2 replies to this topic

[TimC97124]

Here's the way I describe the brain zaps...

You know when you touch the tips of a small 9-volt battery to your tongue in order to see if it's dead or not, and your tongue gets a jolt. The brain zaps are a lot like that, except that it isn't a 9-volt battery, it's an 18-volt, and it's not your tongue, it's your brain.

The zaps remind of the scene in Men in Black when Jay touches that floaty energy thingy and it takes off around the room like a supercharged super ball breaking everything that it hits. Only except its all inside your skull.

Alright. Maybe its not that bad, but you have to have little humor. OK?

Fight on!
TimC

[Debbie M.]

Brain Zaps are hard to describe. Its like getting hit in the head and your brain jerks momentarily but there was no blow. Like a mini concussion and add an electrical element. It usually happens when turning the head or moving the eyes to the side just right. It really is horrible. But it is not the worst symptom. Most of the withdrawal symptoms, including the zaps can be avoided by weaning from the drug very slowly.

I wonder if anyone has compiled a list of all their symptoms. Electrical brain zaps, flu like symptoms, body aches, stiff neck, sore muscles, abnormal heavy menstural bleeding that led to anemia, abdominal pain and palvic pain, stuffy and ringing ears, head ache, eyeball pressure, diareah, emotional instability, rage, crying, exploding temper and many other things lead me to believe that I needed this drug. But what I found out was that if I weaned very slowly it all went away over time. Dropping your dose in chunks just leads to continually feeling bad.

After I was totally off Cymbalta I was very emotional for about a month. I would cry at the littlest things. Things I had been previously numb to. It was like getting teared up at an AT&T comercial. But it was just a time of transition. Getting in touch with these God given emotions that set us apart from the animals. Also I don't feel the need to sleep in the day. THAT is wonderful! I still struggle with insomnia sometimes but if I get enough exercise during the day I tend to sleep better at night.

My advise, wean slow. The lower doses are harder to come off of than say going form 60 to 30. But from 20 mgs on down I would take just one grain out each day until you are down to taking the very last single grain. Its not easy counting the gains but well worth it. The time is going to pass anyway so you might as well be as comfortable as you can while doing it.

Debbie M.

[kathyl]

My brain Zaps feel like my brain has shut off for a split second. I have to adjust my thoughts until the next zap.
I fear that my brain will shut off and never start up again. I also have pain in the back of my neck and headaches.
Sometimes, when I am walking and my zaps start, I have to hold my head down to try to control them. Then, I become dizzy and walk like I am drunk. I don't know what the future holds, but I will not give up.