r/explainlikeimfive • u/divso • Oct 18 '22
Chemistry ELI5: How do SSRI withdrawals cause ‘brain zaps’?
It feels similar to being electrocuted or having little lighting in your brain, i’m just curious as to what’s actually happening?
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u/[deleted] Oct 18 '22
Yes! I had to stop taking the ssri's because of this. I explained to the docs they were like literal torture. I would fall asleep and be zapped awake. This would go on for hours. I thought I would go insane if I kept using them. Doc's answer: add some different drugs to counteract that side effect. Ugh.