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re: Suddenly stopping anti-depressants: Brain zaps

Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:11 pm to
Posted by rbWarEagle
Member since Nov 2009
49999 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:11 pm to
quote:

I recently stopped taking Celexa cold turkey. They were prescribed to me not for depression, but by a sleep doctor who said anxiety was messing up my sleep cycle.


I am not an MD, but I've studied enough neuroscience to know that this was not a great move on his part because...

quote:

I have been feeling really lethargic though, and my wife said I have no emotions, like i'm a robot.


Your neurotransmitter system has adapted to the medicine and is possibly interacting with something in your diet (or daily life in general).

Since you've quit cold-turkey, you're going to feel a little weird for a month or so... once ~4 weeks have passed, reassess how you feel and if it's still a little off, try a supplement like 5-HTP (serotonin precursor) in small amounts.

Good luck, dealing with these symptoms sucks.


Also exercise and read A TON. Studies have shown that regular exercise and cognitive stimulation stimulate neurogenesis and maybe it would also help you regulate.
This post was edited on 9/24/14 at 2:14 pm
Posted by Hammertime
Will trade dowsing rod for titties
Member since Jan 2012
43030 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:16 pm to
If they are similar to bipolar meds, which are the same thing as most seizure meds, stopping cold turkey will give you seizures. What you're having is probably small seizures if that is the case
Posted by The Third Leg
Idiot Out Wandering Around
Member since May 2014
10064 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:16 pm to
The anti-depressant proliferation clearly illustrates how people will simply do what they're told.
Posted by jrodLSUke
Premium
Member since Jan 2011
22370 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:17 pm to
Can I have your sig quote after you die?
Posted by MasCervezas
Ocean Springs
Member since Jul 2013
7958 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:19 pm to
quote:

Can I have your sig quote after you die?


sure

i'll have my wife start a thread to let you know i've passed away
Posted by Asgard Device
The Daedalus
Member since Apr 2011
11562 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:20 pm to
I once took zoloft a number of years back and was displeased with turning into a robot. I quit cold turkey and although I didn't have brain zaps, I had serious memory loss. Mostly it was short-term.

I mean, it got so bad that I would find myself standing in the shower not knowing how I got there. I would forget if I washed my hair 20 seconds ago, etc. Needless to say it made going through college a little more difficult but I think things have returned back to "normal."
Posted by MasCervezas
Ocean Springs
Member since Jul 2013
7958 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:20 pm to
quote:

The anti-depressant proliferation clearly illustrates how people will simply do what they're told.



this has nothing to do with brain zaps
Posted by AUin02
Member since Jan 2012
4283 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:22 pm to
quote:

The anti-depressant proliferation clearly illustrates how people will simply do what they're told.


Truth. Was prescribed Ambien in college, took it because hey the doctor said so. frick me, was a nightmare and did not even realize it for weeks.
This post was edited on 9/24/14 at 2:23 pm
Posted by The Third Leg
Idiot Out Wandering Around
Member since May 2014
10064 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:27 pm to
Sure it does. You wouldn't have had zaps unless SSRIs achieved mainstream acceptance for things like anxiety.
Posted by The Third Leg
Idiot Out Wandering Around
Member since May 2014
10064 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:28 pm to
quote:

Ambien

Not an anti-depressant
Posted by Freder
Member since Aug 2014
809 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:33 pm to
Eat right.

Exercise.

Get counseling if you need it.

Stop getting medicated just to get medicated. Unless you are thinking about shooting up a school and/or killing yourself, you don't need antidepressants.
Posted by Mie2cents
the round part of earth
Member since Dec 2012
3462 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:34 pm to
Who told you to quit cold turkey? Always taper off those type of meds and then quit. I'm sure they make a smaller dosage.
Posted by Draven
Moon, PA
Member since Jul 2014
808 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:39 pm to
I've had the same problem for years -- and because of that I've never been to completely get off of them. I have to take the lowest daily dose otherwise the zaps return and I feel like I'm in a fog.
Posted by ILikeLSUToo
Central, LA
Member since Jan 2008
18018 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 2:58 pm to
I was on Pristiq for a few months for anxiety. I had agreed to try it because it wasn't your classic SSRI, but an SNRI (Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). In practice, it had the same shitty side effects of an SSRI. Worse is that it has a coating around the pill that controls its release, and there are only two dose sizes. Tapering off is not possible because cutting the pill whatsoever decreases the half-life significantly. 12-15 hours after a partial dose, the brain zaps come in full force as though I hadn't taken any at all. I dropped it cold turkey, felt like hell for a week, functional but "off" for another week, and basically normal after that. I still have anxiety, but going through the hell of an SSRI/SNRI is an excellent motivator for learning to deal with certain shite in a drug-free way.
Posted by The Pirate King
Pangu
Member since May 2014
58062 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 3:13 pm to
Are you fricking retarded? You're spossed to taper off that stuff. If I miss a couple days in a row it fricks me up
Posted by MasCervezas
Ocean Springs
Member since Jul 2013
7958 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 3:15 pm to
quote:

Are you fricking retarded?


:(
Posted by TigerPanzer
Orlando
Member since Sep 2006
9476 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 3:19 pm to
quote:

Stop getting medicated just to get medicated.

I'm getting medicated to stop getting depressed. 10mg of Lexapo and 10mg Doxepin daily have significantly improved the quality of my life. This stuff does work, and quite well, when used for the right reasons.
Posted by LSUballs
RayVegas LA
Member since Feb 2008
37918 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 3:21 pm to
quote:

Are you fricking retarded?




So what if he is? Stay out of his sex life.
Posted by TH03
Mogadishu
Member since Dec 2008
171114 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 3:23 pm to
you aren't supposed to quit cold turkey because the medicine builds up in your system.

you're lucky you aren't completely suicidal right now. get back on the medicine for a week or two, then slowly wean yourself off over a 2-4 week period.

good luck
Posted by LSUGrrrl
Frisco, TX
Member since Jul 2007
33829 posts
Posted on 9/24/14 at 3:30 pm to
Brain zaps are awful. What's worse is when your equilibrium gets messed up. Feels like 24/7 motion sickness. Strongly recommend you call Dr and do a step down approach. Brain zaps were 1st and the motion sickness came a few days later. Miserable.
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