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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Diane on October 14, 1999, at 21:27:56
What anti-depressant do they (the psychiatric community) recommend people
such as me (to whom Prozac caused violent behavior) try next? There must be
some opinions. Shouldn't my reaction of violence be a definite
pointer/clue in choosing another better suited anti-depressant?
I ask because I am not seeing a psychiatrist but my GP.
Posted by saint james on October 14, 1999, at 23:23:44
In reply to Prozac caused violence what next?, posted by Diane on October 14, 1999, at 21:27:56
> What anti-depressant do they (the psychiatric community) recommend people
> such as me (to whom Prozac caused violent behavior) try next? There must be
> some opinions. Shouldn't my reaction of violence be a definite
> pointer/clue in choosing another better suited anti-depressant?
> I ask because I am not seeing a psychiatrist but my GP.james here....
It should be a clue that something is going on that would be better handeled by a pdoc.
j
Posted by Bob on October 15, 1999, at 6:24:25
In reply to Re: Prozac caused violence what next?, posted by saint james on October 14, 1999, at 23:23:44
> james here....
>
> It should be a clue that something is going on that would be better handeled by a pdoc.As usual, saintly advice.
Sure, it means more money, but which would you rather have -- psychotic rages or a tighter fiscal belt and a calm mind? Wellbutrin did something similar -- near-blind, hair-triggered, barely controllable rage (that control being the ability to walk away, and nothing else). He knew what to prescribe to handle it. Unfortunately, the Wellbutrin wound up not doing enough for me, but the anti-psychotic my pdoc added gave me a chance to give wellbutrin a reasonable trial.
Bob
Posted by Sean on October 15, 1999, at 12:07:11
In reply to Prozac caused violence what next?, posted by Diane on October 14, 1999, at 21:27:56
> What anti-depressant do they (the psychiatric community) recommend people
> such as me (to whom Prozac caused violent behavior) try next? There must be
> some opinions. Shouldn't my reaction of violence be a definite
> pointer/clue in choosing another better suited anti-depressant?
> I ask because I am not seeing a psychiatrist but my GP.Diane - I don't think Pzac is the med for you! This
might be a form of irritable hypomania (i don't
know your diagnosis so I'm just guessing here) or
some other kind of bad reaction. In any case, I
agree with the other posts that seeing a psychiatrist
is warranted. Are you also in therapy? That can
help as much as the meds...Sean.
Posted by neetie on October 15, 1999, at 17:31:18
In reply to Prozac caused violence what next?, posted by Diane on October 14, 1999, at 21:27:56
It's hard to tell if the other SSRIs would cause violent behavior or feelings because Prozac did. Paxil seems to be more calming than Zoloft, so maybe
that could be your next step. Or, you could try a tricyclic, which is in a different class of ADs than Prozac, but they tend to have unpleasant side effects.If it continues to be a problem with other meds, your doc could try adding a mood stabilizer or a low dose of an antipsychotic. This can help if your violence is due
to hypomania. A psychiatrist would probably know more than a regular doc. I myself am experiencing irritability as a side effect of a med and am not quite sure what to do about it.anita
> What anti-depressant do they (the psychiatric community) recommend people
> such as me (to whom Prozac caused violent behavior) try next? There must be
> some opinions. Shouldn't my reaction of violence be a definite
> pointer/clue in choosing another better suited anti-depressant?
> I ask because I am not seeing a psychiatrist but my GP.
Posted by macha on October 15, 1999, at 18:59:02
In reply to Prozac caused violence what next?, posted by Diane on October 14, 1999, at 21:27:56
> I ask because I am not seeing a psychiatrist but my GP.
My $.02......
As St. james and Bob have said, definitely go to a psych doctor for this one. My GP gave me Prozac years ago and Zyban this year. Pretty well @#%$ed me over with those meds, too. She really shouldn't be doing that, and neither should yours.
