maddy232 Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 (edited) My psychiatrist has prescribed an atypical antipsychotic. I suffer from severe anxiety and severe anger. I also hear voices, and these are supposed to help with that. But it couldn't be psychosis because I know they aren't there. I don't have delusions. Is my psychiatrist doing the right thing? Can atypical antipsychotics help severe anxiety and anger? Edited September 1, 2014 by maddy232 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 The short answer is yes. Antipsychotics are prescribed for many different conditions, not just psychosis. I take an antipsychotic for depression. They are known to help with anxiety and anger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Antipsychotics, especially the atypicals, have many uses - they were originally purposed for psychosis but over the years, they have expanded into the treatment of mood and anxiety conditions as well as a few others. I was on atypicals for many years and I have/had no psychotic symptoms whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shesellsseashells Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I also take an atypical antipsychotic and have no psychotic symptoms. My understanding is that it is used to boost my antidepressant in my case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 The short answer is yes. Antipsychotics are prescribed for many different conditions, not just psychosis. I take an antipsychotic for depression. They are known to help with anxiety and anger. That's exactly why I take Seroquel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavender fairy Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I take an atypical antipsychotic for depression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amosleigh Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I also take an Atypical Antipsychotic for depression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifluous Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 (edited) did you ask him why he's prescribing? it could be that the occasional things would be more pronounced if you weren't taking them. sure, they can be prescribed for other things, but maybe they are staving off psychosis, which is one reason to take them as well. and it's why i do. though they're not 100%, they are preventative of psychosis, too, ideally, and that might be why you're taking them. i think it's something that's also a good idea to discuss with your psychiatrist and then consider if the reason he has you taking them is effective for that thing. but not being psychotic could be another treated thing, if that makes sense. you should ask what the plan is/symptoms he is trying to treat, though, to be sure. it's definitely possible that he's doing it to keep the occasional hallucinations at bay AND anger and anxiety and that's all a good thing. Edited June 17, 2014 by mellifluous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inabook Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I was prescribed seroquel for anxiety and depression, and was confused too, and my tdoc explained that it was a normal use of atypical antipsychotics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I have used Risperdal to stomp on mania or hypomania on a few occasions. It is nice, because it works quickly. But so far, I only take it during the crisis, and for a couple of months after. Also, you can have psychotic features and realize you are hallucinating (and recognize clanging, in my case). I knew all of my hallucinations weren't real. And clanging is also a psychotic feature. I've also tried Geodon for mania, and Abilify for depression, although they didn't work out for me. The next med we are trying for my depression is Latuda, another atypical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosier_Student Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 My PsyDoc prescribed me Seroquel for anxiety issues. At first I was skeptical because I thought "Whoah an antipsychotic?....I'm not psychotic" However, I found that it got my anxiety under control within a few days. Unfortunately, I developed somewhat of a tolerance for Seroquel and had to go up on my dosage. Still, I found no other drug that has been able to get my anxiety under control so quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 As many have said, atypical antipsychotics can be used for anxiety, sleep, irritation, anger, and add ons for depression. They have many uses, and can be used for more than psychosis. If you have any questions, your pdoc can answer them for you. You have every right to ask as many questions as you like to your pdoc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I have taken many anti-psychotics over the years for mania and depression, no psychosis. I currently take Seroquel XR for mood stabilisation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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