Brain Zaps?
Hey all. Day 17 of Zoloft; started at 25mg and am currently on my 10th day of 50mg. I woke up in the middle of the night with a weird sensation; a very brief, almost migrane-like headache in the back right side of my head. It only lasts a moment, but it comes and goes throughout the day. Could this be brain zaps? Anyone else experience anything like this? Of course, I'm freaking out because of my health anxiety, so I'm doing my best to stay calm. I thought I was past the side effects already so it kinda caught me off guard.
@thsieh0111 Hi. I get brain zaps. I was on cymbalta and started getting a swoooshy sound in my ears when I would move my head. It made me dizzy and nauseous, but I hear they can be migraine like. I went off cymbalta several years ago, but I still get the brain zaps from time to time, just not as severe. Sorry you have to experience that. They suck. I usually just try not to move my head too quickly when they happen and that seems to help. Not sure if you are experiencing the same thing, but that's how I remember the more severe ones. I mostly was dizzy from them. Hope that helps.
@butterfly054
Mine literally feels like being tazed in the back of my head and it only lasts for a split second. A few times it was accompanied by a SLIGHT moment of dizziness, but mostly it's just a shock and it goes away.
For someone who has health anxiety, this has NOT been fun to deal with. I keep having to remind myself it's likely just a side effect and not a stroke or aneurysm.
@thsieh0111 Yeah, that sounds like brain zaps. I've read online about them, so that's how I knew that's what I was experiencing. I wouldn't worry too much. I have generalized anxiety disorder too, so I know how hard it is not to worry. I would call the doctor if you think it might be something else or to put you mind at ease about it, but it does sound like brain zaps and I don't think they are harmful. But they sure do suck!!
@butterfly054
I appreciate you responding. yeah I emailed my psych today and she didn't seem to be too concerned. Just told me to monitor it and if it doesn't stop, we can revisit switching meds or upping the dose. It's my damn brain that always goes to the worst case lol
@thsieh0111 Glad I could help and glad to here your psychologist agrees! :)
Hey @thsieh0111 ~ I just wanted to say that I also have really bad health anxiety and I would have been totally freaked out by this too. You are not alone and yes, it's super annoying and frustrating to always feel like you're living on a cliff of worst-case-scenarios. I'm still working on ways to manage it. Writing out the worst case scenarios and then challenging them with facts or reason seem to help but please, definitely let me know if you find something that helps you, would love to know!