Could anger be a side-effect to medication?

[Jack Schitt]

I've been on Zoloft for about six months, and in that time, I've been pretty agitated. Before I was on the medication, I wasn't nearly as agitated as I am now. It seems like even the smallest things make me want to go into a big rage.

Is this a side-effect, and if so, does it happen to anyone else?

Edit: What really sucks is that I don't have an appointment with my doctor for another two months. :(

[lojasmo]

1. Yes. Emotional lability, agitation.

Can easily be attributed to SSRI medications.

[short bus president]

2. also raises the possibility of a misdiagnosis

that neglected potentially manic or hypomanic features. SSRIs can be bad for those with bipolar mood disorders if the tendency to swing between extremes isn't controlled also.

[Chimpanzee]

13. Or.....

It could be that you have been under a tremendous emotional strain during this election and it's aftermath. It could be that you've had no acceptable outlet for your sadness and hopelessness you feel about the demise of our country, the future of world peace and the survival of our planet. If you have children then the pain will be much greater as you worry for their future. If you don't have a suitable outlet (and I haven't found one either) you will always be carrying these feelings close to the surface and they can be expose easily.

I don't know that it is the meds, I would defer to a doctoron that, but certainly alot of us are suffering from post-traumatic disorder.

We need to get beyond the election before we can begin to heal the raw woulds from this bitter battle. It's very tough, and you are definately not alone in your feelings. I've been snapping at loved ones and taking peoples heads off in political arguments. I need help, too. We just have to stick together and things will eventually become bearable again.

[Jack Schitt]

19. It's not from the election.

Well, 95% of my anger isn't from the election (because Kerry can still win).

[Chimpanzee]

25. My election anger revolves around

1) how can so many people be so stupid
2) our democracy has been stolen by a group of traitors
3) our future is bleak because of it
4) we'll get screwed on the recounts too
5) the media is not helping us
6) i could go on for another 10-20 items

And I am taking an SSRI and I wasn't like this before this election started to dominate my conscious hours.

[Jack Schitt]

8. It says on a couple of internet websites that agitation...

as a side-effect for Zoloft is really rare.

I wonder if I have something else...?

[jukes]

3. SSRIs are twitchy

here's a link:
http://www.rxlist.com/

it's a reference library for side effects, dosages, complications, pharmacology. *VERY* helpful information!

[clover]

4. more common w/zoloft than other SSRIs: check w/ your

doc soon about switching to another. often the first SSRI one tries is not the best choice, so it's very very common to change without any adverse affects. some SSRIs affect sleep, which can exacerbate irritation, which is a common symptom of clinical depression.

[autorank]

5. Yes. Sometimes depression is misdiagnosed when a more

appropriate diagnosis like mood instability is missed. Or you may not need medication at all. Or there may be another variable causing the agitation. Talk to your doctor. The DU doctors are a fun bunch but your doctor or a new one is the best resource.

[jdots]

6. that is one effect of zoloft

by knocking off highs & lows sometimes these meds kind of store up the rage and it comes out in spurts. Some guestions,sleeping less ? pushing yourself hard at things you do ?(more than before)....It may not be the right med for you,some people get almost narcoleptic from pushing them selves ....

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

7. I was taking a SSRI and my dose needed to be adjusted b/c it was

making me grouchy as shit. I went off at the slightest thing.

[Jack Schitt]

9. That's how I am now.

[shesemsmom]

10. Oh yes

my Hubby was on medicine that made him nuts. You have given it 6 months. Time to make a change

[Jack Schitt]

11. I hate changing meds, though.

The first one I was on made me sleep all day. The second one I tried made me an insomniac. Now, this one makes me angry.

Aye aye aye.