Posted by Diane on October 17, 1999, at 11:56:22
In reply to Prozac caused violence what next?, posted by Diane on October 14, 1999, at 21:27:56
I am not violent "by nature". Don't get the wrong idea here!
I have allot of hate & anger, yes,(particularly over events of the last 11yrs) which expressing
ONLY MAKES WORSE (doesn't solve) so I do NOT. I don't want to talk to anybody about it...it doesn't help. I
tried talking to the people involved...hasn't worked yet so I give up on talk.I am not not a violent person and have never hit any one before (I'm strictly defense)
until I took this Prozac. Suddenly I was rehashing those events in my mind with a new
intensity. Then I caught my mom going thru my boxes again (my husband died after a
6 yr fight for his life and I'm back "home at 45yrs old ), which I've gotten use to now and
ignore BUT this time I lit into her and grabbed her by throat when she would back off.
I felt minimal restraint. Scared the heck outta me a little while later. Scares me now to
contemplate trying another anti-depressant! That's why I am looking for direction on my
own. If I do go to a shrink I don't want to go in cold.
What ADs do NOT cause one to be *wired*? I can not stand that feeling. Speeds makes me depressed.
Zoloft gave me headaches.
Xanax made me dopy-like, useless. Ended 10day hospital stay/Withdrawl siezures. Word-finding difficulties ever after.
Mellaril, I can't remember.17yrs ago
Klonopin, nothing to dopy to useless.
Vallium, nothing.
Tryptophan gives me nightmares
Caffine can make me very angry or sometimes tired."There's a certain class of people who will do you in
and then remain completely mystified by the depth
of your pain."**found that in a Sue Grafton book. It says it all.
Posted by Annie on October 17, 1999, at 13:23:26
In reply to Don't get the wrong idea. 1st time violent ever!, posted by Diane on October 17, 1999, at 11:56:22
Diane,
I can relate to wanting to choke my mother sometimes, you just took it a step further. I'm not minimizing the situation. I know you must have been terrified by your reaction. Prozac was the first AD I tried years ago and it made me too wired also. Remeron can be a sedating AD -- too sedating at lower doses. I'm currently on Neurontin and find that it has a very mellowing effect. Paxil also had a mellowing effect but if weight gain bothers you, give it a pass. It causes much more weight gain than the other SSRIs.
I agree with the others that a Psychiatrist is a much better choice than a GP. You don't have to see him/her for talk therapy. Make it clear that you just want them to manage your medications. Most GPs, in my experience, are reluctant to go beyond mono-therapy with the SSRIs. Relief for many of us can only be achieved with other classes of drugs or with drug augmentation. GPs normally do not have the training to get into the subtleties of which type of depression responds best to which drug therapy. I do not think "one size fits all" is the way to go for you. Thank you very much for the Grafton quote. It *does* say it all about a few passive-agressive people I know. I wish you luck and peace.Annie
> I am not violent "by nature". Don't get the wrong idea here!
>
> I have allot of hate & anger, yes,(particularly over events of the last 11yrs) which expressing
> ONLY MAKES WORSE (doesn't solve) so I do NOT. I don't want to talk to anybody about it...it doesn't help. I
> tried talking to the people involved...hasn't worked yet so I give up on talk.
>
> I am not not a violent person and have never hit any one before (I'm strictly defense)
> until I took this Prozac. Suddenly I was rehashing those events in my mind with a new
> intensity. Then I caught my mom going thru my boxes again (my husband died after a
> 6 yr fight for his life and I'm back "home at 45yrs old ), which I've gotten use to now and
> ignore BUT this time I lit into her and grabbed her by throat when she would back off.
> I felt minimal restraint. Scared the heck outta me a little while later. Scares me now to
> contemplate trying another anti-depressant! That's why I am looking for direction on my
> own. If I do go to a shrink I don't want to go in cold.
>
> What ADs do NOT cause one to be *wired*? I can not stand that feeling. Speeds makes me depressed.
