Does anyone know if meds can alter the mood in such a way that it can make you angry and sometimes in a rage?
My cousin who I adore, has changed dramatically in the last couple of months. She lives under a lot of stress but she says that she feels agitated after taking her blood pressure meds. I worry about her as she has lupus and secondary sjogrens also.
I have seen her completely calm one minute and then in a 'cussing' rage the next.
Can it be her meds or is it stress?
Could be stress but I know when I take my narcotics for pain I get irriable and anger easy. Is she on pain meds?
You didn't mention age.........but how about PMS if she is of that age? Or if a bit older..perimenopause or hormones off? Lucy
A lot of medications can have psychological side effects. You would have to check the side effects of her medications in your PDR.
Also is she depressed, people with depression can become agitated and angry.
Howdy season, your cousin may need to be checked for Bi-polar disorder. Stress, medications, and other illnesses can aggravate the condition.
Seeker.
Its called being p**ed at the world for being sick all the time,, is she dealing with some really stupid people who just dont get it?, thats what sends me off,
I do know steroids causes extreme mood swings, heavy anger and tempers. Can make you psychotic. The doctor needs to be informed so her meds can be adjusted.
But I agree with "tired of it", stupid people.
My first impulse is to suggest that steroids (prednisone, etc) are mostly likely the cause of noticeable mood swings.
Keep us posted.
Kisses
Elaine
I agree with everything above, especially Tired's suggestion.
Over the past years (since getting so sick) I am MUCH less inclined to put up with nonsense in my life.
Can you talk to her about it and get her thinking why she is behaving so? In the end, we do not want to alienate the ones who love us!
Janna
I take prednisone daily, but only 5mg. When I get bumped up for flare or for URI I get just like you describe. It always happens if I have to take more the 20mg. It's rag, it's drop of a hat mood changes. If your cousin is taking any form of prednisone, I would suggest letting her know that these symptoms are temporary and once the dose gets lower the mood swings will pass. Also, sometimes just knowing it's a side effect, helps me keep better control. Instead of raging, I just step back, take a few deep breaths and tell myself that it's just the meds. Hope this helps.
Peace Be With You.
Jennifer
Hi :)
I would look up what drugs she is on and check online to see what potential side effects can be. If I take codiene I go into really black awful bad tempered moods. Carbemazopine (I think thats how its spelled) is a temper inducing med - for me and someone else I know - so one to stay away from (for me). Valium (given to me because my doc thought I was anxious) went back to the pharmacist after about 3 days because it made me so depressed I wanted to cry all the time. There is no doubt that some drugs can be mood changing.
My hubby is on beta blockers and if he forgets to take one, which happens sometimes, he's like a cat on a hot tin roof - really jittery and edgy.
Take care - Scottie :)
:) Many people have told me preds make them angry and they yell a lot. I'm only on 5mg now but have been hospitalized many times with pneumonia and they give me massive doses of it. I turn in to a laughing fool.
You never know what will set you off.
LOL, mebog
Lots of different meds can cause mood changes. Some antidepressents, prednisone or other steroids, blood pressure meds, etc. etc.
Plus stress, hormonones, etc.
You probably need to start with "You haven't seemed your self lately... What's up?" and talk with her about both things going on in her life, and medicines.
It's so good that you care about her.
I am like that a lot of times and don't even TAKE SjS meds. I am depressed, I know, but the meds can cause weight gain, so I am not taking any. I am fatigued, achy, have joint pain and stiffness, swelling, etc...finances stink....enough to make anyone fly off the handle sometimes... :'(
I have noticed that my temper is extremely short these past months. I will be exposed to something and I can feel myself just take off inside. I have to just hang on to stop from screaming, etc.
The first thing I started to wonder about was my thyroid meds. Turned out my TSH was 0.4 and I do just terrible when it is that low. I have had my meds decreased twice in the past 5 months. I am still running at 1.48 or so and wondering what is going on. Really reacting to change in meds in a different way lately.
The other thing that has me wondering is that I have not been feeling good and can't put my finger on it. I am having insomnia quite badly and am really exhausted. I even look exhausted when I look in the mirror. The good thing is that I have several doctors trying to figure out what it is so I figure if I keep on going to see them I may eventually find out why I feel more sick than usual.
