Sounds, electrical charges in head

Posted , 6 users are following.

When I first started venlafaxine many years ago, for the first few days I would "hear" inside my head noises like a door closing. I also would feel little "zaps" like electrical charges. Once the drug kicks in, this goes away, but I still get them if I've waited too long to take a dose, and for an hour or so until the drug kicks in. Has anyone else experienced this? I've told my doctor about it, but she said she had never heard of it. I know it's real for me. Just wondering if it's real for anyone else, and if anyone has been given an explanation of it.

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    I had it when i started ven, sometimes i heard what sounded like someone dropping something above me, or sometimes like explosions. It's gone now though don't know why it happens.

  • Posted

    The zaps too, they're a normal sideeffect if you are starting or missed a dose.

  • Posted

    The zaps too, they're a normal sideeffect if you are starting or missed a dose.

  • Posted

    I think they are called phantom noises which can be a side effect of antidepressants. Makes me upset when doctors say to their patients, "I've never heard of that".

    On a separate rant, Doctors are ignorant when it comes to the real life symptoms people go through when on these drugs. They don't seem to understand the layman's real life experience and look to their own text book research. I hope that one day soon all the on-line discussions, web articles, and on-line support communities regarding antidepressant side effects and withdrawal symptoms break into mainstream and every single medical profession will know about the risks and dangers of antidepressants and think twice when prescribing and during their monitoring of their patients.

  • Posted

    Dear Nora,

    it was 2004 when I came off Venlafaxine - and the clicks and worse, the electrical pulse feeling - which shot round the full circumference of my head in a split second -kept happening regularly for close to 10 years - only occasionally does it occur now and not to the same intensity. Another side -effect was that though I knew about my mild food intolerances, within a short time of coming off Ven the intolerences were much magnified - and continue yet. Please have a care

  • Posted

    Thank you all for your replies! Nice to know I'm not the only one. This drug has helped me immensely, especially in the beginning, but these side effects are a reminder that it's screwing with the only brain I have. Serious stuff!

    • Posted

      Yep, its a real trade off. Mental health versus strange side effects. Lots of people swear by omega 3 for supporting the brain and nervous system, both during and after taking these drugs.

      For me, the Ven is keeping me on an even keel, am also trying to mitigate anything unwanted it might be doing.

  • Posted

    yes, its quite common now that i found out what that sensation was. its not pleasant and when you are in your wean, it happens more so thats whats hard for me to push through.

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