> Zoloft gave me headaches.
> Xanax made me dopy-like, useless. Ended 10day hospital stay/Withdrawl siezures. Word-finding difficulties ever after.
> Mellaril, I can't remember.17yrs ago
> Klonopin, nothing to dopy to useless.
> Vallium, nothing.
> Tryptophan gives me nightmares
> Caffine can make me very angry or sometimes tired.
>
> "There's a certain class of people who will do you in
> and then remain completely mystified by the depth
> of your pain."*
>
> *found that in a Sue Grafton book. It says it all.
>
Posted by Elizabeth on October 17, 1999, at 17:10:13
In reply to Don't get the wrong idea. 1st time violent ever!, posted by Diane on October 17, 1999, at 11:56:22
> I am not violent "by nature". Don't get the wrong idea here!
No, it doesn't sound like you are...it sounds like you have a lot of memories that weigh on you, and the jittery feeling Prozac gave you sort of pushed you over the edge.
> I have allot of hate & anger, yes,(particularly over events of the last 11yrs) which expressing
> ONLY MAKES WORSE (doesn't solve) so I do NOT. I don't want to talk to anybody about it...it doesn't help. I
> tried talking to the people involved...hasn't worked yet so I give up on talk.I know what you mean...sometimes, talking about something just gets you all worked up about it. It's a cliche that simply talking about it will allow you to put it behind you or "come to terms with it."
An antidepressant you might try is Serzone. It has some of the same effects as Prozac, but without the initial increase in anxiety. Other SSRIs (besides Prozac and Zoloft, there are Paxil, Luvox, and Celexa, if you are in the U.S. - brand names may differ abroad) could be okay as well, although they all *can* cause jitters. Tricyclic antidepressants (desipramine, nortriptyline, etc.) are less likely to cause jitters, but I don't know how they would help with the sort of anxiety you have. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors cause a lot of insomnia, but they can be really good for anxiety and irritability as well as depression.
Posted by Tom on October 25, 1999, at 14:38:15
In reply to Re: Don't get the wrong idea. 1st time violent ever!, posted by Elizabeth on October 17, 1999, at 17:10:13
> > I am not violent "by nature". Don't get the wrong idea here!
>
> No, it doesn't sound like you are...it sounds like you have a lot of memories that weigh on you, and the jittery feeling Prozac gave you sort of pushed you over the edge.
>
> > I have allot of hate & anger, yes,(particularly over events of the last 11yrs) which expressing
> > ONLY MAKES WORSE (doesn't solve) so I do NOT. I don't want to talk to anybody about it...it doesn't help. I
> > tried talking to the people involved...hasn't worked yet so I give up on talk.
>
> I know what you mean...sometimes, talking about something just gets you all worked up about it. It's a cliche that simply talking about it will allow you to put it behind you or "come to terms with it."
>
> An antidepressant you might try is Serzone. It has some of the same effects as Prozac, but without the initial increase in anxiety. Other SSRIs (besides Prozac and Zoloft, there are Paxil, Luvox, and Celexa, if you are in the U.S. - brand names may differ abroad) could be okay as well, although they all *can* cause jitters. Tricyclic antidepressants (desipramine, nortriptyline, etc.) are less likely to cause jitters, but I don't know how they would help with the sort of anxiety you have. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors cause a lot of insomnia, but they can be really good for anxiety and irritability as well as depression.There is one misconception about the "talking cure". It isn't the talking that relieves the pain. It's re-living the buried feelings associated with the adverse events, be it grief, sorrow, anger, and sometimes even joy. That's what a good therapist does, makes you process feelings that you didn't want to associate with (so we dissociate the feelings, the root cause of depression in my opinion). Bad feelings will never disappear unless they are fully processed through the conscious mind, dealt with, and conquered. If not dealt with be prepared to do the medicine merry go round 'til you do deal with your demons.
Good luck
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