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brain zapz!

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Posted 4/13/2013 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
occasionally i get these brain zapz, is the only way to describe it.

it feels like electricity or jumping nerves in my head.
sometimes i feel a little off balance when this happens.

ive heard this before, i know that certain meds can cause this but even when taking nothing this happens at times.

i used to take ssri's for depression, this is when it all started.
ive been off them for a few years now.

maybe another fms symptom...
thanks.. turn
Posted 4/13/2013 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
…yes these do happen, but usually when coming off a med. I took Cymbalta for a few months, and when we decided that it was not working, the Dr took me off of it. Soon after the Zaps started. You can usually make them happen by side to side rapid eye movement. No pain, but certainly an odd feeling for sure! They should decrease over time. I found them amusingturn and could make them happen on comand…again by side to side rapid eye movement.

If this is taking place while on a current med, then by all means seek the advice of your Dr.

Enjoy your weekend!

SE
Posted 4/13/2013 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
I never had brain zaps in my life until I went off Lexapro...that was three years ago.  I still get them.  So...I guess they can last for a long time.  I will say they are't as bad or as frequent as they used to be.

Donna

Posted 4/13/2013 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
I use to get them when I was on Effexor (ssni). I could literally hear my eyes move. I hated them, but no there wasn't any pain or anything involved, and they didn't happen a lot. I hope you figure out what is going on.

Take care...

Hugs, Karen
Posted 4/14/2013 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
When I start falling asleep it feels like a bolt of electricity in the top part of my head and my body jerks. I've told it to doctors and they have no idea. smurf
Posted 4/14/2013 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
I twitch when I'm falling asleep...a finger, toe, knee, foot.
It's odd.
Posted 4/14/2013 11:42 AM (GMT 0)
I believe that is your muscles relaxing, though I could be wrong...

Have a great day all!

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 4/14/2013 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
I've heard these things can happen by being around florescent lights or electrical appliances. Have you noticed they happen more at night in the bedroom? It could be an electric blanket or a alarm clock.

I've had this happen living in an apartment by a big electric generator for the complex outdoors.
Posted 4/14/2013 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
medfree, I can't be near fluorscent lights because of the lupus. The closest electrical appliance to me is my CPAP.

I'm thinking it might be what they call myclonic jerks. They happen sometimes when your body is winding down at night. Similar to restless legs.
Posted 4/14/2013 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
I'm seriously thinking about weaning off of Savella (SNRI), been on it for close to four years. I don't want to increase my dosage, 50 MG 2x daily....I guess I'm ready to get off, don't think I'm getting much benefit from it anymore. Starting Savella, I had some mild brain zaps but eventually they stopped. Hoping that weaning off will be an easy transition. I don't see my rheumy again till early June, so I'll wait till then.

Deejay, I get myoclonic jerks sometimes when falling off to sleep. You can google it and see if that is what you are experiancing.

Hugs, Robin
Posted 4/14/2013 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Joy,

I've heard restless legs can be helped by being active enough. I use to have it somewhat. Maybe
this would help for the other twitches that are being mentioned in here?

Joy, did this start for me when you began using the cpap machine?

Here's a link to an article that might be helpful for some of you:

http://www.webmd.com/brain/restless-legs-syndrome/features/restless-legs-syndrome-and-lifestyle
Posted 4/15/2013 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
AM, before the cpap I never slept deep enough to have the jerking. The testing said I didn't have RLS.
I don't feel any of the symptoms of RLS. I just have odd little twitches. I sometimes will do an all over jerk as I drift off and wake up from it.

I think it could be from being on Reglan for awhile a few years ago.
Posted 4/15/2013 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
Joy, I've had that jerking occasionally and have never taken those medications. It's happens when I'm falling asleep. I will jerk...like I felt like I was falling or something like that. It's weird but I really have never given it much thought.

Sherrine
Posted 4/15/2013 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
I have had that falling feeling, or a really large jerk that wakes me back up. Now I know the name for it.

myoclonic jerk...

Thanks....

Hugs, Karen....
Posted 4/15/2013 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe it's a fibro thing after all?
Posted 4/15/2013 6:01 AM (GMT 0)
I started getting them when I had my first dose with Cymbalta. I was trying to tell the Dr. How they felt and that was my exact description I gave my Dr. He look at me like I was crazy. I didn't know others were experiencing them until I read reviews on Cymbalta. It finally validated what I was feeling. I was taken of the Cymbalta
Posted 4/15/2013 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
thank you all for your responces.

i actually started getting these when i was taking ssri's years ago.

one happened to be Lexapro also.

i havent taken them in years but maybe its something just stays with you and occasionally comes out.

These drugs we take are supposed to help us and in some respects they do, as they do work on our central nervous system, maybe thats just the price we pay for help.

i guess its not so bad and reassuring that im not the only one. :-)

Posted 4/21/2013 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
yes the twitches in the head and the body have that most nights to,do you ever feel like someones kicking you inside your stomach?,its the same feeling when your baby was kicking you,the symtoms are unreal alot of times as there so odd the feelings,you have got to be so strong to cope with all that,me i am so stressed with it All daily,you just need a break from it which you dont get,plus the tinittis loud that makes everything worse,i can totally understand how people can go mad with this fibro,hope all you laddies are fine XX
Posted 4/22/2013 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
i do occasionally get those spasm in my stomach, i used to get the more often some time ago. im a male but im sure that kicking feeling must be like a baby kicking inside the stomach :-) they are also al over, for me it seem that it comes in waves, i always get them but at time they can be more subtle and at time they are alot more noticeable and bothersome.

i too get ringing in my ears all the time, sometimes a temporary hearing loss in one ear for a few seconds.

fms maddnes!

Posted 5/2/2013 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
I also get these jerks and twitches...they really annoy me!
Especially when falling asleep
They seem to get worse when I try certain meds, like Cymbalta also.

I also get temporary hearing loss too...Ive read these things can be anxiety symptoms or side effects to certain meds. Some of the SSRIS and SNRIs can make you restless...maybe this is it?
Posted 5/2/2013 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
i get hearing loss at times and ringing in my ears alot.

I'm not sure what causes it by i saw an audiologist and ent dr. tests were normal

He said not to worry about it but it is annoying.

Posted 5/2/2013 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Rhuemy told me the ringing comes from the nerves in the ears being inflammed from the fibro and/or the medications.
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