There is truly difficulty with any medications that we take and that needs to be addressed when we have a personality change. I think Burnout can really do a job on us also. You would think that burnout is from a job that drives you too hard, etc. Well, I think that being chronically ill drives us too hard. We get to the end of our rope at times. Sometimes I feel like I need to just sleep for about a week to get rested up so I can cope better with all the stuff.
Speaking of flying off the handle, I will tell you what really sends me over the moon. Every time I get stuff in the mail from the insurance company or related to changes in medicare, insurance or changes at the clinics that I go to I could just cry. Seems like I have just caught up and sorted everything out and there is a new wrinkle. I think when we are ill for so long our brain loses its ability to deal with all this stuff. I have to wait until I feel like my brain can concertrate enough to handle the bookwork.
The other thing that I have trouble with is trying to explain all the medical insurance stuff to hubby or other people who are trying to figure it out. I feel like I am just too tired in my head to have to go through this one more time.
Boy, I am sure fun lately. Think I do need a nap. Wish I could take one. Sleep doesn't always come easily. Irish ;D
Ha I lost the ability to deal with all this stuff long ago, its all a B**ch
well...meds can do it...& NOT bein' on meds an do it! ;)
me i'm rageful just bein' fed up w/bein'held in this torture chamber of a body!
fustrate a peep 4 long 'nuff & i'll GUARANTEE they'll end up ragin' @ sum point or 'nother!!!
~*flutterfly...tryin'not ta be bent side←↑→ways mosta the time!*~
p.s. i don't take any meds but insulin/percacet/correctol/vitamins/& lotsa b.s. from well meanin'peeps!
I've been in a pretty good mood lately, which is a bit of a change for me. I am on steroid - medrol, 8mg one day, 4 the next as I'm weaning down - but I really don't think the steroids were responsible for my moods. In my case, it was frustration over my husband's and my economic situation (we are still in a recession at my house, despite what the politicians may say about the rest of the country!) and I get frustrated that I'm not able to wrok a full time job and there are no part time jobs out there that don't require you to be on your feet for 6-8 hours. I would LOVE to take some of the financial burden off my husband's shoulders, but I can't find a job, and the bills come every day and we play the shuffling game. We've been at this for 18 years, since I first injured my back. I needed emergency surgery twice, and after the second time, couldn't handle being back at work. That's my stress and bad mood maker!
Menopause didn't help. You would have gotten whiplash trying to stay up with my mood swings. Had to have a total hysterectomy, and all of the bad symptoms went away.
I agree that you need to approach your cousin and ask her if she's alright. Maybe there's a new or bigger stress in her life that's causing the change. She definitely needs to speak with her doctor - the sooner the better.
My best wishes to both of you,
Tracy
Hi Season,
My first thought was that your cousin's mood may be affected by a medication she is taking, like others have said. Even Plaquenil can alter your mood.
You sound like you are close to her, so I bet you could have a heart to heart with her to express your concern.
She's lucky she has you. ;)
Besides everything that previous posters have covered, low levels of steroids (cortisol) can cause a bit of an emotion lability... inability to control your feelings. If something angers you it just comes out.
Also another big one is poor sleep. I know Patience pretty much dissolves the less sleep I get. If I'm tired and am not able or allowed to sleep, I am not the best of company .
Dear Season,
My opinion is yes they can. After my husband had his shoulder surgery in Nov., he was prescribed Ambien to help him sleep. It made him feel like a very angry person. He has a short fuse anyway, but this was awful. Even the hydrocodone seenmd to make him a bit moody. He doesn't take those kinds of meds, so he thought it was a reaction. His surgeon told him not to take the sleep medication when he explained how it made him feel.
When I took Lyrica 6 years ago, I felt extremely euphoric( high - silly and giddy) the first 3 weeks on the medicine. The fourth week my legs swelled like balloons, so that was the end of that medication for me. I also remember a a teenager having oral surgery and taking a pain medication that made me act nasty toward others. They had to change that medication.
Like the others have suggested, Find out what meds she is taking and if the combination of any of them can cause mood changes. Durgs.com has a link to check drug interactions. Good Luck.
Catilee 2
I just remembered that after I had my ear surgery that involved getting close to the brain with a lot of work in that area, I was just a "you know what" after I woke up.
