Are There Medications for Anger Management?
Key takeaways:
Anger is a natural feeling that everyone experiences from time to time. And there are many coping skills and relaxation techniques that you can use to control or manage anger quickly.
Sometimes, anger can become concerning or be a symptom of an underlying health condition.
If you have trouble managing your anger, connect with a psychologist or other licensed mental health professional. They can help you find ways to manage or redirect your anger — with or without medications.
Many medications used for anger treatment are available as lower-cost generic medications. For example, for a 30-day supply of sertraline (Zoloft), a common antidepressant medication, you may be able to pay as little as $7 with GoodRx.
Access savings on related medications
Table of contents
Anger can be a difficult emotion to manage. To some degree, everyone experiences stress and life events that lead to feelings of anger. But what happens when you realize your feelings of anger might be out of the ordinary, or you find yourself unable to manage your anger?
There are several different types of treatments that might help with anger, such as therapy, relaxation techniques, and counseling. Medications are another option to consider when needed, but they’re not always go-to options. You’ll need to talk with your healthcare team to figure out which course of treatment is right for you.
What are the best treatment options for anger
There are many ways to help treat or control anger. It all depends on the person, symptoms, and underlying causes of anger. In general, medications aren’t top treatment choices for anger, even if it feels overwhelming or frequent.
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Your primary care provider can tell you about several ways to help control anger without medications. In many cases, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of these recommended tools. CBT helps you focus on your mindfulness and managing your emotions. Other coping skills — like listening to music, deep-breathing exercises, and journaling — may also help promote feelings of calm.
However, medications can still help in certain situations. This is especially true if other treatments aren’t working well enough on their own.
What is the best anger management medication?
It depends. Anger isn’t an official diagnosis. So there are no FDA-approved medications specifically for anger.
But there are medications that may help when it comes to treating explosive anger or irritability. You can work with your healthcare team to figure out the cause of your anger and find the best treatment options for you.
Often, a medication may be prescribed to treat an underlying condition that could be causing anger or irritability, including:
Intermittent explosive disorder
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Depending on your situation, a mental health professional may prescribe you a medication off-label to treat your symptoms. Here’s a closer look at some of the best medication choices for managing anger.
Antidepressant medications for anger
Some antidepressants can help treat anger. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed to treat conditions like depression and anxiety. But they’ve also been used to treat symptoms of anger or irritability.
SSRIs that may help with anger include:
Citalopram (Celexa)
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Sertraline (Zoloft)
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Other classes of antidepressants — like serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) — aren’t widely used for treating anger.
Anxiety medications for anger
In addition to antidepressants, some anxiety medications may also help treat anger.
Benzodiazepines — commonly known as “benzos” — are a group of anxiety medications that can treat anxiety and agitation in short-term situations. Sometimes, agitation may appear in the form of anger. Two fast-acting benzos that can be used to help people calm down are: Alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan). However, they shouldn’t be taken long term for this.
Aside from SSRIs for anxiety, anxiety medications that aren’t benzos don’t have as much supporting data for treating anger or agitation. Benzos can also be habit-forming. And they can even cause anger and aggression in some people (paradoxical reactions).
Antipsychotic medications for anger
Newer antipsychotics — also called atypical antipsychotics — may help with anger or agitation related to certain health conditions. Atypical antipsychotics are also sometimes used to treat agitation in older adults.
We’ll go through a few examples here, but this isn’t an exhaustive list.
Bipolar disorder
Antipsychotics or mood stabilizers are used to treat bipolar disorder, a condition where you have episodes of depression and mania. Many symptoms are possible during a manic episode, including anger or irritability.
Manic episodes are usually treated with a mood stabilizer like lithium, plus an antipsychotic. Antipsychotics used to treat mania include:
Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
Risperidone (Risperdal)
Quetiapine (Seroquel)
These medications are sometimes continued after the manic episode is over.
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) is a behavioral disorder in which children show signs of aggression or severe behavioral problems, lasting for at least a year. Atypical antipsychotics — like risperidone and aripiprazole — are sometimes used to treat DMDD. These medications can have significant side effects, though.
Keep in mind that other types of medications and treatments are usually used before trying antipsychotic medications.
Cannabis for anger
It’s not clear whether cannabis helps with anger. In one survey of adults with HIV, many people said they used cannabis to reduce anger. But there’s also evidence that cannabis can cause irritability and hostility in some people, especially in higher or stronger doses.
