A persons brain if quite often a complicated and misunderstood part of the body. Researchers and doctors have been studying the brain for centuries now and still theyve barely scratched the surface on it. While there are studies currently going on about how resistant the brain is to drugs like antidepressants, neuroscience is still a relatively new form of science.

One common side effect of drugs which affect the brain is so called brain zaps. Brain zaps have several symptoms, these symptoms are described by those who have experienced brain zaps as brief but repeated electric shock-like sensations in the brain and head, or originating in the brain but extending to other parts of the body. How these brain zaps are experienced often varies from person to person. There are many who claim that they feel wave-like electrical pulse that quickly travels across the surface of (or through) the brain. There are also those patients who state that these "waves" through the rest of their body, but the sensation dissipates quickly. These waves are also sometimes accompanied by brief tinnitus (ear ringing) and vertigo like feelings. Once the initial shock is over, a light-headedness is felt that may last for a while.

What is the root cause of brain zaps? Studies have shown that brain zaps are most commonly experienced by those who are trying to stop taking antidepressants, especially those in the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) group. Most of these antidepressant drugs work by holding serotonin, which is a chemical that is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter that is required to have communication between nerve cells, for longer periods in the synaptic spaces of the nervous system. It is believed that in this space between nerve cells that an electrical current can become present. Because Serotonin has the ability to transmit currents, it is highly possible that holding the Serotonin longer than nature intended could cause a misfiring of electrical current resulting in a Brain Zap.

While brain zaps have been known to range from mildly irritating to completely disabling, there is still a lot to learn about them. Brain zaps have also been known to be a side effect of antidepressants similar to Paxil birth defects. If you have been experiencing brain zaps consult with your doctor as soon as possible.