Posted by McPac on June 16, 2003, at 16:12:25
In reply to SSRI's and causation ... » McPac, posted by Janelle on June 16, 2003, at 14:27:20
I'm not sure I quite follow your question - "did the ssri's CAUSE your anger OR did they just trigger the hypomania, which had anger as one of it's symptoms?"
>>>>>>Based on your response below it looks like you did follow it.
Based on what I THINK I understand of it, I would say that the SSRI's triggered the hypomania, which had anger as one of its symptoms because I had so many OTHER symptoms of hypomania along with the anger.
>>>>>>>>>>Janelle, what OTHER symptoms of hypomania did you have (besides the anger)? Could the other symptoms have been caused solely by the ssri and NOT by hypomania? IF the ssri DID cause the anger (not hypomania) then perhaps it caused other symptoms as well? (For instance, say, lack of sleep, irritability, etc....IF the ssri caused anger then why not these as well...esp. since anger symptoms could easily contribute to lack of sleep, irritability, agitation.....in other words, the ssri could cause symptoms that would look/resemble hypomanic dysphoria when it may not be. Many patients may conclude, "well, the med must have triggered my bipolar" when in fact it MAY have just been a bad reaction to the med (I tell you, there is "more than meets the eye" about these ssri's for MANY folks. I believe they INDUCE anger for MANY, not by triggering hypomania (though for some I'm sure it can too), but by something in the med itself that causes terrible anger/irrit.
Thus, I would say that the SSRI's did NOT cause the ANGER, per se.
>>>>>>>>>>>That's what I was wondering in your case.
So, yes, the ssri ITSELF could have been "interchanged" with any other anti-dep. and merely acted as a catalyst which triggered the hypomanic anger.
I am with you all the way in your belief that MANY usually calm, passive people get very bad anger/irritability that is CAUSED by the ssri's.
>>>>>>>>>>Yep...like me.
Believe me, if I didn't have depression issues, I'd get the he!! off the SSRI totally. However, staying on a very low dose seems to be okay. Time will tell.
>>>>>>>>>>>>Janelle, do you need an ssri or could a good ol' tca help (Tofranil, or something like that)? Take care!
poster:McPac
thread:234181
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030614/msgs/234390.html