Ever had one of those weird, out-of-the-blue electric shock sensations in your head that just sort of catches you off guard? If that’s something you’ve experienced, the term you might be looking for is brain zaps.
This blog post aims to tell you everything you want to know about brain zaps. What they are, what causes them, and how you might be able to avoid them in the first place.
What Are Brain Zaps?
Brain zaps are strange head sensations that feel like:
- A tiny electric shock
- A buzzing or zapping feeling, followed by a brief moment where you feel fuzzy.
- Or a sudden jolt that just seems to come out of nowhere and zaps you out of the blue.
Some people get mild brain zaps now and then, but for others, they’re a regular occurrence that starts to get in the way of their daily lives.
Brain zaps aren’t a medical condition, but a lot of people have reported them, especially when they go through a change in medication or experience changes in brain chemistry.
What Causes Brain Zaps?
Brain zaps are mostly linked to the brain’s neurotransmitter systems, particularly serotonin and GABA.
Medication Withdrawal
The most obvious trigger for brain zaps is when you suddenly stop taking or start tapering off your medication. And there are certain medications that are more likely to cause brain-zapping side effects, including:
- Antidepressants: stopping them can lead to a crash in serotonin activity, and that can cause temporary neurological symptoms including brain zapping. Sometimes just missing a dose or taking it late can also trigger a brain zap.
- Benzodiazepines: these affect GABA, the brain’s calming neurotransmitter. When you withdraw from them, the brain can start overcompensating, resulting in zapping sensations.
- Other medications: Mood stabilisers or anxiety medications can also lead to brain zapping if you taper off them too fast.
Substance Withdrawal
Brain zaps aren’t limited to prescription medications. You can get them when withdrawing from:
- Alcohol: GABA activity gets altered, and withdrawing can throw the brain into neurological imbalance. You can also experience brain zaps after a heavy drinking session.
- Recreational drugs: any substance that impacts serotonin or dopamine levels can also trigger brain zaps during withdrawal.
- Nicotine: nicotine affects dopamine and acetylcholine pathways in the brain, and stopping smoking or vaping can cause similar disruptions to other substance withdrawals.
Sleep Deprivation or Stress
While less common, sleep deprivation and chronic stress can also play a part in brain zaps. Essentially, they can disrupt the brain’s natural rhythms and cause some pretty jarring sensations, especially for people who are already a bit neurologically sensitive.
Nutritional Deficiencies
While not directly causing brain zaps, a lack of certain key nutrients can make the brain more prone to neurotransmitter disruptions. Common deficiencies for this include:
- Magnesium
- B vitamins
- Omega-3 fatty acids
How Long Do Brain Zaps Last?
Brain zaps associated with antidepressant withdrawal usually start within a couple of days after stopping or reducing a dose. For most people, they sort themselves out in a few weeks once their brain has adjusted to the change in its serotonin levels.
Some people do find their brain zaps ease off within a week or so, while others report them sticking around on and off for months, and in some cases even up to a whole year after stopping their medication. The length of time they last seems to depend on how long you were on the medication, which particular drug you were on, and how quickly you were reducing your dose. If you’ve been experiencing brain zaps for weeks with no sign of improvement, it may be worth visiting your GP.
Are They Dangerous?
Brain zaps aren’t generally considered harmful. They are seen as your brain’s way of adjusting to the changes that are going on.
In very rare cases, brain zaps could indicate a need for medical evaluation, especially if they’re accompanied by seizures, hallucinations, or severe withdrawal symptoms. So, if you’re experiencing brain zaps for some time, it’s worth going to your GP.
Brain Zaps But Not From Withdrawal: Other Possible Causes
There are many other reasons why you might be experiencing brain zaps, even if you haven’t stopped taking any medications or are withdrawing from substance use.
- Chronic stress or sleep deprivation: this can cause similar jolty sensations even if you’re not withdrawing from anything.
- Migraines: people with this condition often talk about feeling like they’re getting a brief electric shock or zapping sensation.
- Low blood sugar or dehydration: if you’re not getting enough food or water, it can impact your neurological signalling and give you zappy feelings.
- Cervical spine or neck issues: some people get Lhermitte’s sign, which is a brief electric shock feeling down their spine when they move their neck.
- Anxiety: if you’re feeling anxious, you can be more aware of normal bodily sensations and might think you’re getting zaps when you’re not.
Who’s Most Likely to Get Brain Zaps?
There are certain people who are more likely to get brain zaps, which comes down to their medical or lifestyle history.
People who might be in a higher risk category for brain zaps include:
- People who’ve been on antidepressants (or benzos) for a long time.
- Those who’ve recently stopped their medications abruptly (the best thing is to taper off gradually to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms)
- If you’ve got anxiety or depression, you might be more sensitive to any changes in your brain chemistry.
- People who are in the middle of a detox programme.
Managing Brain Zaps
Brain zaps will usually sort themselves out on their own, but there are things you can do to make them less frequent and less intense.
Try the tapering method first. If you’re getting off your medication, ask your doctor if it’s an option to taper off gradually.
Additionally, make sure you’re getting enough rest. Try to get 7 to 9 hours of decent sleep each night. Your diet is also important when it comes to keeping your brain healthy, and make sure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day.
Caffeine and nicotine can make brain zaps a lot worse, so maybe think about cutting back or cutting them out altogether.
When Should You Go See a Doctor About Brain Zaps?
As long as brain zaps are just a minor blip (and most of the time they are), then there’s no need to worry, and they will likely pass on their own. However, if they do persist for weeks or months, it might be worth speaking to your doctor.
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