Effexor Brain Zaps

[Freckleface75]

Hi. I’ve taken Effexor for over 10 years and always get the brain zaps if I am even a couple hours behind in taking it every day. What is strange is starting this past Monday I’ve been experiencing the zaps all week, it’s a constant feeling, BUT I HAVE NOT gone off the Effexor or changed my dose in any way. I take 300mg each morning. my body feels like it’s constantly swaying/in motion , like it I am in a wave pool, and the only thing that seems to work is if I lay in grass outside and ground myself.

The only other aspect that I can come up with is that I received a new mail order of Effexor supply of 90 days from Express Scripts (but I always get it from them) so I am wondering if this “batch” of meds for whatever reason wasn’t correct, I’m just grasping at straws here and I am hoping someone might be able to tell me if they’ve had brain zaps without making any changes to their daily dose.

In this case they don’t feel completely like brain zaps as this is more of a constant rather than every couple minutes but it feels very similar.

No other medication changes have been made. Anyone ever deal with this feeling?

[kitty7]

Hi: I was on Effexor for about 6 years and I knew when it stopped working. All of a sudden I was more anxious and I just didn't feel well. I still had to wean myself off the drug. I'm really sorry you're having so much difficulty. I never had brain zaps but I've heard of them. Try to determine if there has been any changes in your life no matter how subtle. It could be something other than your medication. Good Luck.

[Hidden]

Hi there, I hope you are feeling better now. What you describe does not sound like fun. (Laying in the grass sounds lovely, tho.)

I am very familiar with the brain zaps you speak of, but usually only when I haven't taken the medicine. This past year I began to experience vertigo periodically. I don't know if it's because of the effexor but that's what I thought of when you described the swaying feeling you had. I have been on effexor 300mg/day for about 8 years and only had the vertigo episodes for past year or so.

I have had the same pharmacy but several manufacturer changes with effexor (same med but looks different). I wonder if the manufacturers have subtle changes that can show up differently in some users. I don't know this for sure but maybe worth talking with the pharmacist or Dr.??

Best of blessings to you and hope you can find an answer.