CrazySoprano Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 Whenever I don't take my Zoloft, I get this twinge thing in my head, and it feels almost like it's coming from my neck, but it's not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyinCali Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 Whenever I don't take my Zoloft, I get this twinge thing in my head, and it feels almost like it's coming from my neck, but it's not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celestia Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 Anyone who has had them, can you describe what a brain shiver feels like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
username Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 Yup. Everyone's experiences vary slightly, and descriptions will of course vary. I prefer the term "brain Zap" as it conveys it's similarity with the feeling of a static shock. I have experienced "zaps" in my head, and "zaps" exclusive to my body. Sometimes the feeling will penetrate head and body simultaneously. It is sometimes triggered by focusing the eyes in a different direction, other times not. In general they have not bothered me too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazySoprano Posted October 28, 2005 Author Share Posted October 28, 2005 Thanks everyone! I'll relate this information to my sister the next time I talk to her. I've heard that, when you have one, you'll know. I was talking to her last night about different meds. She said a friend of hers had a lot of success with WB, but my sis has anxiety issues, so I suggested she avoid that one. I told her a little about Effexor, but said to avoid that as long as she could (she's only tried one drug, Zoloft, so far, so I think she has a few more turns on the med-go-round before she's exhausted the SSRIs) because of the discontinuation syndrome. She wanted to know what that meant, so I said that some people got "brain shivers". Her response was, "is that what that is?" She was all excited that there was a name for what she had. She said she kind-of felt like she was having a stroke or something, but attributed it to all the.....stuff.....she smokes. She lives in NYC, where you can have it delivered right to your door, just like Chinese food or pizza. So perhaps you can say that you learned something new today! ~CS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PinkToo2grrl Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 Uh, effexor is approved for GAD, so it could address the anxiety, and if she is compliant, and it works, then she doesnt need to worry about discontinuation syndrome. just because she has only tried one drug doesn't mean she needs to get on the "med-go-round." zoloft could work, or the next one could work. it doesnt have to be a painful process, especially when the doctor and patient work together to address the issues. when i was titrating down on lexapro and up on cymbalta simultaneously i got something that wasnt so much a *shiver* but was like my brain was spinning around in my skull. not pleasant, oh no not pleasant at all. i think if you titrate down slowly enough though, you can generally avoid these things, especially if you are starting up something new at the same time. problem was cymbalta wasnt addressing the serotonin reuptake as quickly as the lex was withdrawing from effecting it. hope your sis finds what she needs. might not hurt her to stop the local deliveries. kinda counteracts the concept of ADs ... IMHO YMMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixie_Amazon Posted October 28, 2005 Share Posted October 28, 2005 Effexor is a wild drug. When I first started it if I turned my head too fast it felt like my brain had to catch up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazySoprano Posted October 28, 2005 Author Share Posted October 28, 2005 Uh, effexor is approved for GAD, so it could address the anxiety, and if she is compliant, and it works, then she doesnt need to worry about discontinuation syndrome.I can't guarantee that she will be med-compliant. I just think she should try some other SSRIs before giving up on them. just because she has only tried one drug doesn't mean she needs to get on the "med-go-round." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConfusedCat Posted October 29, 2005 Share Posted October 29, 2005 I think a brain shiver and the brain zaps feel quite different for me but I hear them used interchangably. For me a shiver feels like it is coming from the base of the back of the head and can go right down my spine or through my entire body. A brain zap is just like someone reached in and zapped the middle of my brain with a cattle prod. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZT! I can even hear a *snap*. It is quite odd and interesting (to me) at the same time. I very rarely get either anymore. I had the zaps quite often while on imipramine. With paxil I get an occasional shiver. CC~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celestia Posted October 29, 2005 Share Posted October 29, 2005 <snip>For me a shiver feels like it is coming from the base of the back of the head and can go right down my spine or through my entire body. I haven't had these. whew. <snip>A brain zap is just like someone reached in and zapped the middle of my brain with a cattle prod. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sun_zoom_spark Posted October 29, 2005 Share Posted October 29, 2005 The shock sensation is not strictly related to SSRI use. I get them occasionally and I don't take SSRIs nor can I. The last time I was taking lithium, Seroquel and Klonopin. I think it was the Seroquel as I haven't had any since I quit taking it. Body starts twitching and a shock sensation goes up the spine to your head and you shake your head and then it goes away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConfusedCat Posted October 29, 2005 Share Posted October 29, 2005 Yeah, Sun that is what I call the shiver. The zap is very different but believe me you would know it as soon as you had one! CC~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jemini Posted October 29, 2005 Share Posted October 29, 2005 When I first described this phenomenon to a psychiatrist some 14 years ago who was a reknowned expert on drug damage to the brain, he told me it sounded like an epileptic aura. His research on the kindling effect (which can in some cases culminate in full-blown epilepsy) focused on drugs that can create a kindling effect (like marijuana and some hallucinogens). I know that withdrawal from some drugs and medications can cause seizure activity, as with Klonopin, and my first-hand experience with rapid withdrawal of that drug included a lot of the feeling your sister describes. After which I went back on the drug and started learning more about how to safely taper off of it. Just seemed worth mentioning since one else has commented on seizures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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