"electrical shocks" in legs, sharp pains...what's going on?

Lately while my mom has been sleeping strangely - her doctor thinks she has sleep apnea because of her loud snoring, leg jerks, weird sounds she makes, etc. She's been off of her antidepressants for about a month now, and lately seems like she's been getting these terrible shocks in her legs - she describes them of a sort of "electrical shock" type feeling. They seem to be getting more and more frequent. She's described painful muscle contractions in her legs as well. Any ideas as to what might be going on? It's really worrying me...

Answer:
I cannot address the sleep apnea, but I would like to make a comment about antidepressants.

Interestingly, "electrical-shock" type sensations have been reported by people being weaned off antidepressants. Some researchers speculate that, in some people, antidepressants cause damage to axon terminals (nerve endings), resulting in these "shock" sensations.

I have had "electrical shock" sensations almost constantly throughout my entire body for over 20 years. For 10 years I took antidepressants--MAO inhibitors, tricyclics, SSRI's, dopamine reuptake inhibitors, tranquilizers, even Dilantin and lithium. I have not taken antidepressants for 10 years and continue to have these "shocks".

Because of my age (46) I've been evaluated by various specialists for various health problems (cardiologist, rheumatologist, neurologist, gynecologist, endocronologist, gastroenterologist) and none of them has been able to explain these "shocks". (For the record, I'm quite healthy! Us older folk sometimes have short-term problems that specialists have to look at!)

Please have your mother read this article http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/pine... regarding antidepressants. I found it to be very interesting!
To be honest I would seek medical advise rather than asking this board (no offense to any medical experts out there).
it sounds like she might have restless leg syndrom? tell your mom to ask your doctor about it.
sounds like restless leg syndrome. tell her to mention it to her doc if it's bad enough that she can't sleep they can sometimes give her something for it.
honestly it sounds like a really bad case of restless leg syndrome...i knew a man that had it so bad he'd toss himself off the bed some times. even bruise his wife if hit her (accidentally of course)..i have fibro and have leg jerking similar to that of RLS and yes it dose feel like you were zapped buy some thing that or jabbed buy a really long needle. it is also possible that they are strong enough to be a seizure...she should mention the jerking to the Dr and insist on getting some thing done

The medicine and health information post by website user , ByeDR.com not guarantee correctness , is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.


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