[shesemsmom]

21. My daughter is on zoloft and doing fine.

I was on Prozac for too many years and almost lost it. I was hearing voices and felt like I was shaking inside all the time. I was even seeing things. I have a great Doctor and he knew to change my meds. I am on trazodone now and I couldn't feel better. I can't imagine what i might have done in the months leading up to the election and the days right after, if I had still been on the Prozac. It scares me to think of it. It may not be what you need but defiantly talk to the doctor

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

14. Jack, don't change your dosage, stop your meds or change anything

about your meds w/out talking to your doc first. You may need to ease off it. You'll be OK. The doc may just need to adjust the dose or change to another prescription. I'm on Wellbutrin (and Xanax for anxiety). Wellbutrin is working well for me, but everyone's different. Hang in there, sweetie! :)

PS. I had to try about three (Lexapro, Effexor, Prozac) before the doc finally got it right (the others caused weight gain w/ me and made me really drowsy and kind of like 'duh........'). Even though you don't have an appt., I'd definitely call the doc first thing on Monday.

[Jack Schitt]

15. Ouch, Wellbutrin...about that...

I was on it and it made me flip-out. I have anxiety disorder, and it made me want to run a 100-mile marathon. Then I had a panic attack from it and it lasted for two hours. :scared:

Edit: I have taken my 150-mg dose of Zoloft for over 48 hours now because of the lack of money.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

17. I have anxiety disorder as well. The Xanax combination works for me,

but everyone is different. Oh man, panic attacks suck! I've had those at work, and they are awful. You may just need your dosage adjusted.

[slutticus]

22. Wellbutrin was what I was on.

That shit was like crack.

It really helped me although I was really glad to get off of it.

[slutticus]

12. Absolutely.

You need to tell your doctor about this.

It happened to me while on another anti-depressant. After a while, the flashes of rage went away...but I needed to keep a close eye on it. The most important thing is that you tell your doc.



Download this PDF and read it.
http://www.zoloft.com/ZoloftUSPI.pdf

Here is an excerpt of some side effects from the .pdf...

Psychiatric Disorders–Frequent: yawning, other male sexual dysfunction, other female sexual dysfunction; Infrequent: depression, amnesia, paranoia, teeth-grinding, emotional lability, apathy, abnormal dreams, euphoria, paranoid reaction, hallucination, aggressive reaction, aggravated depression, delusions; Rare: withdrawal syndrome, suicide ideation, libido increased, somnambulism, illusion.


It says aggressive reaction is infrequent...but it still happens.

ON EDIT: Call your doc. They don't mind at all.

[Jack Schitt]

16. I can't until Monday.

:(

But thank you for the info.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

18. Is there a doctor on call?

I would imagine there would be.

[Jack Schitt]

20. I don't know the number to his other office.

He comes to my town from Fergus Falls, which is an hour and a half away. And he only comes here on Thursdays every two weeks.

I could probably talk to another doctor, though. :shrug:

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

24. Call your regular doctor's office. They should have a doctor on call.

Let us know how you're doing, k? :hug:

[Gyre]

23. One little problem.

Don't know about the rest of you, but, the Times we are now experiencing are THE MOST STRESSFUL I've ever experienced. I love my country and I see it dying and there's nothing much we can do about it now. You may disagree with that perspective but I know I've got some company out there. Anyways, my point is that I don't think it gets much more frustrating than that. And frustration can lead to frustration-aggression. Check it out! http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/FrustAgg/miller.htm.

Good luck, but these are some shitty times to be awake.

Gyre

[yellowdogintexas]

26. definitely talk to the doc: NEVER COLD TURKEY ZOLOFT

I took Zoloft for about 3 yrs, and gradually began to feel it was not effective, plus it made me have horrible hot flashes,

my doctor switched me to Celexa which I took for 3 years, and it gradually wore out its effectiveness.

She just changed me to Effexor, with a trial pack and a review appointment in 3 weeks; told me each drug works on the uptakes in a different way

BUT for the first week I am taking 1/2 Celexa and a reduced dose of Effexor together, then the straight Effexor the next week. then I can fill my RX unless I am really feeling strange or just feel this drug is not going to work at all