Do you take a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) drug and sometimes experience what many call “brain zaps”?

SSRI drugs are often prescribed for people with mental health disorders because of how effective they are.

If brain zaps happen to you, it’s important that you know why and what to do about them.

Robles Ranch treats people at our luxury residential center for those who need focused and complex care for mental illnesses. We teach you how to gain control of your symptoms and help ease them with healthy coping skills. 

Learn more about our luxury mental health facilities in California or verify your insurance now.

What are SSRI Drugs?

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are available by prescription and are used to treat depression and anxiety disorders.

The brain naturally produces serotonin, which is a feel-good chemical that causes happiness and contentment. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that carries signals between the brain’s nerve cells.

Once this process is completed, the serotonin is absorbed back into the cells in a procedure called reuptake. Using SSRI drugs stops this process so that more serotonin is available. This results in less depressive and anxious feelings that improve a person’s mental health.

Since 2020, there has been an increase in prescriptions for antidepressants, including SSRIs, of almost 64% in young adults and teenagers. Many people of all ages began to feel a need for this type of drug beginning with the pandemic.

What are Brain Zaps?

When a person experiences a feeling similar to an electric shock or a jolt to their head, it can be due to having brain zaps.

They can cause a person to feel a jolt, a shiver, or as if their head has been moved back and forth quickly. Sometimes the brain zaps are mild, while other times they feel harsher.

When they happen to someone who takes SSRI drugs but has missed some dosages or lowered the dosage amount, it can be a result of those two actions.

This is because when the frequency of dosage of an SSRI drug is reduced or stopped, the brain experiences brain zaps as it adjusts to the dropping levels of serotonin.

Approximately 27% to 86% of those who stop taking antidepressants experience one or more antidepressant discontinuation syndrome symptoms, such as brain zaps. 

Can I Stop Taking SSRIs On My Own?

It is never advisable to stop taking SSRIs without discussing it with the person’s physician. Quitting this type of drug can cause brain zaps and other physical symptoms.

Physicians often ask their patients to cut back on their dosages over time, rather than stopping altogether. This way, any side effects can be addressed as the doctor monitors the person until they completely stop taking the medication. 

Symptoms of SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome

When someone stops taking SSRI drugs, they may experience some symptoms.

They should be discussed with their prescribing clinician so they are aware of how the discontinuation process is going.

Common signs of going off SSRI drugs include:

• Brain zaps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headaches
• Difficulty sleeping
• Moodiness
• Flu-like symptoms
• Lightheadedness or dizziness

Keep in mind that not everyone experiences symptoms, or they may have minor ones. 

How to Cope with Brain Zaps 

If a person starts to feel brain zaps related to the usage or stopping of an SSRI drug, there are steps they can take.

First, the individual should talk to their prescribing clinician and let them know what they are experiencing. The physician may recommend a different dosage or slowing down the tapering off process.

No one should stop SSRI usage cold turkey. Instead, a gradual tapering down works best.

Anyone using an SSRI should take their prescribed dosage regularly and not skip pills. When a person doesn’t take their medication as prescribed, including not taking it when they are supposed to, it can cause brain zaps.

What Other Drugs Can I Use to Treat Mental Health Disorders?

If someone finds that using SSRI medications doesn’t work well for them, they have other options for prescription drugs that treat mental health disorders. Choices a doctor will discuss include: 

• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)
• Benzodiazepines
• Beta blockers
• Stimulants
• Mood stabilizers
• Anti-psychotics
  
  

How are Mental Health Disorders Treated?

When someone has a mental health disorder, effective approaches usually include exposure to at least one type of therapy.

Attending more than one helps people navigate the road to recovery with their best ability to minimize their symptoms.

Common types of therapy include:

• Animal-Assisted Therapy
• Holistic Therapy
• Inner Child Work
• Psychiatry
• Somatic Therapy
• Family Therapy 
• Group Therapy
• Individual Psychotherapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Biosound Therapy

Begin Treatment for Mental Illness in Northern California Today

Do you struggle with mental illness and want to find a luxurious program that provides the structured and compassionate care you need?

Robles Ranch understands that not all programs are created equally. Our facility is located in a scenic area that provides the perfect backdrop for a healing journey. We offer a multitude of therapy modalities that train you to understand your state of mind and work to improve it.

Our staff of licensed therapists and other clinicians works tirelessly in partnership with you so you leave our program ready to rejoin the world with a new attitude.  

Learn more by calling us at 866-840-3841 or verify your insurance now.