What do Cymbalta brain zaps feel like?
People have reported feeling electric shock-like sensations or “brain zaps” when starting Cymbalta (duloxetine) treatment, during treatment, and also when discontinuing it. Most report feeling these in the brain although some report them in other parts of the body. They have been described as feeling like a short, low voltage, electric shock.
The zaps or electric shocks associated with Cymbalta last momentarily to a few seconds. They usually happen without warning and their frequency varies from a couple per minute to once every few hours or days, with periods of calmness or no abnormal sensations in between. The shocks are not accompanied by any muscle spasms. The duration of the shocks last from days to weeks.
The medical term for this is central paresthesia (paraesthesia means any odd sensation, such as a burning, prickling, tingling, itching, numbness, or skin-crawling sensation that is felt in the body).
The Pharmacovigilance Centre in the Netherlands describes 5 cases of electric shock sensations occurring with Cymbalta: 2 on starting the drug, 2 on discontinuing it, and one patient reported the sensations at the start of treatment and after an unintentionally missed dose. Significant aspects of the report include:
- Patient A: Electric shocks occurred when the dose was reduced from 60mg after 11 months of treatment to 30mg
- Patient B: Electric shock sensations occurred one day after each dose reduction and persisted for 3 days – this patient also developed an unspecified thyroid disorder during the discontinuation of duloxetine
- Patient C: Electric shocks occurred through the head, particularly when turning the head and during walking on a solid floor. Sometimes the shocks were painful. The patient had similar electric shock sensations in the past during the withdrawal of paroxetine
- Patient D: Electric shocks and also anxiety attacks, emotional instability, enhanced memories, myoclonus, dry mouth, and fatigue occurred during the start of treatment
- Patient E: Electric shocks in addition to headache, insomnia, constipation, and restless legs following treatment with duloxetine
All 5 patients used recommended doses of duloxetine. In four patients, the electric shock sensations were localized in the brain and one patient, in the extremities. At the time of this report, 3 patients had recovered and 2 had not.
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What causes brain zaps with Cymbalta?
Nobody knows why some people experience brain zaps or electric shock sensations with Cymbalta. They are listed as a very rare side effect (less than 0.01%) in the product information.
How can you stop brain zaps with Cymbalta?
Brain zaps or electric shock sensations with Cymbalta are likely to go away by themselves within a few days or weeks. If they don't, and you haven't discontinued the drug, contact your doctor for more advice. There is currently no known treatment, but Cymbalta should be discontinued if they persist and you are still taking Cymbalta.
Are electric shock sensations common?
Electric shock-like sensations or “zaps” have also been reported with other antidepressants, such as SSRIs (including paroxetine, fluoxetine, and citalopram), at the start of, during, and on treatment discontinuation.
References
- Duloxetine and electric shock-like sensations. Lareb. https://www.lareb.nl/pub-filepreview?id=39928&p=1321#:~:text=Tremor%20and%20paraestesia%20are%20the,sensory%20disturbances%20(including%20paraesthesia).
- Bitter, I., Filipovits, D., & Czobor, P. (2011). Adverse reactions to duloxetine in depression. Expert opinion on drug safety, 10(6), 839–850. https://doi.org/10.1517/14740338.2011.582037
- Perahia DG, Kajdasz DK, Desaiah D, Haddad PM. Symptoms following abrupt discontinuation of duloxetine treatment in patients with major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord. 2005 Dec;89(1-3):207-12. Epub 2005 Nov 2.
- Perahia DG1, Kajdasz DK, Desaiah D, et al. Symptoms following abrupt discontinuation of duloxetine treatment in patients with major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord. 2005 Dec;89(1-3):207-12. Epub 2005 Nov 2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16266753
Read next
How to sleep while taking Cymbalta?
Not being able to sleep (also called insomnia) is one of the most common side effects reported by people taking Cymbalta. In some people, this side effect improves after a couple of weeks of taking Cymbalta, but difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep can persist in others. Here are some ways you can improve sleep while taking Cymbalta:
- Take your dose of Cymbalta in the morning. Cymbalta may be given once a day or twice a day but for those people experiencing insomnia, it should be taken just once a day in the morning
- Swallow Cymbalta capsules whole; do not crush, chew, or open up the capsules and sprinkle them on food because this may cause Cymbalta to be absorbed more quickly than intended, increasing the risk of side effects such as insomnia...
Does Cymbalta cause weight gain?
Cymbalta is more likely to cause weight loss early in the first 8 to 9 weeks of treatment, but result in a modest weight gain after 8 months of treatment. In general, these weight changes are minimal and may be due to temporary side effects like nausea or loss of appetite, some of the most common side effects of Cymbalta treatment. Continue reading
How long does it take for Cymbalta to work?
It may take up to 6 to 8 weeks for the full effects of Cymbalta to be seen, although some improvement in symptoms, such as sleep, energy, or appetite may show an improvement in 1-2 weeks. Symptoms such as depressed mood and lack of interest in activities may take the full 6-8 weeks to resolve. When Cymbalta is used for pain, it generally improves within two weeks. Continue reading
See also:
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