wow have the zaps - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

beverden2 · 04-12-2008, 05:10 PM

can someone tell me how long the electric zaps last been off lexapro for a week

***nandm*** · 04-12-2008, 08:42 PM

welcome to SR

I had no problem coming off lexpro but went on cymbalta immediatly. So I am unsure how long they will last. I would assume though that it can't be much longer.

stone · 04-12-2008, 09:11 PM

Lexapro is an SSRI and you should wean off them gradually, 'zaps' are a well know side effect for withdrawal. You are taking a risk of lots of unpleasant side-effects if you just stop taking them without weaning.

Quote:

By stopping cold turkey, serotonergic activity will drop drastically. Hence withdrawal side-effects may appear such as electrical surges/shocks in the head (brain shivers) and/or body, pins and needles on the skin, feelings as being on the verge of losing consciousness, blackouts, short term memory problems, etc.. Above mentioned side effects refer to epileptiform activity, or electrical discharges, in the brain. When dosages are cut back, (withdrawal) side-effects are at least minimized. No one should stop taking their medication cold turkey, but anti-depressant use should be tapered off very, very slowly.

Quote from here:-Antidepressants Facts: Tapering off SSRI's & SSNRI's

littlebird77 · 04-13-2008, 05:05 AM

With coming off the Effexor, my "zaps" lasted about 3 weeks.

scarlati · 04-14-2008, 07:16 PM

I've been on lexapro and came off it twice. The first time I quit too quick and The Zaps lasted a week or two but were almost constant. The 2nd time I taperred much more slowly and had The Zaps for several days after my last dose, but they weren't as severe. My advice is to cut your dose in half until The Zaps are gone, then cut in half again and repeat until you're off. But I'm not an MD, so I can't really give expert advice.

Privet · 04-16-2008, 11:29 PM

When I got pregnant, I was taking Paxil, and had to get off that. I had tried many times before, and it was horrible, electric zaps, anxiety, depression...

The time I finally succeeded, I switched to Prozac, and tapered off that. No zaps! Some anti-depressants have more horrible side-effects than others, and it seemed Prozac was better. Managed to make it through my pregnancy without anti-depressants.

crispy77 · 05-31-2008, 02:55 AM

What are zaps? I am about to ween off of Lexapro and want to know what to expect.

Thanks!

04-12-2008, 05:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
beverden2 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3	wow have the zaps can someone tell me how long the electric zaps last been off lexapro for a week
beverden2 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3

04-12-2008, 08:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
*nandm* Life the gift of recovery! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home is where the heart is Posts: 4,288	welcome to SR I had no problem coming off lexpro but went on cymbalta immediatly. So I am unsure how long they will last. I would assume though that it can't be much longer.
	__________________ NOTE: All Big Book quotes are from the First Edition of the Big Book History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, however, if faced with courage, need not be lived again. - Maya Angelou

04-13-2008, 05:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
littlebird77 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 113	With coming off the Effexor, my "zaps" lasted about 3 weeks.
littlebird77 Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 113

04-14-2008, 07:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
scarlati Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ft Worth, TX Posts: 144	I've been on lexapro and came off it twice. The first time I quit too quick and The Zaps lasted a week or two but were almost constant. The 2nd time I taperred much more slowly and had The Zaps for several days after my last dose, but they weren't as severe. My advice is to cut your dose in half until The Zaps are gone, then cut in half again and repeat until you're off. But I'm not an MD, so I can't really give expert advice.
	__________________ In me there have always been two fools, among others, one asking nothing better than to stay where he is and the other imagining that life might be slightly less horrible a little further on. -Samuel Becket

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04-16-2008, 11:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
Privet Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 37	When I got pregnant, I was taking Paxil, and had to get off that. I had tried many times before, and it was horrible, electric zaps, anxiety, depression... The time I finally succeeded, I switched to Prozac, and tapered off that. No zaps! Some anti-depressants have more horrible side-effects than others, and it seemed Prozac was better. Managed to make it through my pregnancy without anti-depressants.

05-31-2008, 02:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
crispy77 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 23	What are zaps? I am about to ween off of Lexapro and want to know what to expect. Thanks!

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