March 2001. Switched to prozac March 2007, and began taper. Currently prozac 0.6 mg

12-14-2009, 06:30 AM	#8
scotia21 "really wants a tagline" Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 6,094	Re: Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro I had zaps after I hit "poop out" on Paxil. It is very likely related to the stopping of the other meds and could be related to the increase in the dose of your Lexapro. I agree with Scotty that your doctor who says that he knows a lot about this stuff really doesn't know much. __________________ 1/05/07 20mg-17.5 1/20 17.5-15 2/24 15-12.5 3/08 12.5-10 3/29 10-7.5 4/12 7.5-5 6/15 5-3.75 6/30 3.75-2.5 7/28 2.5-1.5ish 8/11 1.5-1 8/25 1- zero "Keep lighting candles, eventually nobody will be in the dark" me "Why is it so hard for everybody to believe that a pill can change brain chemistry for the better but not for the worse?" me "Time does not come in pill form" me

12-15-2009, 04:25 PM	#9
sergei91 Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11	Re: Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro Thanks for all who replied. I'm seeing my p-doc tomorrow and will discuss this info with him. Is there anything that helps the brain zaps go away, obviously I've been off the Pristiq and Zoloft for too long to go back on, and increasing the Lexapro made it worse.

12-15-2009, 04:31 PM	#10
efexorsam Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: England Posts: 443	Re: Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro I don't think there is anything that will make the zaps go away, except time. I and many others have found that a high dose of omega 3 fish oil can help at least take the edge off them. __________________ Various ssri's since March 2001. Switched to prozac March 2007, and began taper. Currently prozac 0.6 mg

12-15-2009, 07:12 PM	#11
sergei91 Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11	Re: Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro How much fish oil is helpful? I already take 1 1100mg pill a day.

12-16-2009, 03:10 AM	#12
efexorsam Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: England Posts: 443	Re: Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro From what I've read, it's the EPA value you want. Look at the label. A 1000mg capsule may not be enough as many only have around 150mg EPA. I take a liquid and ingest around 2000mg EPA which is around 8000mg of omega 3 oil. __________________ Various ssri's since March 2001. Switched to prozac March 2007, and began taper. Currently prozac 0.6 mg

12-16-2009, 06:39 AM	#13
scotia21 "really wants a tagline" Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 6,094	Re: Brain Zaps while ON Lexapro If you are having anxiety issues then be very careful with the fish oil supplements. I tried to take them and they made me want to claw my own skin off. __________________ 1/05/07 20mg-17.5 1/20 17.5-15 2/24 15-12.5 3/08 12.5-10 3/29 10-7.5 4/12 7.5-5 6/15 5-3.75 6/30 3.75-2.5 7/28 2.5-1.5ish 8/11 1.5-1 8/25 1- zero "Keep lighting candles, eventually nobody will be in the dark" me "Why is it so hard for everybody to believe that a pill can change brain chemistry for the better but not for the worse?" me "Time does not come in pill form" me

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