"The Zaps": Side Effects of Weaning Off Setraline (SSRI's)

Anytime you wean off of a SSRI medication such as setraline (Zoloft™) or have a reduction in dose, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Some people even believe there is something called “SSRI discontinuation syndrome” when you wean off of and stop taking your SSRI medication.

After reading into a lot of research on SSRI’s and weight gain, I have decided to try and manage my anxiety is some different ways and to wean off of my medication to see if it has any positive effect on my weight. I do want to say that one should always consult their doctor before making any of these decisions and please don’t have vanity come before one’s health. Granted being overweight is a health issue as well, but I think you know what I mean!

I wanted to discuss some of the symptoms I have experienced with weaning off of my medicine and other symptoms I have heard about through research.

Symptoms of Setraline Withdrawal:

-Symptoms described as “the zaps” have been reported and I have def. experienced them anytime I have weaned off of my medicine or if I was without a dose for a few days! Some people refer to them as "brain zaps", "brain shocks", "brain shivers", "head shocks", or "cranial zings." Anyway you put it, they are def. an awkward sensation!

-Dizziness. I have experienced this as well. It’s pretty self explanatory!

-Electric shock-like sensations. I have experienced this as well. It’s similar to “the zaps” I described above, but it’s a full body sensation. The name is pretty self-explanatory as well. It feels like a mild electric shock is going through your body sometimes.

-Sweating. I am not off of my medication completely yet, still weaning, but I had an insane night sweat last night. I had these when I first started the medication and anytime I have adjusted my dose. It is def. not fun, but in my experience it goes away once the medication if all out of your system. For me, once you have stopped the medication completely you shouldn’t have “the sweats” anymore after about 2 weeks.

-Nausea. I have had this in the evening or an hour or so after I typically take my medication. I was nauseas for about 2 weeks when I started the medication too. Again, it should go away once the medicine is out of your system.

-Insomnia. I never knew this was tied to withdrawal, but that might explain why I am having problems falling asleep at night and why during the past two days when I was exhausted and laid down for a nap, I couldn’t fall asleep!

-Tremor. Again, this is something I didn’t know about either. I have not experienced this, but it’s good to know if I do that it’s probably caused from going off of my meds.

-Confusion. Every since my pregnancy I have had confusion that just hasn’t gone away. So, I guess if I become even more confused I will know what it is from!

-Nightmares. I guess this is what my dreams of high school social rejection have been caused by!

-Vertigo. I have def. experienced this as well. Just sit down and take a minute!

The exact reasoning or mechanism(s) behind SSRI withdrawal is unknown, but it is thought to be a combination of electrophysiological changes in the brain, electrophysiological changes in the body, as well as dopamine dependency and an over-excited immune system. Just as your body needed to adjust to taking a psychoactive drug, it needs to adjust to no longer taking it.

You should never stop your medication cold turkey. I did this when I found out I was pregnant, but even then it is not advised and I was lucky to not have any heightened symptoms of withdrawal. Always consult your doctor before any changes in your medication.

It seems that most doctors believe within a month of completely weaning off of your medication that no effects of withdrawal should still be present. One study suggested some people (about 11%) did develop long-term withdrawal syndrome, but the source of this information hasn’t been confirmed and was only seen in those with the specific diagnosis of panic disorder and agoraphobia. Basically, it was only a small percentage of people and it can’t be confirmed so don’t take too much stock in it just yet.

So, if you have consulted with your doctor and plan to wean off of your medication, please know these are some of the possible side-effects you may experience. I def. have experience with some of them, but I am not a doctor and this article should not be a substitute for speaking with yours.

I am hoping that in my case I can manage my anxiety in a different, non-medicated way and that perhaps my SSRI was a reason behind my weight gain. If I could be sane and thin (I should say healthy!) again, I’ll be one happy lady! However, if things get bad, I will def. get back on my medication! I must do whatever is best for myself and my family.

“There is no health without mental health.” –Former U. S. Surgeon General David Satcher