Effexor and Brain Zaps: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• July 13, 2011

For Depression "After trying multiple different antidepressants (such as Prozac and Celexa), I was finally put on Effexor. As far as it treating my depression and anxiety, it has helped enormously. BUT the side effects are unreal. Even after a day of missing my 150mg dosage, I will experience brain 'zaps' or brain 'shivers'. It is an annoying and scary sensation. I have experienced extreme drowsiness, and yet no weight gain."

• Anonymous
• July 13, 2011

For Depression "After trying multiple different antidepressants (such as Prozac and Celexa), I was finally put on Effexor. As far as it treating my depression and anxiety, it has helped enormously. BUT the side effects are unreal. Even after a day of missing my 150mg dosage, I will experience brain 'zaps' or brain 'shivers'. It is an annoying and scary sensation. I have experienced extreme drowsiness, and yet no weight gain."

• kma...
• January 13, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "WARNING: Discontinuation syndrome is the worst I have ever experienced. I previously took a max dose of Zoloft, and it took 6 months to titrate off the medicine. I have taken 37.5 mgs of Effexor, the minimum dose (see my review under Depression) for 6 weeks, and I have switched medicines and am still suffering daily 'brain zaps.' My doctor's concern is significant enough to re-prescribe Effexor to rid me of the residual withdrawal symptoms."

• ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was prescribed 37.5 mg of Effexor at the beginning, then to 75 mg, then up to 150 mg. At that time, I started having nausea. My dose was raised up to 225 mg, and there it got really bad. Strong nausea, vomiting, brain zaps, anxiety so strong I could rip off my skin with my hands, stomach problems. I wasn't suicidal for a long time, until now. I thought my harsh past was the worst time of my life. No, this is so much worse. I was not able to see my psychiatrist, so I had to deal with it alone. I lowered the dose, but I still had all these effects. Right now, it's a day I'm off. I'm feeling brain zaps, a fever feeling, can't do hard work, can't walk fast, difficulty eating and digesting, and anxiety. I've read some people responded well to this antidepressant, but if you are about to start taking this, don't. You either take it and it works, or it will bring you down, it's not worth it. Stay away from this, please."

• Ano...
• January 27, 2017

For Depression "Awful, awful drug! I was put on this when I was 18 and was up to 150 mg for 7-8 months. If you literally took this med 5 minutes later than your scheduled time, you would get withdrawal symptoms. The worst are what they call brain zaps, which feel like your brain is getting electrocuted, and the shocks travel all through your body to the tips of your toes and fingers. I weaned off and had these symptoms for 4 months before they dissipated! Also, I was in constant panic while weaning off for weeks, thinking I was dying. Never again."

• Aur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2017

For Depression "Tapered off generic citalopram 40 mg after 12 years, just didn't work anymore. Then tried Effexor after reading great reviews. I took 75 mg a day, and into the 3rd week, I had severe pounding migraines, pressure behind my eyes, nausea, dizziness/brain zaps that were constant, crying fits, insomnia, but vivid active dreams when I did sleep, body chills, leg twitches, and severe terrible neck soreness. All these symptoms were happening at the same time, and a few times I had hard pounding fast heartbeats that I almost called 911. I think it may have been moderate serotonin toxicity. If you start this med, start at the lowest possible dose. It shocks your body. Doc wants me to try Prozac but will talk to my psychiatrist first. Bad withdrawal symptoms too."

• Bro...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 11, 2015

For Depression "Horrible experience, although everyone is different. I was on 150 mg, I am currently tapering off while switching to Wellbutrin. With Effexor, tapering is necessary. I've tried going off cold turkey, and the withdrawals are like nothing I've ever experienced. I had intense brain zaps (Google it), flu-like symptoms, could easily sleep half a day away. Even if you miss one day, you experience these withdrawal symptoms. While on it, it only worked somewhat well for a month or so. I experienced light nausea, which went away. I also experienced impotence and was unable to climax, which has not gone away. Now that I'm tapering and introducing Wellbutrin, the sexual side effects seem to be getting better."

• NZ_...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 9, 2022

For Depression "It's fine. I have been using a 150 mg dose for depression for several years, and it is free in my country. Stabilizes my mood, especially anxiety/panic, but makes me feel dead inside, i.e., disconnected. Lose a lot of interest and joy and care less-which is the point, I guess. Made me gain weight (10 kg) but allowed me to turn up to work and function, although I would sleep a lot in my spare time. If I miss a dose, I feel terrible: feeling lightheaded, nauseous, and get an upset stomach, loose bowel movements, brain zaps, and vivid dreams. Obviously, it's a drug that works (in a way), but boy, the withdrawal symptoms make you somewhat cynical toward these types of synthetic solutions. In general, I don't like using it, but I also recognize it helps, although I'm still a 'sack of sad' (minus the anxiety)… so for me, it's ideal, but a temporary crutch that I'm hoping to replace with psilocybin in the future."

• Le ...
• November 28, 2016

For Depression "I started taking Effexor following an unexpected divorce that left me feeling a significant grief and anxiety for my children's future. I never had suicidal thoughts before, during, or after taking this drug. I took it for 2 years, and I don't know if it helped me, or if it was the meditation (Qigong) or acceptance and reflection. Some side effects included increased libido, occasional little spasms of the diaphragm muscle (at the base of the lungs), and strange and vivid dreams. Missing only one dose sent me into what is known as 'brain zaps' and feels just like electrical zaps in the brain, together with sensory dissociation. This is the main reason I was afraid to stop taking it."

• Anonymous
• November 17, 2010

For Anxiety and Stress "Effexor has worked at times for me for my panic disorder, but has not gotten rid of my panic attacks. I've been tapering off it for months, from 150 to 37.5 ... Remember with Effexor, almost everyone is going to suffer from discontinuation syndrome... or as many know it, the 'zaps.' Effexor's lowest dose was 37.5 mg, now they make a 25 mg to help. I understand that getting off it is possible, but the reason for the discontinuation syndrome is due to the short half-life of the medicine. Prozac at a low dose around 10 mg does help because of its long half-life."

• Dra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2022

For Depression "This medicine took away my anxiety and my ability to orgasm. It came back after I'd been off it for about a year. It made me feel emotionally numb. Nothing made me cry. It's been 7 years since I took it, and I still haven't cried. I used to cry all the time. I'm sad at times. Just no crying. Also, scary movies didn't scare me. At all. I also had some mild brain zaps when I quit taking this. Not bad."