Post antidepressant electric shocks???

[Cocostardust]

So I have a chronic pain condition which has resulted in me being on and off numerous antidepressants for around 3 years. I stopped Escitalopram (Lexapro?) over 3 weeks ago but I’m STILL getting awful electric shock feelings through my body constantly (basically every time I move). They started around a week after stopping the antidepressant. It’s basically like electric running head to toe through my body it’s hard to explain. Has anyone had this or am I going crazy? Everywhere has said withdrawal should last around 2 weeks but I’m way over. Any experience grateful 🙏 I’m getting a bit anxious now so now scare mongering please!

Yep, completely harmless and wear off eventually.

Good luck.

thanks so much, can they go on this long?! Literally every time I move it sends a shock down my body

Brain zaps. Did you taper off?

I was on 10mg then stopped. There’s no lower dose so I think that’s tapering?

Dp tapered over 4 weeks and didn't have many symptoms the first time but the second got brain zaps for about 4 weeks

I read about brain zaps but these go through my whole body?

I got eplipsy while on them, and brain zaps coming off - everyone is a little different.

I think it'll be temporary but don't panic until a good 6 weeks have passed. x

Going from 10mg to 0 would be a shock for the system. If it's been a few weeks already, hopefully it will stop soon.

Thanks @MoonlightMedicine I thought I was on the lowest dose, have it got that wrong? Should I have tapered off by having one every other day?

and this is why we should taper off any medication rather than just stop taking them one day! i called them 'brain zaps'... its been three weeks now, so perhaps you may have to 'ride the storm' rahter than start taking a smaller dose

goodluck and hope it all goes well

Yes brain zaps- I also felt them throughout my whole body, it was like a glitch in the matrix. Like my body briefly reset. Once I realised what was going on, I quite enjoyed them (but I am odd, granted).
Lesson learned about tapering meds tho.

It will go, everyone is different when it comes to the length of time it takes but you will find it lessens and one day, is gone.

A lesson to us all, do not take mind/brain altering drugs. Some are dreadful and make us worse as well as causing other problems. I've known people who have been given something for chronic pain which causes dreadful side effects and is difficult to come off. It's just not worth it.

Thank you @lennylion how long did yours last? It’s like a shudder down the spine but through my body instead of that makes sense?

@Cocostardust a few weeks, I think. For a while I got them daily, several times a day. Then they started tailing off unless I was tired. Rest and hydration seemed to help but I don't know if that was just psychological tbh.
It's a very weird experience isn't it! Yours sound very much like mine.

Thanks so much that's so reassuring to hear @lennylion. Everything I've read says it's just 'Brain Zaps' and doesnt affect the body so I've been struggling to not think I had something else neurological going on as theyre such intense feelings and right now arent letting up at all! Thank you

@Cocostardust I'm surprised the GP didn't talk you through tapering.

I'm on 20mg of Citalopram and have been for years. I try to taper off every year or so - so far unsuccessfully, sadly. Anyway... I tend to go down in 10% doses to make sure it's gentle. You can split the tablets and ask for liquid once you get down below 5mg.

But as you're quite far down the line now I'd carry on as you are.