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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mattw84 on September 13, 2004, at 22:33:54
Well, I got them again!!! For no apparent reason! This is going to drive me nucking futs. About a month and a half ago I tapered off zoloft, didn't avoid the withdrawals though. Seemed like the crazies and the weird body zap sensations lasted about a week and then there were no more to speak of. Starting yesterday, I thought I felt the semi-familiar sensation just as I got to work -- figured I was just imagining it. Yet today they have been almost non-stop, like I when I had just stopped taking the zoloft!!! I have been taking wellbutrin for almost a couple months now and haven't made any changes there, also taking adderall with daily doses ranging from 15 to 30mg. I doubt that either of those have anything to do with it. Anyone at all had a similar experience?? Is it continuing withdrawals from the zoloft? Or something I am completely missing? Thanks again everyone, I am glad I found this forum!
Posted by mattw84 on September 13, 2004, at 22:39:40
In reply to Remember those 'Zaps' from your SSRI Withdrawal???, posted by mattw84 on September 13, 2004, at 22:33:54
Also, (Does it mean I am dyslexic if it took me four tries to stop writing aslo there???) I started taking Fish Oils about a week ago, maybe that has something to do with it?
Posted by Bill LL on September 14, 2004, at 8:41:42
In reply to Re: Remember those 'Zaps' from your SSRI Withdrawa, posted by mattw84 on September 13, 2004, at 22:39:40
Since you wrote "nucking futs", I think that you very well be dyslexic.:)
The only encouraging thing that I can say is that the brain zaps are not dangerous. I'm sure that they will completely disappear soon.
> Also, (Does it mean I am dyslexic if it took me four tries to stop writing aslo there???) I started taking Fish Oils about a week ago, maybe that has something to do with it?
>
>
Posted by crazychickuk on September 14, 2004, at 8:59:47
In reply to Re: Remember those 'Zaps' from your SSRI Withdrawa, posted by Bill LL on September 14, 2004, at 8:41:42
arnt they awfull i had them for ages when i stopped e ffexor few years ago.. even now and then i get them.. sound and thoughts mostely set them off... REMEMBER the more you worry the more you feed the anxiety the worse you will feel them..
Y did u stop zoloft anyways?
Posted by mattw84 on September 14, 2004, at 9:02:13
In reply to Re: Remember those 'Zaps' from your SSRI Withdrawa, posted by Bill LL on September 14, 2004, at 8:41:42
LOL ! Thanks B.
I just think it's weird that at random they started happening again. Thought they might be partial seizures or something... just curious if anyone else has had a similar experience. Thanks
Posted by mcp on September 14, 2004, at 12:52:04
In reply to Re: Remember those 'Zaps' from your SSRI Withdrawa, posted by mattw84 on September 14, 2004, at 9:02:13
Well, now you know it is nothing to worry about. I am 7 weeks into SSRI withdrawal and while I feel better, I still don't feel right. The point I guess is that it takes everyone a different amount of time to adjust. Personally, once I am totally fit I am never going to take that garbage again unless they strap me down and force me to. Yuck
Posted by uther on September 16, 2004, at 17:45:39
In reply to Re: Remember those 'Zaps' from your SSRI Withdrawa, posted by mcp on September 14, 2004, at 12:52:04
I had the zaps, and the twitching body-wooosh sound in the ears thing was bad but not too bad.
I was tapering down from paxil based on my docs schedule.
Well, after a year or so i decided i was better off back ON paxil, cause it really did help me. Lasted a year or two, then just stopped working.
This time i used my own taper schedule. I tapered SO SLOW and SUCH SMALL STEPS, splitting then in 3/4, then 1/2, then 1/2 OF 1/2, then 1/2 OF a 1/2 every two days. I had no problems at all!!! You just gotta go slow and have patience.
Incidently Im on effexor now. I plan to stay on it for a long time. Until i can get my life and career settled and stableized.
Anyway....Im babling on and on now SORRY!
My original question is::
Do they know what the heck causes the zaps?????
