Brain shivers

Brain shivers, also known as "the electric brain thing", "the Zaps", "Blips", "Effexor shocks" or "brain spasms", is a rare but notorious withdrawalsymptom of certain antidepressants. It is most commonly associated with venlafaxine(Effexor), but has been reported with other antidepressants as well (paroxetineand sertraline). The symptom remains rather controversial; Wyeth's original pamphlet for venlafaxine did not mention it (possibly due to its relative unknownness), and many medical professionals are still sadly unaware of the possible occurrence.

The effect appears to be almost unique to those antidepressant chemicals that have an extremely short half-lifein the body; that is, they are quick to disappear completely. This attribute of abruptness leaves the brain a relatively short time to adapt to a major neurochemical change, when you stop taking the medication, and the symptoms are caused by the brain's readjustment. There is no evidence that the shivers present any danger to the patient experiencing them.

The "brain shivers" are said to defy description for whoever has not experienced them, but the most common themes are of a sudden "jolt", likened to an electric shock, apparently occurring or originating in the brain itself, with associated disorientation for a few seconds. Immediately following this shock is a light-headedness which may last for up to ten seconds. Some have suggested the experience resembles a "funny bone" except that it shoots through the entire body, starting from the head. It may be initiated by sudden eye movement, and is often perceived as unpleasant.

As withdrawal time increases, so does the frequency of the shocks, before they wane completely. At their peak, "brain shivers" have been associated with severe headaches. They may last for a period of several weeks after the last dose, but usually resolve completely within a month.

The suggested action if one experiences this while withdrawing from antidepressants is to slow the tapering process. Like any withdrawal effect, this should be reported to the prescribing physician. If necessary, the tapering process may be slowed to well below the manufacturer-suggested dosage drop of 35mg per week (for Effexor).

External links

• Wyeth's list of Effexor withdrawal symptoms
• about.com page on brain shivers
• SNRI & SSRI discontinuation
• CrazyMeds.org

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain+shivers Wikipedia article Brain shivers.