Hi there, a bit of history first .....I have had depression since I was 14 and have been on various medications for it. Over the years these have changed;

SSRI

1) Paroxetine 20mg/40mg (Paxil, Seroxat, Sereupin, Aropax, Deroxat, Rexetin, Xetanor, Paroxat)
2) Fluoxetine 20mg /40mg (Prozac, Fontex, Seromex, Seronil, Sarafem, Fluctin (EUR), Fluox (NZ), Depress (UZB), Lovan (AUS))
3) Escitalopram 20mg (Lexapro, Cipralex, Esertia)

Trycilic

4) Lofepramine 70mg (trademarked Gamanil, Tymelyt, generic Lomont)

Told it was an Anti-depressant, but later discovered it was an antipschycotic?

5)Flupentixol (INN) or flupenthixol

SNRI
6) Venlafaxine 150mg (tradenames Effexor XR, Effexor) (Current medication)

Right, well I have recently switched to Venlafaxine due to trial and error and all the others previous to this have not worked. Although, the seroxat worked wonders when I first took it.

Anyway, I used to have some serious anger control issues before I took any type of AD, but thought that was due down to hormonal angst and teenage hormones. However, since starting the Venlafaxine I have found that this "anger" has returned. I am fine and perfectly calm if on my own, but if I have to go out and eg go shopping I tend to slowly start to get tense and angry. People just seem to wander aimlessley and get in my way. I start screaming in my head "for god sake get out the ****** way" and just stand there, fists clenched. Or if someone doesn't hold a door when they have finished etc again the comments begin in my head.

I get aggitated and irritable very easily, if for some reason I am doing my coat up and the zip gets stuck I try once or twice and then I can' t stand it anymore I will physically just rip the thing of and chuck across the room my anger is so fierce. It scares me sometimes.

If I am driving and someone cuts me up, I am a lunatic! I used to be calm, but I feel like a frayed peice of rope. My control isn't what it used to be.

Even now, when I sit next to my mom in the evenings and she is watching tv, the rustle of her newpaper has my eye twitching and fists clenching and I long to scream at her "be quiet". I don't of course, because that is rude and its not her fault. But I can rationalise myself till I'm blue in the face but I still can't control my temper. When no one is around and something happens I punch walls, kick things.

I just wondered if anyone else was like this? I am cheery and cheerful, but quick to temper is someone says something I think is stupid, even if its a valid question. i get angry and think "why are they wasting my time" I don't understand why I am like this.

Like I said before i have always had anger issues but the pills to begin seemed to rein in that side of my temper. I do lots of physical activity like go to the gym and go out running and cycling just to try and burn of some of the energy because it feels like a ball of flames trying to consume me.

Sometimes its almost like ants crawling up my skins, just everything is an irritation. its not fair on me, but mostly its not fair on others around me. I do and am happy on the venlafaxine, its calmed or toned down the depression quite a lot. To the point were splitting with my ex was a mere blip in my life and not something spiralling out of control leading to suicidal thoughts.

I have no patience, I feel angry, strung out, but not tired. If anyone can relate or if this sounds familiar, please let me know.

thanks

This post has been edited by becca158: Mar 19 2009, 10:44 AM

Becca

How long has it been since you started getting really angry and irritable since it seemed to get better?
How long ago, did you switch meds?

Anger can also be a form of inner frustration. Is there anything within yourself that you are frustrated with, not outside frustrations?
If you can figure the main trigger for it, then you can learn how to deal with it.

Therapy and anger management can also help.

You could also find healthy ways of venting your anger.
Like writing it all down, or doing something physically constructive.

Trace

I have always felt like I hold myself back - in a lot of heated conversations I always feel ready to explode. But its not just that, its silly things as well like mentioned in my previous thread.

Sometimes I get like a funny feeling go over me, almost like a breeze, and then I just get short tempered and everything grates and irritates. It worries me because I know how nutty I look when I get angry. And I wonder why I get so worked up, the logical part of my brain is trying to calm me down but the conscious part is like a child that doesn't want to listen.

I was out walking the other day and a kid dropped a wrapper on the floor, purposefully, and part of me was already screaming in my head "pick that up you little ****!" Whilst the other part of me was just saying "go and pick it up, stop making a fuss he's just a kid"

I do go out running and go to the gym to try and destress and yes I do feel better when I have gone. But it never lasts long. Maybe I just need a holiday. I read and write as well.

I have been on the venlafaxine for around 3 months now, and admit I do feel alot better than previous so its obviously working.

I have just split with my bf which probably doesn't help, I feel alot of anger towards him. And I guess I have no way to vent that. Trashing his car is out of the option.

Becca,
you said
I have been on the venlafaxine for around 3 months now, and admit I do feel alot better than previous so its obviously working.
and
since starting the Venlafaxine I have found that this "anger" has returned.

So is it working or not? Some of the things you mentioned have the same effect on me, and my anger scares me too. I almost broke a bone in my hand one time because I was so angry I slammed it down on the counter way too hard.

I can relate to this, and I am sure that anger issues are related to depression but it is strange that they never list anger as a symptom. I guess not all depressed people have anger issues but I certainly do and I have seen this problem in other people with depression or anxiety. I guess if you are stressed it can also lead to small things setting you off. I also have punched walls and broken things in fits of rage, for little or no reason.. like not finding something in the fridge that I expected to be there.

Some drugs exacerbate anger. Some people think depression is anger turned inwards. Maybe you are less depressed because you aren't directing anger at yourself....