After I got home and thought about it I told my hubby that I had prednisone during the surgery and afterwards and I would bet that the dosages were higher than I normally take. That is probably the cause of that.
The lack of sleep and money are always a cause of a poor atitude and crabbiness no matter how hard we try to "keep the lid on it". IRish ;D
Excuse the hijack, but Nathan brought up something about low cortisol being an issue...I just found out that mine are low. Maybe have that checked?
Thanks everyone for your replys. I did speak with my cousin and asked her how she was feeling today. She didn't really want to say a whole lot.
She said she didn't sleep except in 2 to 3 hour shifts which only added up to maybe 4 hours in a day and no more than 5 hours total. She has a lot of worries concerning her mother, family members, and being sick all the time.
I told her she needed to give herself a break and maybe get out of the house and go shopping or just anything to relax. She screamed at me that I didn't understand. I felt helpless and didn't linger very long. I told her that I loved her and call me if she needed to.
She is fifty-two. She doesn't take a lot of pain meds and she said that her blood pressure med is the same that she has taken for the last several years. She only takes steroids when she is in a flare.
I think maybe it could be a lack of sleep, and worrying. Just don't know what to think. I have seen broken dishes all over the floor, screaming curses for no reason at all, hostility towards anyone that is in her path at the wrong moment. Her husband said that sometimes she will get into the car and leave for hours that he doesn't know where she is at.
Thanks everyone. I just don't know what to do.
Quote from: CAT1962 on January 21, 2011, 08:35:05 PM
Excuse the hijack, but Nathan brought up something about low cortisol being an issue...I just found out that mine are low. Maybe have that checked?
My cortisol has ALWAYS been low,, but no one seems to care much about it, I wonder if this cant be the cause of a lot of our muscle pain, one is low,, sets off a chain reaction, and the body goes nuts, had the TSH test,, said my adrenals are ok, I am assuming this is tied in with the low cortisol readings,, I recall getting a shot of something every half hour and then having blood drawn,, levels of something went up,, wasent cortisol,, it was something else
well,
i am constantly aggitated,moody,anxious,bad tempered,basically i am a nightmare to be around,i know its because
of my meds and my many conditions,i have wondered if maybe i was bi-polar too cos sometimes i go really
hyper and giddy but my gp ssays its the meds
Season,
I did the samething for a couple months. My stress was out of control. I was out of control. I finally broke down a cried to my doctor who took it with stride and gave me sleep meds and anxiety meds. An RN called me once a week to check on me. I had to see the doctor for a good 3 months until I felt I could live again. I also saw a psych person and was able to cry out all my frustrations and not be judged. Now, I am off those meds. I do feel better. When I feel anxiety coming on I back away, but several things did go on during this time. My son was diagnosed with dyslexia (no one on my husband's side believed there was a problem, oh wait my husband has dyslexia too, we found this out) (yes I was childish and called them up an said NANANANA) and I got help for him. Problems were being solved and I had to stop being SUPERMOM.
I remembered just now that I have been on the 10 antibiotics this year. That, along with the thyroid could most definitely cause me to have been so irritable. I have CNS effects from most of the antibiotics now. I can't take Levoquin at all anymore as I get to agitated and feel like crying all the time.
I haven't had an antibiotic pill orally now for almost 2 weeks and I have been sleeping better the past few nights. I have had to sleep sitting up in the recliner the past few nights because of the Benign Postural Vertigo. Have to try to keep the stones in the inner ear down in the right ear. Will sleep in my own bed tonight, but I have to sleep on my right side to try to keep the stones(calcium bits, etc) in the right side of the inner ear on my deaf side.
If they stay on that side I will not get dizzy as I have no hearing or balance on that side. When you have no hearing or balance that was surgically destroyed and suffer from the BPV doc told me it is a "no brainer" to figure out where the stones are. They have to be on the "good" side---and they were!! I can't imagine that I can keep them in that place all the time and would bet that I will have to learn the moves to get the stones to move back to the deaf side.
I did a google and found out that any surgery they do to remove these little stones make for a certain risk of deafness---can't lose my good ear yet. Irish ;D
Season-
Your cousin probably feels that no one understands where she's at and what she's feeling because, in all likelihood, she may not understand it herself.