Posted by mattw84 on September 16, 2004, at 21:25:42
In reply to Zaps!!, posted by uther on September 16, 2004, at 17:45:39
I have yet to find any studies or pharmakinetical evidence as to what causes the zaps. Then again neurologists DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES SSRI/SNRI'S WORK!!! So I suspect after most of the drugs become generic and the big drug companies stop pushing them so much we will begin to learn more about it or maybe as people in the medical field finally start recognizing the negative side effects and stop going to paid 'educational' seminars for new drugs... grr... I tried to explain my symptoms, and I suspect my pdoc really doesn't even believe me, perhaps that is why she tried to push the risperdal(Antipsychotic) on me??? That's as good of an answer as I have...
Also, I have considered that the 'zaps' may actually be partial seizures -- from parts of your brain having trouble functioning without the drug present... who knows...
Anyone else wanna give that one a shot??
Matt
Posted by Christabel on September 16, 2004, at 21:35:24
In reply to Remember those 'Zaps' from your SSRI Withdrawal???, posted by mattw84 on September 13, 2004, at 22:33:54
I am in the midst of those "zaps" and swooshes right now. I have an emotion and flash and pow bright flash and there they are.
I found this place looking up zoloft withdrawal. Its horrible. I just went cold turkey on Monday.
Took myself off that topamax and wellbutrin. I am ready to go on vitamin therapy and give that a try.My personal reason, all the meds were making me get cavities from chronic dry mouth.
I can't wait for withdrawal to be over.
I wish I was normal.
Posted by jerrympls on September 18, 2004, at 10:34:47
In reply to Remember those 'Zaps' from your SSRI Withdrawal???, posted by mattw84 on September 13, 2004, at 22:33:54
I have those brain ZAPS everytime I go off an AD! I HATE Them - and when I try to explain them to a doc they look at me weird and say "I've never heard of antyhing like that?" WHAT? It's such a common thing - I bet everyone on this board has had them - it's a shock to me that doctors don't know about them??
I'm having them now - A LOT - and I'm not going off andything or starting anything. I've also noticed they get worse if I get embarrassed or angry....
UGH!
Jerry
Posted by uther on September 19, 2004, at 16:55:49
In reply to Re: Remember those 'Zaps' from your SSRI Withdrawal???, posted by Christabel on September 16, 2004, at 21:35:24
NEVER GO COLD TURKEY!!!
Taper slow and taper down low over a long period of time. 2x or 3x what your doc would recomend.If you do it right you wont have any withdrawl symptoms. ( Well God willing!)
As for dry mouth, that cleared up for me after a week or so. But i guess we are all different.
> I am in the midst of those "zaps" and swooshes right now. I have an emotion and flash and pow bright flash and there they are.
>
> I found this place looking up zoloft withdrawal. Its horrible. I just went cold turkey on Monday.
> Took myself off that topamax and wellbutrin. I am ready to go on vitamin therapy and give that a try.
>
> My personal reason, all the meds were making me get cavities from chronic dry mouth.
>
> I can't wait for withdrawal to be over.
> I wish I was normal.
Posted by uther on September 19, 2004, at 17:56:01
In reply to Re: Remember those 'Zaps' from your SSRI Withdrawal???, posted by jerrympls on September 18, 2004, at 10:34:47
My thoughts on AD withdrawl.
I have not read any studies, i am not informed in any way other than my own expeirence and views.My doc knows about them, and he was really interested in all my symptoms. He didn't really want to talk much about it though and talked in general about it being discontinuation syndrome. your body adjusting to not having the drug in your system anymore.
My personal feeling about AD withdrawl, is that it REALLY is a discontinuation syndrome. Just like what the drug companies say.
I think you have to taper slow very slow, and take very small steps.
Most medications you take for long periods you have to do this.First time i went off paxil, following docs taper schedule) i had all the zaps, swooshes eect.
Whent back on it again. (pooped out, year laterworked miracles again...untill it pooped out)
The next time,I did it my way SLOW and LONG and had NO problems.So...i tend to rample with my postsing so i hope you guys dont mind.
The point is NEVER do cold turkey, and very very slowly taper and hopefully you will be ok.
