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Brain shivers... Ugh hate them

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Posted 8/22/2016 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone else get these when they are super tired / sleep deprived? I'm very tired, got off work at 5:00... Was driving to pick up my son and I started getting them. Kinda scared me for a min... Especially driving. Anyway I don't know if it's from being super tired (6 month old baby likes to wake up a lot at night...lucky me lol) or my new medicine...lexapro that I've been on for 4 weeks with little to no side effects.
Posted 8/22/2016 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
MOT,

I think these are usually associated with A/D's...usually during a start up, or a discontinuation.

Fish oil has been known to help, so if this continues...you may want to look into starting one.

Try not to let them worry you...and keep distracted with your coping skills.:)

S.C.
Posted 8/23/2016 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi! Yep, I got brainzaps really badly when I was in lexapro. They're extremely unnerving and they just seemed to get worse when I was tired or sleep deprived. They're not harmful, just kind of like your brain hiccuping. They stopped when I went off lexapro because the other side effects were so bad that I couldn't stay on it.


SC, I had no idea about the fish oil! I know they've done studies showing a correlation (in rats) between an increase in omega 3's and a decrease in anxiety following maternal separation, but I never thought it might help otherwise.
Posted 8/23/2016 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
Nothing can equal sleep !
Posted 9/7/2016 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys... I'm still on the 5mg as of right now and 6 weeks in. My baby still wakes up atleast 2 times a night, anyways I'm STILL getting these "brain shivers" every so often...I notice them more when I'm in a hot shower or driving.... Any other times I dont notice them really, so that's kinda odd I get them during those times. Anyway, Are these ever going to go away? ... I didn't have them ( or maybe just didnt notice them?) before starting the Lexapro... I'm on such a low dose though...
Posted 9/7/2016 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi MoT,

That's rough. :( I'm sorry that your sleep is still interrupted. Consolidated sleep is so important to our physical and mental well-being. And what sleep you must get in-between wake-ups must not be very good, as you are tense and have your mommy ears on.

I am on week four of zoloft and I am still noticing the brain shivers when I am very tired and in the early morning, when I'm still groggy. They went away for a little bit but now they're back (but get better every day). I get them when I yawn because apparently that's a thing on antidepressants, sometimes. I too am on a low dose of an SSRI (50mg, half the dose I was told was necessary to treat my OCD).

It should go away over time and when you are (finally!) able to get enough sleep.
Posted 10/12/2016 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hadricat,

Are you still getting the brain shivers? I'm about 3 months in and still experiencing these. I only get them still when I'm taking a hot shower or driving. I dont know why...
Posted 10/12/2016 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
Can someone explain to me what brain shivers are? I have heard so many talk about them and don't understand how they feel?
Posted 10/12/2016 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! Are you taking your lexapro at night or in the morning? When I took mine at night, it really messed with me.
Posted 10/12/2016 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
Deb; My brain shivers are like a brain jolt that are literally what feels like half of a second. They're almost like a brain hiccup. It's very hard to explain. I don't get the "zap" feeling like others describe it. I've had the "brain zaps" in the past, those felt like an electric shock type feeling but these are different. These are literally like your brain jolts for a half second.

JR; I take my Lexapro every morning around 8:00. I've never taken it at night.
Posted 10/12/2016 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
That's about when I take mine as well. I hope your zaps go away for you!
Posted 10/12/2016 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Are you still on the 5mg of Lexapro, MomofTwo? The therapeutic dose is generally 10mg. I wonder if the 5mg isn't enough? Have you asked the doc about the brain shivers? Maybe s/he has some suggestions.
Posted 10/13/2016 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Supapfunk, I've been on 10 mg for about a month now. I did mention the brain shivers to my psych and all he said was that he has heard of them. That's it. :-/
Posted 10/13/2016 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
Oh I gotcha. Well that's frustrating that he didn't have much else to offer.

I'm sure the sleep probably has something to do with it - or at least doesn't help. I don't think my child slept fully through the night until she was 2, so I understand! I hope yours picks up on it quicker than mine did! lol!

I wonder if the suggestion of trying to take it at night might be worth a shot. At least something to try!

Hang in there!
Posted 10/13/2016 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
i think that training for physc drs -there should be more comprehensive training on the side effects of these drugs. many are in the dark about the nasty side effects .
Posted 10/14/2016 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
I agree Dan, it's quite ridiculous. And I live in a small town so of course there's only one psychiatrist around here...

I'm wondering if these jolts will ever go away. I took a hot bath and was getting them bad. Idk what the deal is
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