Quitting an antidepressant “cold turkey” can also lead to other severe physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms. Do not quit an antidepressant without your doctor’s guidance. The process of quitting other medications is also sometimes associated with brain zaps, including benzodiazepines (for anxiety or muscle relaxation) and the ADHD medication Adderall. Quitting use of the illicit drug MDMA (ecstasy) may also trigger brain zaps. As with antidepressants, quit under your doctor’s guidance. It’s especially important to work with your doctor and taper off benzodiazepines. Stopping these medications suddenly can be dangerous and may even cause seizures if you’ve been taking them daily. [2] X Research source
For instance, you might reduce your daily dose of Prozac in 1-3 week increments along the following schedule: 60 mg; 40 mg; 30 mg; 20 mg; 10 mg (actually 20 mg every other day). [4] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source Some doctors even recommend what is known as titrating off of an antidepressant, which involves opening each capsule and removing an increasing amount of the “beads” inside. Do not attempt this without your doctor’s guidance, however.
Set a reminder on your phone, for example, so you take your meds at the same time each day. While tapering, you’ll typically just reduce the dose of the pill you take, not change the timing or frequency for taking it. Clarify with your doctor what you should do if you miss a dose. Don’t try to catch up or double up on a dose unless specifically instructed to do so by your doctor.
For instance, if you’re tapering off Cymbalta, your doctor may prescribe increasing doses of Prozac as you taper down your Cymbalta doses. Then, once you’re off Cymbalta, you’ll taper off the Prozac. Do not attempt this without your doctor’s guidance.
Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of resuming a medication that you’re trying to taper off of. There’s no established timeline for how long you should wait between attempts to taper off a medication. Work with your doctor to determine the best timing for you. You may not necessarily experience the exact same withdrawal symptoms the next time around. Withdrawal symptoms can change due to unknown factors, or because you’re tapering in a different fashion (such as tapering more slowly).
Activities like yoga, deep breathing, meditation, a warm bath, or listening to soothing music may help. Light exercise (such as walking or easy biking) may be calming for you, but, in some cases, it can also bring on brain zaps. Some brain zap sufferers believe that the calming effects of aromatherapy are particularly helpful. For example, putting drops of lavender, bergamot, or rose in a diffuser may prove beneficial.
For instance, if lateral eye movement is a trigger for you, don’t try to follow the ball while your friends play table tennis.
Keep telling yourself that you can get through this, and rely on your support network—friends, family, and your medical team—for help. One theory for brain zaps is that they are related to a drop in a “calming chemical” in the brain known as GABA. Quitting an antidepressant or certain other drugs (such as benzodiazepines and Adderall) can cause a temporary drop in GABA levels. Over a period of weeks to months, your GABA levels should return to normal.
Fortunately, drinking more water is good for practically everyone, and it’s extremely difficult to drink so much water that it becomes harmful. [11] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Staying adequately hydrated can help you feel better physically and emotionally, which might make brain zaps less noticeable.
Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day to get a wide range of nutrients. Complement this with whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. [12] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source Cut back on nutrient-poor foods like sugary drinks and packaged snacks.
Benadryl and other forms of diphenhydramine can be purchased over the counter, but you should still talk to your doctor before trying it. Benadryl can interact with other drugs and cause significant side effects in some cases.
Some of the most commonly mentioned supplements for brain zaps include omega-3, B12, spirulina, and huperzine. Talk to your doctor before trying any new supplement, due to the risk of drug interactions or side effects.