Last year was a tough year for me. How I wish my best friend had persisted and called me regularly instead of telling me "I didn't know what to do for you.". When we finally talked, I told her she should have asked me. I would have told her. She should have called me. Now, we are no longer friends. We exchanged Christmas cards. She sent me a birthday card, but when I called to thank her on a Saturday, the call went to voicemail. Two days later, she emailed me at work (we now work in the same bldg after knowing each other some 24 years) and said she wasn't ignoring me, just "too busy" to talk or return my call over the weekend (she's single and her daughter was at her Dad's that weekend) This, after not talking/emailing/texting for nearly three months. It still hurts.
Perhaps you could explain your concern to your cousin for her well being-having seen the broken dishes, outbursts, etc. Maybe the husband needs to talk to your cousin's doctor. If things continue maybe an intervention of sorts with a mental health professional may be in order.
Reassure your cousin that your care and concern is coming from a place of love. Eventually, she'll (hopefully) realize how much you love her and want her to be well.
Others are right, your cousin is lucky to have you.
season,
I'll repeat again; you're a good cousin. :) I know you really worry about her well-being and want to help. Maybe there will be a time again soon where she might be able to listen to you. Depression and anxiety can make some of us very angry and hostile. Dealing with family, our health issues, money, it's a lot to handle.
I hope she'll eventually open up to you or someone else close soon.
season, I don't know what to tell you other than you are trying the best you can to help. If she doesn't want help now at least she knows where she can go if she does need it. You can do no more for now.
It is possible that she has something going on in her life that is far removed from the physical illness. I don't know her age, but sometimes there can be mental issues that come from prolonged stress. She could be having a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder type of behavior. Hopefully, someone will pick up on it in the medical system. It is good that you talked to the hubby cause he now knows where to go if he needs some help getting his wife medical attention--or whatever. Good luck. IRish ;D
i have been come a raving lunitic. I never use to let anything bother me and now I get in a rage and I cant pull out. I say whatever I want. think about that. Thats horrile. I say things like I cant stand to look at your face or listen to your voice for one more second. And this is not to family.. I say horrible thing. this was some of the nicer stuff. In the past I would make my point and never hurt anyone in the process.
I spoke to my doctor about it and she said that she doesnt think I need medication... said I probably need to spend more time venting; thats its better than zanix. hahahha.
Is this old age or illness? or just mental unbalanced? Better watch the way you respond!!!! ( kidding)
Hey, you can vent on this forum. Here is to better health through venting. (And a good bottle of brandy does not hurt).
seems like a lot of us are ready to have a smackdown
nancylee, I think that sometimes anger builds up in us and just spills out all over someone else. It ain't nice and it ain't purty. Probably do us all good to be able to exercise or go for a walk. Just getting out for a little can change out view of the world and our circumstances.
I just read recently that for people like us who are isolated more or less and can't do a lot of socializing, just going out to Walmart and walking around or going in the cart is good for us. Just being close to people and maybe having a conversation with someone in the checkout line, whatever, helps us feel better. We don't always have to go do something with someone else.
I was glad to hear that because I find it physically and emotionally exhausting to go to social situations where you feel that you have to keep up a conversation and look like you are on your toes.Heck, some days I can't find my toes!!! Irish ;D
tired of it,
Ready for a smackdown? ;D :D ;)
irish,
I've found lately that if I get out every couple of days to do "whatever", it helps me. Stop at the grocery for a couple things, get gas in the car, etc. I'm close to stores and such, but I'll drive the long way around just to be out! About every other day seems to do it. And yes, many days I'm not up to a full conversation, but a little small talk and a friendly store clerk can be really helpful. Makes me feel a little more like I'm out in the world. ;)
Reminds me of something our daughter told us. She worked in a convenience store for a while and there were a few older customers who came in almost every day. She'd ask them about their day, their spouse, their dogs and cats, and carry out their gallon of milk or whatever for them to the car if they needed. She enjoyed talking with them, and I'm sure they appreciated her. (She's a good kid) :)
nancylee,
You vent here and let it out anytime you need to! We all need to do that sometimes, ok?
