12 replies to this topic

[Suh]

My doctor cold turkey me off of Cymbalta it has been over 3 years now and I am still suffering any suggesting to help with the brain Zaps and Headaches they are so severe please help

[invalidusername]

Hi Suh and welcome to the forum,

 

Just to make sure I am understanding you correctly... you stopped Cymbalta 3 years ago, cold turkey, and you are still experiencing the brain zaps?

 

It is very rare that people are left with symptoms for this length of time, even if you did withdraw cold turkey. Sometimes it can happen, as I have suffered seizures ever since stopping Cymbalta which was also just over three years ago, but I have not known anyone to suffer brain zaps for this length of time. Can I ask if you have taken any other medication since the Cymbalta?

 

The headaches could be attributed to many different things however. Have you tried anything to help with the problems?

 

Many members have found that Omega 3 helps a lot with the brain zaps.

 

Can you also tell me when they happen and how often?

 

IUN

[Suh]

Yes I was cold turkey off of Cymbalta over 3 years ago and I am still experiencing brain Zaps no other antidepressant although a half of a Ambien at night I have the electric shocks in my head along with chronic everyday headaches feel like a vice grip is squeezing my head and I have chronic tinnitus which Cymbalta caused I have taken omega fish oil,spirulina,cod live oil and I went out today and bought the fierce green apple Gatorade I have been to the neurologist they have done MRI and CT scan everything is fine but my brain hurt and I'm having electric shocks in my brain and clucking noise and I don't know what else to do thanks for listening

[invalidusername]

I am still bewildered as to the brain zaps after such a long time.

 

What I would suggest is that you get in touch with a chiropractor as trapped nerves feel EXACTLY like brain zaps; I have had both. It is quite possible that with all the tension that you have endured that you have a trapped nerve in your neck or the caniovertebral nerve where the neck meets the skull. It is a lot more common than one would think. 

 

A giveaway would be that the "shocks" occur when you move your head (or potentially your eyes). Either way, I think it is an avenue worth exploring. It simply doesn't sound right that you would have headaches and zaps as a result of Cymbata after this length of time, but it IS consistent with a trapped nerve. In which case the Gatorade would have done very little, if anything, as this is a PHYSICAL problems not a NEURO problem.

 

Fishing Hat will be along later today to make his own suggestions, but I would sincerely suggest you look into the potential of this being a trapped nerve.

 

IUN

[fishinghat]

Welcome Suh

 

My suggestion is 2000 to 3000 mg of Omega 3 per day. Make sure it is high in EPA and DHA as these seem to be the most effective against brain zaps. Like IUN stated, it is unusual to continue experiencing the brain zaps this long after coming off the Cymbalta. What other meds are you taking?

[Suh]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and inviting me into this group I do not understand why I am still having the brain Zaps after 3 years it's just like electric shocks in my brain but it's always there in my head always hurt don't understand why I take omeprazole Ambien Topiramate, sumatripan the electric shocks didn't start it until I was cold turkey off of Cymbalta

[Suh]

For the brain zaps I use Nordic Natural ultimate omega 1280mg EPA-650 DHA-450 I take three a day

[Suh]

I do feel the brain Zaps when I turn my head

[fishinghat]

That is a good product and the right dose. I am looking into something else as well. Will be back.

[fishinghat]

Some notes on Omeprazole (detailed medical information on this subject is availble on request).

Caution - Omeprazole causes the increased absorbtion of nearly 500 medications. It should NOT be taken with.....

Benzos, Atenolol, Celexa, Lexapro and many other ssri and snri, st. john's wort, etc.

FH - Omeprazole is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 system in the liver. This is the system that reacts with ssri and snri so taking them together can allow dangerous levels of the antidepressant to build up in the blood stream.

 

PPIs

For example, proton pump inhibitors (e.g. omeprazole), widely used to treat acid reflux, reduce diversity and affect 20% of species, creating an unhealthy gut microbiota that may predispose to gastrointestinal infection. Indeed, PPIs may negatively impact the gut bacteria population even more so than do antibiotics.

 

https://pubmed.ncbi....h.gov/32514445/

Bacterial cultures from the stomach were obtained from 103 patients, and duodenal samples were also cultured from 49 of them, for a total of 53 patients with PPI use and 50 patients without. Positive gastric cultures were found in 42 of 53 patients with PPI use and in 13 of 50 without (P < 0.0001). Duodenal cultures were positive in 20 of 24 with PPI and 8 of 25 without (P < 0.0001). The most commonly identified bacterial species were oral strains of Streptococcus, followed by Neisseria and Haemophilus influenzae. Bacterial growth in the stomach and duodenum is more common in patients with PPI treatment. 

