The brain of a human being is a complicated and often misunderstood part of the body.It has taken doctors and other medical professionals’ centuries to know what they do now about the brain and still they’ve 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.” There are several symptoms of brain zaps which many describe 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. The experience does often vary 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. While other people also claim that they experience 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, light-headedness is felt that may last for a while.

What is the root cause of brain zaps? There have been studies which 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. Many of these antidepressant medications 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. The space that is created between the nerve cells is where it is believed that an electrical current may become present. Since Serotonin transmits 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.

Many who have experienced brain zaps have described the experiences as ranging from mildly irritating to completely disabling, however, 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. Consult your doctor a soon as possible if you are experiencing brain zaps.