Angry & Irritable

So, I have noticed since I've been off my Cymbalta (pdoc took me off once BP dx due to it being a mania trigger). Here is my problem, I can't deal with stress anymore AT ALL! I get angry and irritable at the slightest thing. My anxiety and OCD is bad since I've been off of it. I'm so tired of having trade-offs with this illness. I'm so tired of not being stable and not feeling normal. I'm not manic but I'm anxious and my OCD is bad. So sick of it! Anybody relate?

Yeah, antidepressants are good for handling anxiety. I can imagine your anxiety/OCD is a lot worse since stopping Cymbalta. Cymbalta was probably keeping your anxiety at a manageable level.

Anger/irritability can be a sign of anxiety, not just a sign of mania or depression. So the anger/irritability makes sense.

Can your pdoc give you a different antidepressant? Or give you a lower dosage of Cymbalta instead of taking you off it completely?

Citalopram is the one medication I cannot survive without. I become a monster.

I get like this when I get dysphoric. I literally have to stay far away from people because I'm scared I'm going to say something horrible. And when people do poke me, I go off and say some rotten stuff. Even sounds set me off and make me cringe with anger and irritability. I wouldn't wish dysphoria on anyone. Lamictal made me like this big time. And ADs that are activating too.

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Are any of these meds you're on good for mania-away? I'm not even a pro med person but these ones I'm on now have helped a lot with my irritable, busy head (to put it lightly), anger. It's not perfect but I feel like they've possibly helped me more than all the other meds I've tried. I know I need therapy and more exercise life style changes also, not gonna happen today or tomorrow though.

I can't deal with stress either. I'm so sick of being anxious and stressed out for no reason! I want to puke right now. I get it.

ADs can cause that kind of problem for me...but I don't have OCD. I can't imagine what that's like to need one med for one condition and not be able to use it because of another condition.

Oh I forgot to mention... I take my risperdal along with my seroquel when I feel like this and it really helps. Im on 6mg, the highest dose. They give it to people especially for anger, irritability ect. It's a AP. I take it at night because it makes you drowsy and the next morning these feelings are pretty much squashed.

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Hi Hashi. Cymbalta was one of the hardest drugs I ever weaned off of. I was sick with anxious - sometimes anxiety anger and felt weird every day for months. I had a refill of some opioids and took them to calm myself. Without those I may have started destroying my house. I felt like throwing things and smashing things to bits.

My anger used to be so bad, I threw a kitchen chair across my kitchen, which hit the dishwasher and broke a knob. I slammed my freezer door so hard the compartment inside broke, I also slammed one of my daughters toys on the table so hard it cracked. This was about 4 1/2 years ago just before being diagnosed with depression and anxiety and going on meds. I would either rage or lay on the couch and stuff my face and cry. My anger is still bad but last time I broke something was about 10-11 months ago, I had just had an argument with my mom on the phone (we don't get along) and I was about 8 months pregnant and I slammed a cupboard door so hard it cracked. Mostly now I just yell, which isn't any better really.

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I have the exact problem! What meds do you take then? (Sorry to deviate from OP's original post)

I'll take my ativan or risperdal. Risperdal is a AP often given to autistic people for anger. I take it at night.

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when you say xanax 1mg as needed what do you mean? If you took it one three times/day for a little while it would probably help regulate / maybe you could discuss this with your pdoc if possible? it is a very good med for anxiety/irritability even if there is a danger of addiction - this can be monitored and if you need it this outweighs the risk in my book. take good care of you and let us know how you get on?