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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JIM on April 8, 2000, at 10:19:13
DOES ANYONE EXPERIENCE RAGE/ANGER OR HOSTILITY AS A SIDE EFECT FROM THEIR MEDS. I TAKE NARDIL AND LORAZEPAM AND WONDER ABOUT THE HOSTILITY AND AGITATION THAT I SOMETIMES FEEL. IS IT O.K. TO TAKE LORAZEPAM FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, ESPECIALLY FOR SLEEP DISTURBANCE?
Posted by Cam W. on April 8, 2000, at 10:40:12
In reply to RAGE AND ANGER, posted by JIM on April 8, 2000, at 10:19:13
Jim - My guess would be that it is the Ativan causing the episodic rage. Occational agitation is a fairly frequent side effect and release of hostility is also a side effect, but is less frequent (it is a paradoxical effect).The books say that all benzodiazepines should be used short term, but if all other anti-anxiety methods have been exhausted (SSRIs, Buspar, zopiclone, self-talk, behavioral-cognitive therapy, other psychotherapies) then there is no option. Sometimes benzodiazepines must be used long term to control anxiety, panic or even insomnia. Usually the best method is find out what is causing the insomnia and try to fix that.
Talk it over with your doctor and tell him/her about the rage. Hope this helps. - Cam W.
Posted by AKA on April 8, 2000, at 16:12:52
In reply to Re: RAGE AND ANGER, posted by Cam W. on April 8, 2000, at 10:40:12
I have been on Ativan (4mg/day) for around 5 years. You may become irritable between dosages because the drug has a fairly short half-life and you might have mild withdrawl. SSRI's, BuSpar, etc. etc. didn't work for me.
Posted by bob on April 8, 2000, at 23:50:09
In reply to RAGE AND ANGER, posted by JIM on April 8, 2000, at 10:19:13
Wellbutrin (both trials I had on it) would send me off into rages. My first trial, when my pdoc and I wanted to give it a good try, I wound up taking a small dose (4mg/day) of perphenazine. It was enough to knock out the rage AND to put me to sleep but good.
All the same, I'm not familliar at all with the meds you're taking, so someone else (particularly your pdoc) could tell you if taking an anti-psychotic med like that is feasible, appropriate, whatever.
cheers,
bob
Posted by AKA on April 9, 2000, at 2:38:08
In reply to RAGE AND ANGER, posted by JIM on April 8, 2000, at 10:19:13
I have heard it said that anger and depression are two sides of the same coin. Not all Doctors agree concerning long term benzodiazapine treatment. If it is the only drug that works then it is probably reasonable to use it. But if your feelings are becoming unmanagable and you think you might hurt yourself or someone else you should contact your Doctor or therapist and if necessary go to the Hospital preferably with your Doctors knowledge. Also you might ask your Doctor if its okay to take extra ativan if you really need it, but try not to make a habit of it because of the addiction liability.
Posted by Diane on April 11, 2000, at 14:39:23
In reply to RAGE AND ANGER, posted by JIM on April 8, 2000, at 10:19:13
> DOES ANYONE EXPERIENCE RAGE/ANGER OR HOSTILITY AS A SIDE EFECT FROM THEIR MEDS.
I took my first dose of Prozac 20mg. at 5:45 AM.
by 2PM I had my mom by the throat.
I found her opening and going thru my boxes out in the garage... BUT that's nothing new
and over these past 4 yrs I've learned to ignore it...for my own mental health... because
getting upset and trying to explain respect for other peoples property & privacy etc. falls
on deaf angry ears. It's a loosing deal.Before and sense my Prozac experience I have never touched my parents, anybody or
anythinig for that
matter, in violence. (I don't even kill mosquitoes for christ sake) But while under the
influence of Prozac I was totally unconcerned about the consequences of my actions!
And was unable to control impulses of rage. I locked myself in my room I was so
scared of what I might do/say. WHEW!
Posted by FP on April 13, 2000, at 22:02:41
In reply to Re: RAGE AND ANGER, posted by Diane on April 11, 2000, at 14:39:23
> > DOES ANYONE EXPERIENCE RAGE/ANGER OR HOSTILITY AS A SIDE EFECT FROM THEIR MEDS.
Hell yeah!
Both me (taking clonipin and paxil, at the time), and a friend, (taking paxil) only, behaved in ways we thought were WAY more "in your face" than normal. That included "screaming fits", "road rage", and telling my wife to pack her things and get the hell out of my house - and we weren't even arguing about anything. (Fortunately, my rage "shifted gears" pretty quickly, on that one). We have both lost people we considered best friends as a result of "raging out"
For me, switching to Serzone, Neurontin (sp?), and Welbutrin (and staying on clonipin) seems to have put my on a much more even keel. Your actual milage may vary, of course.
FP
Posted by KarenB on April 14, 2000, at 10:42:37
In reply to Re: RAGE AND ANGER, posted by Diane on April 11, 2000, at 14:39:23
Diane,
I didn't grab anyone by the throat but I can't say that I didn't feel like it, the one day I took Prozac. I never...I mean NEVER want to feel like that again. One day was enough of a trial for me.
Karen
This is the end of the thread.
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