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Published on: 4/28/2025

What Could Be the Reason for Experiencing Random Body Zaps?

Random body or "brain zaps" can occur from medication changes such as with antidepressants (SSRIs) or from natural sleep transitions called hypnic jerks.

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Explanation

Sometimes people feel sudden, quick jolts in their body that feel like electric shocks. These are often known as brain zaps or body zaps. One possible reason is related to taking or stopping antidepressant medicines like SSRIs. Changes in these medicines might cause brain zaps as the brain adjusts to different levels of chemicals. Also, these zaps can happen in connection with sleep patterns. For example, hypnic jerks are sudden muscle contractions that occur while falling asleep and can sometimes feel like a brief zap throughout the body. These experiences can be surprising, but often are not harmful. However, if you notice them happening very often or if they are bothersome, it can be a good idea to discuss it with a healthcare provider who can help figure out if any changes in medications or sleep habits might be involved. Remember, understanding these sensations helps in managing them better, and they are common in many people going through adjustments.

(References)

  • Alghamdi SA. Hypnic Jerks, Major Depressive Disorder, and Antidepressant Use: A Possible Relationship. Cureus. 2023 Oct 21;15(10):e47436. doi: 10.7759/cureus.47436. PMID: 37869048; PMCID: PMC10590197.

  • Kumar R, Ali SN, Saha S, Bhattacharjee S. SSRI induced hypnic jerks: A case series. Indian J Psychiatry. 2023 Jul;65(7):785-788. doi: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_207_23. Epub 2023 Jul 12. PMID: 37645359; PMCID: PMC10461585.

  • Papp A, Onton JA. Triggers and Characteristics of Brain Zaps According to the Findings of an Internet Questionnaire. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2022 Feb 10;24(1):21m02972. doi: 10.4088/PCC.21m02972. PMID: 35144325.

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