Sparrow
Member
Well, here's a creepy sounding topic just in time for Halloween. I came across this side-effect/symptom 2 years ago when I googled the Effexor (Venlafaxine) I was on. Came across it again the other day by accident.
The reason I am posting this now, is for anyone who experiences this, doesn't know what they're feeling, and who is scared. I look forward to Dr. Baxter's reply, thoughts and experiences around it.
You see, I first had these zaps (or whatever) 20 - 25 years ago. I felt embarrassed about it like a freak or something. And very scared like I just might drop dead or something.
Here's how it goes. Basically I'm lying down reading, going to sleep, or half asleep, when I feel what seems like an electric shock (120V) inside my head, head to torso, or head to toetip. My head would feel like it split in half, and I usually would see a very blinding flash, white to silver and it was very painful in my head. Also, I would jerk/jump awake in a knee jerk reaction like getting defibrillated but worse, sometimes hitting my ex-wife awake by accident. I'd also have an instant-presto sweat. Sometimes I would have 2 or 3 episodes in a row But they would all happen in 1 - 2 seconds sometimes 5. When it was over I felt like I was in an afterglow and relaxed but my head would still hurt.
These incidents gradually faded away around 10 years ago, but came back when I was on the Effexor. Through the years, I've brooded enough about epilepsy, restless foot syndrome, or brain tumors. Heck, my mother (paranoid schizophrenic) had shock therapy in the 50's, there's a parallel!
I'm just happy these episodes have faded away. Again, my reason for posting is awareness and to help, especially someone who may be as scared as I once was.
The reason I am posting this now, is for anyone who experiences this, doesn't know what they're feeling, and who is scared. I look forward to Dr. Baxter's reply, thoughts and experiences around it.
You see, I first had these zaps (or whatever) 20 - 25 years ago. I felt embarrassed about it like a freak or something. And very scared like I just might drop dead or something.
Here's how it goes. Basically I'm lying down reading, going to sleep, or half asleep, when I feel what seems like an electric shock (120V) inside my head, head to torso, or head to toetip. My head would feel like it split in half, and I usually would see a very blinding flash, white to silver and it was very painful in my head. Also, I would jerk/jump awake in a knee jerk reaction like getting defibrillated but worse, sometimes hitting my ex-wife awake by accident. I'd also have an instant-presto sweat. Sometimes I would have 2 or 3 episodes in a row But they would all happen in 1 - 2 seconds sometimes 5. When it was over I felt like I was in an afterglow and relaxed but my head would still hurt.
These incidents gradually faded away around 10 years ago, but came back when I was on the Effexor. Through the years, I've brooded enough about epilepsy, restless foot syndrome, or brain tumors. Heck, my mother (paranoid schizophrenic) had shock therapy in the 50's, there's a parallel!
I'm just happy these episodes have faded away. Again, my reason for posting is awareness and to help, especially someone who may be as scared as I once was.
