Brain Zaps From Effexor. Please help!

Posted , 7 users are following.

I’ve been on Effexor before, and coming off even tapering down I experienced brain zaps horribly. Ive been back on it for 5 months now, at 225mg in the morning. The past few days I’ve been experiencing the same withdrawal symptoms as coming off of it. My doctor says it’ll pass, but it seems to be getting worse. It’s just worrysome because I’m not tapering, so I shouldn’t be having any withdrawals. Has anyone ever experienced this?? 

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Ana, keep yourself very hydrated with Water that keeps the zaps away as well as a good multivitamin 

    Cheers

    • Posted

      Sorry to disagree with you but I drink more then 3 litres of water a day & I take a multivitamin & I still get the brain zaps. 

      Ana I’m afraid to say these horrible side effects will always be an issue, well in my case they are. I was on Effexor for over 20 years. It’s very important to take your medication at the same time every day. I have actually changed to another antidepressant now. I came off the Effexor very slowly ‘ and increased the new drug. 

      ð

      I’m now 6 weeks without taking an Effexor & I’m still getting head zaps! 

  • Posted

    I was also on this dose for 14 years. I have been off this medication now for 3 years and I still get these horrible brain zaps. 

    I now take sertraline 50mg so dose is a lot less. The zaps are decreasing but I have come to the conclusion they will never completely go

    Elaine 

    • Posted

      Omg, you’re still getting the brain zaps 3 years after coming off them?! I wish I’d never been prescribed Effexor in the first place. Doctors don’t understand or care about the side effects. 

    • Posted

      I’m afraid so. In fact today they have been dreadful. I cannot believe how long this drug continues to give side effects. 

      It was by far the worst medication to come off.  As I said previously I now take sertraline 50mg and think I will be on this forever.  I am happy to continue this as it keeps me of stable mind. 

      Good luck x

  • Posted

    I tried getting off of 225 mg back in December.  NEVER A DARKER TIME IN MY ENTIRE 63 years!!!  So got back on, but my daughter noticed I was having trouble breathing, and I couldn't walk very far w/o stopping and the SWEATING was TWICE as bad as before.  BUT, I finally got off of it about 3 months ago.  Took me 3 to 4 months but DID IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH CBD OIL, and NO SIDE EFFECTS this time.  NONE!!!!

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