Make sure to talk with your primary care provider when considering cannabis or other THC-based products. Each of these products has risks, so they can help you weigh the pros and cons.
Keep in mind that cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, even though it’s allowed in some states.
Anticonvulsants for anger
Antiepileptics — also called anticonvulsants or antiseizure drugs — are medications that are approved to treat seizures. Anticonvulsants work in the central nervous system, and they can help regulate irregular brain signals. That possibly includes activity that’s associated with aggression.
A review of studies on anticonvulsants and aggression found mixed results on how well they work to treat anger. On the one hand, there’s stronger supporting research on three particular anticonvulsants for anger:
Carbamazepine
Oxcarbazepine
Phenytoin
But the effects these medications had on anger weren’t consistently seen across studies. And some anticonvulsants, like levetiracetam, have even been associated with aggressive behavior.
More studies are needed to better understand the relationship between anticonvulsants and anger.
Are there medications someone with anger management issues should avoid?
Many medications may help you with anger management, but some may worsen it. This doesn’t mean you should stop taking them though. Make sure your healthcare team has a full list of medications you take so they can see if any medications may be contributing to your symptoms. They may be able to recommend alternatives.
Here are some common examples of medications that are linked with mood changes:
Chantix (varenicline)
Singulair (montelukast)
Keppra (levetiracetam)
Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)
Ritalin (methylphenidate)
In addition to medications, excessive alcohol drinking can contribute to anger or violent outbursts. Mixing certain medications with alcohol can also make things worse.
How much do anger medications cost?
The cost of anger medications varies. Fortunately, most of the medications discussed above are available as lower-cost generics. Prices vary by pharmacy and location, but this is what a 30-day supply of common medications tends to look like:
Medication | GoodRx price |
Citalopram | |
Fluoxetine | |
Sertraline | |
Olanzapine | |
Risperidone | |
Aripiprazole | |
Lithium |
How to control anger immediately
When you’re angry, it’s good to have a few tools on hand that can help you calm down. Being able to calm down quickly can help you handle the situation as well as possible and keep you from saying or doing things you might regret.
Here are some tips that can help you control your anger in the moment:
Try a few deep breaths. Inhale slowly through your nose, hold for a few seconds, then exhale. Repeat this a few times to help your body calm down. Deep breathing can help to clear your head. And it also helps you move away from “fight or flight” mode.
Relax your muscles. Start at your head and travel to your feet, relaxing your muscles as much as possible along the way. This can help you physically let go of anger and tension in your body.
Count to 10. Before you act, give yourself time to count slowly to 10. Taking a pause can give you more control over how you react to your feelings of anger.
Take a break. If possible, step away from the situation for a moment. Go to another room, or excuse yourself to use the bathroom. This can give you some personal time to collect yourself.
Move your body. A short burst of exercise can help your anger go away. Consider taking a quick walk or doing some jumping jacks or push-ups.
Use visualization. Take a few minutes to close your eyes and imagine yourself in a peaceful, happy place.
Use humor. A joke can go a long way when you’re feeling angry. Try to find some humor in the situation, or give yourself a few minutes to look at funny pictures or memes online.
Be kind to yourself. Try to use positive self-talk when you’re angry. Remember that everyone gets angry from time to time. This feeling will pass. You can’t control your feelings, but you can control your actions.
Remember, it’s important to find strategies that are a good fit for you. Try a few until you find which options work the best. If you’re working with a therapist, they can also help you learn strategies for immediately managing your anger.
Frequently asked questions
How long it takes a medication to work for anger, or whether it will work at all, depends on a few things. These include the cause of the anger, symptoms, the medication, and any other treatments. Antidepressants like SSRIs, for example, often need 4 to 8 weeks to take full effect. This is why it's important to work closely with your care team when starting a new medication.
Anger isn’t considered an official symptom of depression. But low mood can show up as irritability in children and teens. One study of 500 people with depression found that over half experienced anger or irritability. And these symptoms were associated with more severe and longer-lasting episodes of depression. More research is needed to better understand the relationship between anger and depression.
The bottom line
Certain life events can naturally cause anger, but it can also be a symptom of certain health conditions or other situations. Talk with your healthcare team if you have trouble managing your anger. Medications aren’t generally preferred for anger, but they can come in handy when other treatments haven’t worked. Common medication classes are antidepressants, anxiety medications, and antipsychotics.
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References
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For additional resources or to connect with mental health services in your area, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. For immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
