Search the Community

Hi all! As of lately, I've been experiencing some fairly concerning side effects, and would appreciate any feedback/insight that anyone may have. I'll try to be as concise as possible, as to avoid confusion (as though mental health isn't a freaking never ending puzzle with a piece missing). I currently take Effexor XR 75mg, usually around lunch time. In addition, the only medications I take are birth control (Tri-Sprintec), and the occasional GummyVite. I never miss my medication, nor screw them up. I've been on the birth control forevr, and on Effexor for about two months, since switching to it from Celexa. For the first month and a half, I was living the good life, completely symptom free. Then, out of nowhere, I started getting these head rushes roughly every 2 minutes, for periods of hours at a time. The best way I can describe them is comparable to that slightly scary feeling you get when sitting upright too hastily after sleeping. It feels like a sudden rush of blood to my head, which almost propels me forward, and makes me hyper aware of my head for that second. This happens every few minutes..for a few hours..yeah, its quite the disturbance. With this, I also feel extremely dizzy. In addition, I sometimes feel an intense jolt of anger for absolutely no reason. I tend to have fairly decent self-awareness, and try not to supress anything. I have never experienced anything like this prior to now. I will literally be having a wonderful day, and one second, I will become spontaneously raging, usually directed toward someone, like a co-worker, or boyfriend. Needless to say, this isn't exactly good for the whole "being a normal person" bit. Now, these little fits of rage last for roughly an hour, and dissipate with my efforts to think of positive things, or otherwise occupy myself. Has anyone else ever experienced these types of symptoms? Perhaps on other medications? Help! I'm going crazy here (hehe, see what I did there?)

It's only Day 2 with no Effexor. I was taking 37.5mg for months, and then added Prozac 10mg for over 2 weeks. Then pdoc told me this was plenty of buffer time to stop it.... I'm feeling super tired, MAJOR irritability, no appetite, nausea, all over body aches, some brain zaps. I had really hoped that my ridiculously slow taper (with Prozac) would eliminate this....Now on total lockdown, this is not helping the situation or my relationship! I know people are just trying to help here (with telling me other med combos to try) but honestly, after 25 years and 30+ medications I have no hope of anything being much better than this. I wanted to stop Effexor because of the apathy & sexual dysfunction, but I guess I can't get away from these side effects. Should I try to just endure a few more days or should I write my pdoc already and go back to taking 37.5mg? I am so upset....I just want to be off these poison meds, they only numb you to where you eventually don't enjoy anything or care about anything. Then you become completely dependent & f'd up trying to taper off.

Forgot to take Lamictal yesterday (I took my other meds). Holy Hell, I took my dose today (on schedule) and I STILL feel awful!! I've only been on 100mg....I thought Lamictal had a super-long half-life? Yesterday went like this: 10am - up, had breakfast 11am – slight Brain “swishes” started (was out the entire day) 12pm – Stronger Brain zaps start 1:30pm – Lunch (meat, salad/veg) 2:30pm – Sudden extreme exhaustion 4pm - more brain zaps => ZAP ZAP ZAP! 🤯 7pm - Irritability starts 11pm – Tea, bedtime, could not fall asleep (I haven't had insomnia in 2+ years) ...Night sweats…Restless legs..... 12am – Ruminations, feel weepy ..Insomnia ensues…(Toss & turn, sweaty/achey all night) It's now 12pm,and I am STILL having brain zaps! I worry I’ll never be able ever taper, switch from, or withdraw from this med. You probably think well, with MI, WHY would you ever go off it? For me, longterm, these meds are band-aids. There is always a price. Ok, maybe great at preventing acute/severe depression, but as a result, they rob me of any spark, joy, elation, happiness, libido, sexual sensation/response, feelings of reward, love.... This disturbs me. I used to know what positive emotions felt like… So I’m stable, existing.....but still lacking will or any interest in living....

I have had a non-stop headache for a week now, or since I stopped Seroquel. I was taking a tiny amount (25 mg) so my psych doc thought stopping it suddenly was okay and I was on it for only a month. However, I have had this headache with nausea since then and it wasn't until I started with the brain zaps yesterday that I wondered if I was going thru Seroquel withdrawals. I have had brain zaps while going off of drugs in the past. I have also had to stay away from anything with bright lights as my eyes have been bothering me to. Originally thought it was a migraine but now rethinking. Then two days ago, I got a horrible muscle spasm in my back. I could feel it slowly coming on, getting acute and slowly going away, never had that before, weird. And having dizzy spells as well that come and go. Oh and hypotension too and regulating body temperatures. My psych doc wanted me to start Latuda right away, but I want to wait until Seroquel is all gone. I can tell it's still in my system as I am still having rigid muscles and muscle spasms in my legs and neck. Going to give it one more week and let myself dry out before starting on anything. Taking 600 mg of Ibuprophen daily to help with the headache and ice and hot packs for my back and neck. Will just have to sweat it out, not going back on that drug again. Now worried about Latuda. Also, forgot to mention I stopped Pamelor at the same time and was on that for a month as well, at a low dose. So, pretty sure this is all withdrawals I am going thru.

Quick backstory, I was on Effexor (75mg-150mg) for only 7-8 months, my pdoc tapered me off very slowly (using Prozac as a bridge) over a period of about 5 weeks. I've been completely off both meds now for 2 months. I did not have major withdrawal symptoms (except light fatigue/dizziness) and yet I am STILL getting these intermittent (mild) brain zaps sensations and brain fog - usually in the afternoons/evening. I am very worried that they will never go away... I have been taking many supplements (including Fish Oils, NAC, etc) for many months, exercising, eating healthy. How can i make them disappear for good?!

Anyone have any cure for brain zaps (that works asap?) I'm getting the swishing feeling/noise in my head, along with nausea and body aches. Waiting to see pdoc to ask why all of the sudden I'm getting them. I haven't changed my meds. People mention large doses of Omega3s (which I already take everyday along with multivitamin) Magnesium (hopefully Magnesium Citrate which I have), Calcium, superdose of vitaminC?? Is there any other product that helps and is widely available/can easily get on Amazon?? (I don't live in the US)

I recently started on Birth Control pills and suddenly, I'm getting small "brain zaps' and a strange lightheaded feelings throughout the day. Has anyone noticed this?? I'm wondering if the Pill is suddenly causing a decrease in my Lamictal blood levels? If so, has anyone increased dosage and found relief? I wonder how much my pdoc would increase the dose?