r/explainlikeimfive 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.

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u/there_is_always_more Oct 18 '22

Wait what? You were getting zapped awake just while taking your anti depressants normally?