I have an advantage over some of you. Your illness is silent. You have joint pain, you have skin, eyes, lungs, mouth issues. You have fatigue and you silently battle this thing that no one understands and really cares about. Heck.. half the time I cant pronounce Sjogrens and the doctors have to correct me. I cant pronounce Raynounds. Imagion telling someone some medicl issue you have and cant even pronounce it!!
Sjogrens has almost killed me. seriously killed me and all my doctors are as serious that they want to get this under contraol or I am sure I will die soon. SO, when I have my rages ( my advantages over you) everyone just poo-poos me and says its because I am sick and frusrtrated and let the sick girl have her tamtrom!!! Do you have any idea how angry I get at that. I dont want anyone to tread softly around me. I want to fight! I THINK my mind is still sharp ( they say we're the last to know)
I still work. I am fortunate to be able to come and go as I please. The boss has intructed everyone to make sure nothing upsets me!!!!!!! hahahahahahha!!! THAT UPSETS ME! all I do is work and go home. I feel like I won the New York Marathon when i can grocery shop ALONE. My life has changed so much. I have spent the last year appoligizing to my friends for being absent and to PLEASE not stop asking me to go places and do things. When we have a girls night out, they all go someplace EARLY so they can get a seat for me! How messed up is THAT! Its horifying. I have become the old woman of our group. ( I am NOT that old 55 and until this sick stuff; I think HOT as heck! ( for an old lady!)
So, my rages. I guess I do need to control them because everyone is just trying to appease me. I will vent to you. And feel free to tell me off any time you want. I am fine with that. I would be fine with people treating me like the crazy Bitch I am becoming!
I mentioned to you a few days ago that I started Chemo on Monday. Last ditch effect to stop this horrible Sjogrens. I havnt told any of my friends. I cant take any more niceness!!!
Nancy
Thanks everyone for your contribution on how to deal with rage, anger etc....... Like my cousin, it sounds like most of us are dealing with so much that it is overwhelming. When we have no power or control over this illness and other issues I suppose the anger does show itself.
Don't even mention 'Frustration". We could all be a posture child for frustration.
season~u know what my doc said 'bout MY RAGE???
yes i asked 'cause i don't like it either!!! (my poor hubbs & family!)
but she said that well hon...UR JUST ~FED UP~ & once i got my ^ailments^ addressed it would ~work itself out~!!!
u shoulda seen HUBBS FACE!!! :o i could just hear him sayin'...but what 'bout 'til then!!!
i'm sorry dear!!! if it makes ya feel any better...my sissy worries 'bout me...just like u do 'bout ur cousin!!!
i WILL say...i KNOW ur cousin...doesn't like it either...she just don't know how or have the tools ta STOP IT!!! :-\
even when i'm uber ragin'...i STILL LUV THE PEEPS I'M RAGIN' @!!!
it's just the way the turmoil in my soul cums rushin' out nowadays!!!
~*flutterfly...realized THEN that even docs don't know how ta fix or address rage issues!!!*~
Hey my husband thinks I am PMSing if I am raging...hahaha
nancylee-----rage on girlfriend :P
I know there is steps for grieving is there steps for raging?
1. Heart rate increases, blood pressure increases, mouth shut in a tight thin line, nose flaring, using short answers to questions
2. Eye rolling more often, grunt answers, softly call people names under your breath, do things to make other people angry so they will start something with you
3. Short loud answers that causes people to stop and look at you, throwing things, can't be nice to anyone or anything
4. One person says one thing and That's it your done full blown rage
Are you in my house? Are you watching me.( looking around) hahahahhaha!!!! that is so funny. I like the one about softly calling people names under my breath. I do that all day long. I cant tell you on a public board what my favorite 3 words. Three little word that seem to encompass everyone when i am raging..
Oh Nancylee,
You and me babe ;D
I will probably add more to it later... or you can.
I am trying to remember the ways I get to RAGE
Too be serious...I had too much anger for a while there, I called my doctor, I felt overwhelmed and I started getting scared. I worried about my children, I was too angry and I was yelling...My doctor asked me if I was endangering my children. NO, but I needed help...he gave me drugs just for a while and it helped. But I am off of it now because I was then diagnosed finally...
Nancylee...my husband and I are at each other throats right now so once again my household feels out of sync, right now I am at #2 hahahaha
XOXO shonda