Medication for anger issues

[ubonr1971]

Recently I visited a Dr re my anger issues. Ive noticed over the last yr or 2 that my personality has changed a bit and I get angry very easy these days. I acknowledge that I have anxiety issues that creep up on me. 

 

The dr offered scripts for 'Zoloft' (sertraline) and 'Depakine' (sodium valproate). I declined his offer. He said that both are non addictive. 

 

Has anyone ever taken these before?

thanks

[Jack Mountain]

Quit the strong liquor and stay with beer or if not drinking .....  start with it.  

[Rally123]

5 hours ago, ubonr1971 said:

'Zoloft' (sertraline)

I take daily 50mg Sertraline for my depression. Seems to work for that. Antidepressants are said not to be addictive but if you come off them, cold turkey, as I did some years back you go through some really bad withdrawal symptoms.

Along with Sertraline, to help me sleep at night, I was given Lorazepam. They are addictive. Took them for about a month and decided to come off them when my Sertraline began to work. Went through 3 days of feeling terrible. 

Edited March 5, 2018 by Rally123

[Jack Mountain]

2 hours ago, Rally123 said:

I take daily 50mg Sertraline for my depression. Seems to work for that. Antidepressants are said not to be addictive but if you come off them, cold turkey, as I did some years back you go through some really bad withdrawal symptoms.

Along with Sertraline, to help me sleep at night, I was given Lorazepam. They are addictive. Took them for about a month and decided to come off them when my Sertraline began to work. Went through 3 days of feeling terrible. 

Try melatonin 3mg for a good sleep ... I use them myself, before i used  lormetazepam, very happy with it.

[Wrong Turn]

2 minutes ago, Jack Mountain said:

Try melatonin 3mg for a good sleep ... I use them myself, before i used  lormetazepam, very happy with it.

3 mg of melatonin is effective with me if the brand is good.  I don't take it every night b/c I think the body and or brain nay get used to it and adjust. 

[Rally123]

1 hour ago, Jack Mountain said:

Try melatonin 3mg for a good sleep ... I use them myself, before i used  lormetazepam, very happy with it.

I did try it years ago but I never felt any benefits. If it is beneficial then I'm sure my doctor would have recommended it over Lorazepam during this spell of depression.

 

Quote

If you can't sleep because of issues like stress, depression or anxiety: Melatonin may not work in those cases because the problem doesn't lie with the body's ability to make its own melatonin.

 

Quote

 

Skip melatonin for sleep if …

Do not use melatonin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have an autoimmune disorder, a seizure disorder or depression. 

 

 

[saakura]

Melatonin, Lorazepam, Lormetazepam, Sertraline ..... all depressing sounding names. Why dont you gentlemen try rigorus exercise commensurate for your ages? Sweat it out, get tired, have a cold beer. Drink plenty water, laugh a lot, see the positives. You will sleep like a baby.

[Rally123]

28 minutes ago, saakura said:

Why dont you gentlemen try rigorus exercise commensurate for your ages?

Aged 65 and cycles 20+ km, 3 times a week. When not doing that I'm in the garden.

[saakura]

45 minutes ago, Rally123 said:

Aged 65 and cycles 20+ km, 3 times a week. When not doing that I'm in the garden.

Then what are depressed about, you are living the life that many would dream of. Add some cold beer or a glass of nice wine, good music or a bit of meditation before sleeping. 

Edited March 5, 2018 by saakura

[Rally123]

1 hour ago, saakura said:

Then what are depressed about,

You can be the richest healthiest person in the world but you can still be depressed. Please don't try and belittle those that suffer from it. I can assure you that if we knew the why's and why nots of it we certainly wouldn't want it.

[Jack Mountain]

3 hours ago, Rally123 said:

I did try it years ago but I never felt any benefits. If it is beneficial then I'm sure my doctor would have recommended it over Lorazepam during this spell of depression.

 

 

 

The reason that I started with Melatonin was because Lormetazepam (very similar to Lorazepam and a DEPRESSANT as side-effect) was that it was no longer sold over the counter in Thailand. Not sure or it is because of the Melatonin or stopping Lormetazepam but I feel a lot better. My guess is  because i quit the Lormatazepam.

[Sheryl]

OP - those are very odd medications to offer for the problem you describe. Nothing wrong with them when used correctly, but nothing you mention indicates a need for either of them.

 

Sertraline is an antidepressent.  It can be helpful for anger issues related to PMDD (pre-menstrual dysphasi disorder) but as yo uare male, non-applicable.

 

Valproic acid is an anti-seizure medication that is also used as a mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder, but nothing you say suggest you have that.

 

What type of doctor was this? A psychiatrist? How much time did he spend investigating your problem?

 

I suggest first of all that you exclude physical causes such as low testosterone, thyroid issue, B12 deficiency. Have your testosterone levels checked, a thyroid panel done and get a serum B12 level (cobalamin). Any hospital or large lab can do these tests.

 

If all these come back normal, then the issue is presumably pyschological and you should see a professional  counselor, for assistance in identifiying  and resolving the causes of your mood changes and anger,  there are some good western ones in Thailand, see

https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/90910-mental-health-resource-list/

 

 

[tutsiwarrior]

interesting point about the low testosterone...I've noticed that as I've gotten older I've become much more 'impatient' such that I can't handle any stressful activity such as driving...never saw a relationship with low testosterone...

 

I'll havta get that checked out...I've always thought that decreased testosterone was a relief and a benefit of old age...

 

 

[Speedo1968]

Although most probably outside the normal causes of anger, and not wishing to upset 'uboni1971' could the following be causes in any way, ADHD or Parkinsons ( the former as a child ) ?     Of course certain medications can be cause too.

[Lumbini]

Try meditation not everything has a quick fix with a pill . With many issues like anger one must get to the root of things and not just treat symptoms with a drug that will always have side effects . Possibly do some bloodwork also ( like checking fasting glucose , A1C and things like thyroid and markers of inflammation ) it's amazing the drugs you were suggested to take were suggested to you by a Dr. after a visit and no blood work was ordered to see if there were real biological reasons for your issues [emoji15]

 

 

 

[NancyL]

My father became quick to anger until his diabetes was diagnosed.  Once his blood sugar was controlled (with oral medications and modest diet modifications, including giving up alcohol except for one scotch at Sunday lunch) his mood improved markedly.

[Lumbini]

Thanks Nancy , insulin resistance at the root of many emotional and cognitive issue I am seeing . The three test that are really valuable to see the whole picture are 1. Fasting glucose 2. A1C 3. Glucose tolerance test . Each test has its limitations but doing all three cover the big picture regarding insulin resistance with real accuracy .