 

https://pubmed.ncbi....h.gov/31990420/

Twelve observational study cohorts with 708 PPI users and 11 interventional cohorts with 180 PPI users were included in the review. In most studies, PPI treatment did not affect microbiological richness and diversity, but was associated with distinct taxonomic alterations: In the upper gastrointestinal tract, PPI users showed overgrowth of orally derived bacteria, mostly Streptococcaceae (findings based on six independent cohorts with 126 PPI users). In faecal samples, PPIs increased multiple taxa from the orders Bacillales (eg, Staphylococcaceae), Lactobacillales (eg, Enterococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Streptococcaceae) and Actinomycetales (eg, Actinomycetaceae, Micrococcaceae), the families Pasteurellaceae and Enterobacteriaceae and the genus Veillonella. Taxa decreased by PPIs include Bifidobacteriaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Mollicutes (findings in faecal samples based on 19 independent cohorts with 790 PPI users). 

 

Heartburn

H2 Blockers

nizatidine

ranitidine

famotidine

cimetidine

  

PPIs

Omeprazole (Prilosec),

Esomeprazole (Nexium),

Lansoprazole (Prevacid),

Rabeprazole (AcipHex)

Pantoprazole (Protonix)

Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)

  

All are listed by Drugs.com as having a drug interactiuon with Cymbalta. They effect the absorbtion of antidepressants. This position is upheld by medical journal reports. It should also be mentioned that many compete with Cymbalta for degradation in the liver and thiis can cause a change in blood levels of the antidepressant.

 My suggestion would be Lansoprazole (Prevacid), as it does not compete with Cymbalta for degradation in the liver. As a short term treatment I would consider sodium bicarbonate. It does not contain magnesium, aluminum or calcium and therefore can be taken at the same time as other meds. Be aware that the use of sodium bicarbonate will generate salt in the stomach as a byproduct of acid neutralization. Some individuals are sensative to salt intake and it increases anxiety. If salt in your foods does not cause a problem then this may be an opotion.

Antacids

Of the three classes, antacids are the fastest acting. They start providing relief to the patient within five minutes. As such, should be used as needed (on-demand) for breakthrough symptoms that occur ideally less than once per week. They don’t prevent GERD. They simply neutralize stomach pH decreasing the exposure of the esophageal mucosa to acid from the stomach during episodes of reflux. Antacids only work for 30 to 60 minutes and may cause side effects like constipation or diarrhea depending on which antacid you use.

Over the counter antacids

aluminum hydroxide

magnesium hydroxide

magnesium carbonate

sodium bicarbonate

calcium carbonate

 

Antacids containing magnesium and calcium should not ve taken within 2 hours of another medication. Calcium compounds may cause constipation and magnesium compounds mat cause diarrhea. Aluminum hydroxide does not have that effect but aluminum increases the risk of Alzheimer's Disease.

 

Note - My dr recommended the use of Pepcid AC as it is said to have less impact on the absorption of other meds. 

[fishinghat]

Well, I have to admit that other than the interesting omeprazole information I can not find anything in the medical journals that is on point to your problem.

 

There is some minor information listed below that may help. The omega 3 and green Gatorade are the old standby treatments and you have tried them.

 

 Brain Zaps

http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC3733524/

http://www.ncbi.nlm....489/pdf/405.pdf

pg 408

http://www.bmj.com/c...nt/331/7520/824

http://pb.rcpsych.org/content/29/6/219

 

These are things that previous members have reported good success with in controlling brain zaps.

Dramamine, Meclizine, Rugby Travel Med (Meclizine plus phenylalanine) and Suntheanine.

The Rugby travel med is probably your best bet.

 

Also, have you had your blood sugar checked recently?  Low blood sugar can lead to this condition. 

 

I did find this one medical journal article that mentioned that "brain shiver" (another name for brain zaps) has been treated with Atomoxetine.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC3733524/

A Case of Amelioration of Venlafaxine-Discontinuation “Brain Shivers” With Atomoxetine

[Suh]

Thanks a lot for the information. have a happy Fourth of July

[fishinghat]

Thank you and let us know if we can be of any help.