[MsPea]

Hello everyone,

I find myself in an interesting position here. But I have one question that MUST be answered before I can begin: What is a BRAIN ZAP?

Please tell me what your major symptoms are so I can create a quiz about this. I may also create a user guide for newbies.

[kimspa]

MsPea, on 28 June 2010 - 12:42 AM, said:

Hello everyone,

I find myself in an interesting position here. But I have one question that MUST be answered before I can begin: What is a BRAIN ZAP?

Please tell me what your major symptoms are so I can create a quiz about this. I may also create a user guide for newbies.

[kimspa]

Hi - my name is Kim. The best way I can explain my brain zaps is the following. I equate it to having an electrical storm in my brain. I feel an electical zap where my brain feels like it is scrambled for a split second, then comes back on line. My problem is that I have been timing the zaps and they are occuring every 5-6 seconds!! I drove off the side of the road today because my brain "shut down" (zapped me) and I lost control of my vehicle in rush hour traffic. The zap in my brain is followed by dizziness. It is better if I am laying down with my eyes closed and not moving, the reality is that as a single woman, I have to work to make my mortgage payment.

I hope this helps. If you had to ask about a brain zap, my wish for you is that you have not and will not experience this nasty chemical imbalance in your brain.

Namaste
Kim

[ernie]

At first it was like a shiver down my spine but in my head. Now they are High pitch noise in my head that feel/look like a negative and positive on a car battery coming together and causing that momentary lighting

I now have a high pitch ring in my left ear. It’s so bad I had to get a software and make a recording of white noise to block it out. Today’s the first day using it and I do feel a tiny bit more in control. Yesterday I was losing it.

Ernie 14days off cymbalta

[Sapphires13]

Trying to explain a brain zap to someone that's never had one is like trying to explain an orgasm to someone that's never had one.

I describe it as a small static/electrical shock inside the brain. It can be felt anywhere in the head, but typically I feel them at the back (above the brain stem), or in the front (behind my sinuses.) They can come every few seconds when they're at their worse, and while not really physically painful, they're extremely annoying and make concentration impossible. It's like your brain is twitching inside your head. Another way I might describe them is like that feeling you get in your nose when you really have to sneeze and can't, but more intense and coming in tiny, frequent bursts.

[MsPea]

I describe my brain zaps as the sensation of biting into a lemon, only in my head. It is kind of an all over twinge or cringe but it starts, and ends, in my head. It does not really hurt, but my face starts to hurt after a while from the twitching. I took my 60mg in the morning and any day I missed it, I always knew I had cuz I would get these in the early afternoon. After removing all other medications, this was my last one to stop, I finally figured out it was Cymbalta that was causing all these strange issues I had been having for almost two years. This is the third antidepressant I have been on so I weaned off over a couple weeks and thought it would all just go away. NO! And so now I am here. Ugh. But I am soooooo happy to know it is not just me!

[jockette21]

I would describe it as sticking your finger in an electrical socket, only it starts in my head and zips down my nervous system. Its not really painful but uncomfortable and very annoying. Also, even though I don't feel pain, I still don't feel good. I can function but I am not sharp or clear and generally feel "icky"

[Roadwarrior]

Been on and off Cymbalta for several years now for fibromyalgia...so I've had them frequently. It's as if some little brain gnome is living in my frontal cortex and zipping up his little ski pants ZIP-ZAP! It used to annoy me and now they're kinda trippy. Embrace your zaps, people take recreational drugs and pay to feel this way. :-) First day completely off the drug for the second time.

[pamela]

Starlett, on 26 December 2010 - 12:30 AM, said:

ALl I can say is THank you guys for helping me explain. THis brought tears to my eyes because I always got look at funny.

Finding people who 'get it' and are all supporting each other makes a HUGE difference. Sometimes it feels like you are alone in this fight and then you find others and feel a sense of relief.

We know, we live it!