FMLJKL Posted October 26, 2023 Posted October 26, 2023 (edited) Hi, I took 20mg of duloxetine for two years but got fed up with the side effects. My doctor instructed me to start taking 150mg of Wellbutrin XL every morning while tapering off duloxetine. She said to take duloxetine every other night for two weeks and then stop completely. I've been off duloxetine since Oct 21 and I have been experiencing frequent brain zaps. I start a new job on November 2nd and I'm getting nervous because the brain zaps are so frequent. Is there anything I can supplement with to help with the zaps? Or should I consider getting back on the duloxetine? My doctor is not providing responses to my questions Please help. TIA! Edited October 27, 2023 by Emonda Name to title 2021–2023: 20mg Duloxetine 2023 Oct 9: 20mg Duloxetine Every Other Night for 2 weeks + Start Wellbutrin 150 XL. 2023 Oct 21: Completely Stopped Duloxetine. Still on Wellbutrin 150 XL. BRAIN ZAPS
Moderator Emeritus Onmyway Posted October 27, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Posted October 27, 2023 (edited) @FMLJKL, brain zaps are a classic withdrawal symptom. What's coming after them can be much worse. If i were you, I'd go back on the duloxetine. Taking both together may cause serotonin syndrome, however. You may need to give up the Wellbutrin. You may develop a dependence on Wellbutrin as well - usually dependence starts with 4+ weeks of consistent dosing. We can help you taper off duloxetine if you wish to be drug free but we do not help with drug switches or drug cocktails etc. Please let us know if you want to come off your drugs. Hope your new job goes well. Omw PS. Here is an article showing the ADs are not much better than placebos if you wanted to consider coming off of your medicines https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4172306/ Edited October 27, 2023 by Onmyway "Nothing so small as a moment is insurmountable, and moments are all that we have. You have survived every trial and tribulation that life has thrown at you up until this very instant. When future troubles come—and they will come—a version of you will be born into that moment that can conquer them, too." - Kevin Koenig I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. You can use the information and recommendations provided in whatever way you want and all decisions on your treatment are yours. In the next few weeks I do not have a lot of capacity to respond to questions. If you need a quick answer pls tag or ask other moderators who may want to be tagged. Aug 2000 - July 2003 (ct, 4-6 wk wd) , citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn, wellbutrin for a few months, trazodone prn Dec 2004 - July 2018 citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn (rarely used) Aug 2018 - citalopram 40 mg (self titrated up) September 2018 - January 2019 tapered citalopram - 40/30/20/10/5 no issues until a week after reaching 0 Feb 2019 0.25 xanax - 0.5/day (3 weeks) over to klonopin 0.25 once a day to manage severe wd March 6, reinstated citalopram 2.5 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 mg for sleep 2-3 times a week Apr 1st citalopram 2.0 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 once a week (off by 4/14/19- no tapering) citalopram (liquid) 4/14/19 -1.8 mg, 5/8/19 - 1.6 mg, 7/27/19 -1.5 mg, 8/15/19 - 1.35, 2/21/21 - 1.1 (smaller drops in between), 6/20/21 - 1.03 mg, 8/7/21- 1.025, 8/11/21 - 1.02, 8/15/21 - 1.015, 9/3/21 - 0.925 (fingers crossed!), 10/8/21 - 0.9, 10/18/21 - 0.875, 12/31/21 - 0.85, 1/7/22 - 0.825, 1/14/22 - 0.8, 1/22/22 - 0.785, 8/18/22 - 0.59, 12/15/2022 - 0.48, 2/15/22 - 0.43, 25/07/23 - 0.25 (mistake), 6/08/23 - 0.33mg Supplements: magnesium citrate and bi-glycinate
Catzbestfriend Posted February 1, 2024 Posted February 1, 2024 Hi there, I was wondering how your brain zaps manifest? And are they any better? I am struggling to find others with similar symptoms to myself. I am 6 months and 2 weeks off a bad reaction to Escitalopram - I was only on it for 10 weeks (rapidly tapering off from week 3 due to the reactions). I am definitely getting better, but my remaining symptom that is plaguing me daily in the window/wave routine is what I can only describe as brain zaps (not electrical in nature) more like a split second of my 'brain skipping a beat' or shivering, like when a video is buffering. It feels like a mini seizure or a skip-restart-blink experience, almost like a wave passes through my brain and occasionally accompanied by other sensations. I'll get these several times a day in a wave, especially worse at night. Would love to hear your experience of this? On Escitalopram for a total of 10 weeks (during which I was almost constantly reducing) 10mg for 3 weeks (adverse reactions near fainting, burning & brain zaps sensations, dizziness, nausea, muscle jerk/twitching, loss of balance, fatigue, brain fog etc) reduced to 5 mg for 3 weeks (terrible brain zaps/burning unable to sleep all night-everything got worse) began quick reduction: reduced to 3mg for 10 days, 2 mg for 8 days, 1mg for 6 days, then O mg July 23, 2023. Supplements: Omega3 DHA, Vit D Take as needed (few times a week / not daily): Vit B, Multivitamin, probiotic. Oral Lavendar for anxiety when needed. Experimented & discontinued Taurine (lowered BP too much), L Carnitine (became lightheaded)
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