![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BrainDamage on July 28, 2010, at 5:04:51
I have a Friend who really struggles with Anger issues
He is a lovely guy, but he was abused as a child & I think this relates to his anger
He was on Chlorpromazine but he is now coming of it because of side effects.
He said that Chlorpromazine really helps.
Are there any other Meds or Supplements that reduce Anger?
Posted by Christ_empowered on July 28, 2010, at 6:10:01
In reply to Meds for Anger?, posted by BrainDamage on July 28, 2010, at 5:04:51
chlorpromazine is Thorazine, the first modern antipsychotic. All antipsychotics, Thorazine included, work in large part by blocking a subset of dopamine receptors in the brain, the D2 receptors. This blockade reduces hallucinations, agitation, aggression, and anger; it can also cause side effects. Thorazine blocks other receptors in the brain besides the D2 receptors.
Today, we have newer antipsychotics, the so-called "atypicals". They are called "atypical" because they don't cause as many obvious nervous system side effects (shaking, nervousness, twitches, tics, etc.) as the older meds. The "atypicals" include: Geodon, Abilify, Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Invega, and Clozaril. Most of these drugs are expensive in most countries b/c they are "on-patent"; unlike chlorpromazine, only the original drug develop+manufacturer is allowed to produce and sell the drug. This makes the prices quite high. Risperidone (Risperdal) is now available in generic in a lot of places.
If an antipsychotic helped your friend before, a newer one might help w/o the side effects of thorazine. Anti-convulsant medications, drugs used in the treatment of seizures, can also help with anger and mood. These include: depakote, lamictal, dilantin, and tegretol and trileptal. These drugs have a calming effect and can help anger management w/o the same side effects as the antipsychotics (all antipsychotics, old and new, have the potential for causing tardive dyskinesia and other side effects. Anticonvulsants rarely cause tardive dyskinesia, but they have their own side effects).
Good luck
Posted by chujoe on July 28, 2010, at 7:22:44
In reply to Re: Meds for Anger?, posted by Christ_empowered on July 28, 2010, at 6:10:01
Hey, C-emp, you made me really angry when you first came back with your name change, but I just wanted to let you know I think you are a very valuable member of this community. That post above was very helpful.
Posted by linkadge on July 28, 2010, at 8:00:25
In reply to Re: Meds for Anger?, posted by Christ_empowered on July 28, 2010, at 6:10:01
My first response would be to try an SSRI.
While AP's (like zyprexa), lithium, tegretol and depakote etc. have been used for anger issues, so have the SSRI's. The side effects from the SSRI would generalyl suck less if it worked.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on July 28, 2010, at 10:28:16
In reply to Re: Meds for Anger?, posted by linkadge on July 28, 2010, at 8:00:25
Which SSRI's Phillipa
Posted by morgan miller on July 28, 2010, at 10:50:45
In reply to Meds for Anger?, posted by BrainDamage on July 28, 2010, at 5:04:51
More than medication, your friend is in some desparate need of psychodynamic individual and group therapy. Therapy is the ONLY thing that will help to resolve his problems in the long run. If you really want to be a good friend, I would do a ton of research and find a really good therapist that is empathetic and compassionate and has a Phd. in clinical psychology.
If your friend also has depression and anxiety-with his past I imaging he does have some-Zoloft may be a good option and can help with anger. I would try to persuade him to go to therapy before settling on a medication though. Sometimes people feel so good on medication that they lose any motivation to go to much needed therapy.
Posted by morgan miller on July 28, 2010, at 10:52:18
In reply to Meds for Anger?, posted by BrainDamage on July 28, 2010, at 5:04:51
Also, STAY AWAY from antipsychotics! There is no need for him or anyone else to be taking these drugs unless the cannot function without them.
Posted by morgan miller on July 28, 2010, at 10:54:14
In reply to Re: Meds for Anger?, posted by linkadge on July 28, 2010, at 8:00:25
I agree with Linkage. Plus, if he is one of the lucky ones, he will not experience any noticeable negative side effects on an SSRI like Zoloft or Lexapro.
Posted by violette on July 28, 2010, at 11:27:49
In reply to Re: Meds for Anger?, posted by morgan miller on July 28, 2010, at 10:52:18
"Also, STAY AWAY from antipsychotics!"
Great advice Morgan. I've never had a PDoc suggest an antipsychotic for me before, but having had poor responses to SSRIs before seeing my current PDoc, and despite having had semi-psychosis/delusions, my current PDoc/T never once suggested I start them-and I am so thankful for this as it does not seem a good route to follow for many people for various reasons.
I think those things are over prescribed. I take Xanax when I need it for effects of severe anxiety and it works great for me-no nasty side effects and no need to take a medication daily.
Having said that, I don't know what necessarily works for anger, but if I had this issue I'd try other options before APs.....
Posted by linkadge on July 28, 2010, at 13:44:38
In reply to Re: Meds for Anger? » morgan miller, posted by violette on July 28, 2010, at 11:27:49
Violette, have you tried fluvoxamine before?
Although this is an SSRI, it appears to have special efficacy in psychotic depression.
It interacts with the sigma-1r receptor in some way that supposedly makes it particularly effective in psychotic depression.
Linkadge
Posted by sigismund on July 28, 2010, at 17:39:20
In reply to Re: Meds for Anger? » morgan miller, posted by violette on July 28, 2010, at 11:27:49
Has anyone ever seen someone who was stoned on pot and angry?
It is one way to convert anger into fear, or just perhaps get rid of it.
Posted by violette on July 29, 2010, at 0:01:52
In reply to Re: Meds for Anger? » violette, posted by linkadge on July 28, 2010, at 13:44:38
Thanks Link. I don't have psychotic depression-but interestingly, Prozac was one I had hoped would work as it was my last trial altogether. It progressively reduced my motivation; after a few weeks, it was zapped-to the point were I sat motionless and staring, as if my mind was 'empty'. I've had catatonia before, though not too severe, and this was not like that at all. I have already given up on antidepressants-it ended up to be good timing as I do not need them anymore (I am not depressed; still overwhelmed a bit in dealing with all I have to catch up on-but feel it lifted)
The semi-psychosis is a result of intense anxiety (source is childhood fears surfacing that my ego cannot handle well enough) and gets worked out in therapy. It's not as bad as OCD anxiety-and I never completely lapse from reality. Which is why it's 'semi-psychosis' or sometimes called 'transient psychosis' or 'pseudo-psychosis....it's more related to depersonalization which is considered by some to be realted to the anxiety family.
Posted by Zyprexa on July 29, 2010, at 20:36:58
In reply to Meds for Anger?, posted by BrainDamage on July 28, 2010, at 5:04:51
I find that zyprexa realy helps my anger.
Posted by Michael Bell on July 30, 2010, at 18:07:01
In reply to Meds for Anger?, posted by BrainDamage on July 28, 2010, at 5:04:51
Posted by bleauberry on August 2, 2010, at 20:22:50
In reply to Meds for Anger?, posted by BrainDamage on July 28, 2010, at 5:04:51
IMO, the anger stuff is mostly a deficient serotonin thing. First choice in my mind would be an ssri, starting at a very low dose to be careful. Zyprexa is a good choice too.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.