[Jenna120]

So my new psych NP wants to try loxapine. He told me to Google it and we would discuss it at the next appointment. WebMD and Drugs.com didn't list any use other than schizophrenia (which I fortunately don't have). More obscure sites listed an off-label use for anger and agitation in people with bipolar disorder.

I hear it's a typical anti-psychotic and I've never really heard of the typical anti-psychotics still being used, especially when no hallucinations are present.

Anyone been on it for reasons other than hallucinations? Did it work on anger/agitation (rage would be more appropriate of a word in my case). What side effects did anyone have?

I'm also on desipramine, Lamictal and Seroquel, if that helps.

[still_crazy]

any antipsychotic/neuroleptic/tranquilizer can calm down agitation, rage, anger, etc. Some researchers think loxapine acts like the newer, "atypical" tranquilizers at lower doses, based on brain imaging studies.

Tranquilizers also come with adverse effects, the big one I can think of if you're angry being akathisia. Akathisia can range from somewhat unpleasant to downright hellish. Some people with akathisia turn suicidal and violent.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I was on it for about 4 months 2 years ago. I never reached a target dose which is too bad because it really seemed to help. Another few dose increases and I would have been much improved. It also helped me lose weight which I loved. But first it caused muscle stiffness and once we got that partially treated I started having uncontrollable oral movements and had to go off it. BUT, and this is a big BUT, I am very, very sensitive to any drug that can cause EPS and while I don't think the risk on loxapine is huge in combination with my other meds at the time I just was susceptible. '

It's kind of on the border between typical and atypical It has a neat trick that as it metabolizes it turns into amoxapine, an AD. So you can get a little boost from that.

I was on it for mania, which happened to be paranoid more than hallucinations but not for rage. irritability yes but I don't remember if it helped that or not. I think it did, at least some.

I'd try it. Like I said I really liked it and wish I could have given it a real shot.

Originally Posted by Jenna120

So my new psych NP wants to try loxapine. He told me to Google it and we would discuss it at the next appointment. WebMD and Drugs.com didn't list any use other than schizophrenia (which I fortunately don't have). More obscure sites listed an off-label use for anger and agitation in people with bipolar disorder

I hear it's a typical anti-psychotic and I've never really heard of the typical anti-psychotics still being used, especially when no hallucinations are present.

Anyone been on it for reasons other than hallucinations? Did it work on anger/agitation (rage would be more appropriate of a word in my case). What side effects did anyone have?

I'm also on desipramine, Lamictal and Seroquel, if that helps.