I know its hard, and the anxiety about the withdrawl symptoms, or the fear about getting them make things so worse. Or maybe you were not ready to discontinue your treatment on an AD and the initial depression comes back.Just hang in there. We've all been through it. And we're all here for each other
Eat a peach,
Uther> I have those brain ZAPS everytime I go off an AD! I HATE Them - and when I try to explain them to a doc they look at me weird and say "I've never heard of antyhing like that?" WHAT? It's such a common thing - I bet everyone on this board has had them - it's a shock to me that doctors don't know about them??
>
> I'm having them now - A LOT - and I'm not going off andything or starting anything. I've also noticed they get worse if I get embarrassed or angry....
>
> UGH!
> Jerry
Posted by lotus on September 20, 2004, at 18:03:11
In reply to Zaps!!, posted by uther on September 16, 2004, at 17:45:39
> I had the zaps, and the twitching body-wooosh sound in the ears thing was bad but not too bad.
>
> I was tapering down from paxil based on my docs schedule.
>
> Well, after a year or so i decided i was better off back ON paxil, cause it really did help me. Lasted a year or two, then just stopped working.
>
> This time i used my own taper schedule. I tapered SO SLOW and SUCH SMALL STEPS, splitting then in 3/4, then 1/2, then 1/2 OF 1/2, then 1/2 OF a 1/2 every two days. I had no problems at all!!! You just gotta go slow and have patience.
>
> Incidently Im on effexor now. I plan to stay on it for a long time. Until i can get my life and career settled and stableized.
>
> Anyway....Im babling on and on now SORRY!
>
> My original question is::
>
> Do they know what the heck causes the zaps?????
>
>
>I highly recommend getting on some fish oil.It's been shown to reduce or eliminate the zaps when withdrawing from ssri's.Here's an article I found that may interest you.
Electrical Zaps Caused by Antidepressants
One side effect caused by antidepressants, mainly Paxil and Zoloft had remained a mystery until now. It was not a mystery they existed on withdrawal for a high percentage of people but how to effectively get rid of them.
Glutathione helped in many cases but did not seem to be the complete answer.
Our bodies have an electrical current. From cell to cell or receptor to receptor it takes unobstructed electrical current to work properly.
Omega 3 has been shown to effectively assist the body with repair in this area.
I do recommend the Omega 3 found on our weight page. Click here, or Click here Pure Omega 3 to go directly to the Omega 3 product.
Effect of gamma-linolenic acid or docosahexaenoic acid on tight junction permeability in intestinal monolayer cells and their mechanism by protein kinase C activation and/or eicosanoid formation.
Usami M, Komurasaki T, Hanada A, Kinoshita K, Ohata A.
Division of Surgical Metabolism, Faculty of Health Science, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan. musa@ams.kobe-u.ac.jp
OBJECTIVE: Polyunsaturated fatty acids have been characterized as immunonutrients, but the effect of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on intestinal permeability has rarely been reported. METHODS: Confluent Caco-2 cells on porous filter were used to measure tight junction function by fluorescein sulfonic acid permeability and transepithelial electrical resistance. Treatments with 0, 10, 50, and 100 microM of GLA or DHA during 24 h were compared. Then the effects of butylated hydroxytoluene (antioxidant), 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (protein kinase C antagonist), and inhibitors of enzymatic degradation to the eicosanoids, indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor) and 2-(12-hydroxydodeca-5,10-diynyl)-3,5,6-trimethyl-p-benzoquinone (lipoxygenase inhibitor), on GLA or DHA were examined. RESULTS: GLA and DHA enhanced fluorescein sulfonic acid permeability to 8.7- and 1.4-fold, respectively, and lowered transepithelial electrical resistance to 0.52- and 0.73-fold, respectively, versus the control in a concentration-dependent manner without cell injury (P < 0.001 to 0.05). Indomethacin and 2-(12-hydroxydodeca-5,10-diynyl)-3,5,6-trimethyl-p-benzoquinone enhanced the changes mediated by GLA but did not alter the DHA effect. Butylated hydroxytoluene was ineffective. 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine facilitated the changes mediated by GLA, DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid. The results indicated that the mechanism to change tight junction permeability via protein kinase C regulation is common but that via eicosanoid formation differs among GLA, DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid. CONCLUSIONS: GLA and DHA affect tight junction permeability in intestinal monolayer cells specifically and in a concentration-dependent manner.
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