Father is belligerent

[jeleanora]

My father has bipolar, he takes a cocktail of medications (he also has tourettes, not verbal ticks, more twitches). He has recently been put on geodon, I had some experience, bad ones, with geodon, but for him it seems to work. He is notorious for not taking his medication, either at all, on time, or without food. Once in awhile, when he'll take his nighttime geodon, he becomes very groggy and falls asleep in a chair, on the steps, eating dinner, etc. when we try to coax him to go to bed he gets belligerent and nasty. i was wondering if anyone has had this side effect or have experienced another user with the same behavior??
I'm mainly asking because he won't apologize, he believes he has no control, I'm pretty positive this is false.

P.S.- He does have anger issues and his excuse (above) isn't uncommon, I just would like to hear what others have to say.
Thanks again.
-jeleanora

[wineandroses]

I am probably speaking out of place here and I'm sorry if I am, but, I do have concerns for you and your family.  I went thru alot of physical abuse and craziness in my family as a child and I know how it effects you even as an adult.  
But, my concern is the physical abuse as well a mental abuse.  You should not have to endure abuse regardless of the reasons, abuse is never, never okay.  Your Dad should not be allowed to do this to his family because he will not keep the regiment of meds.  I would consider cutting some of the contact with your Dad until he takes responsiblity for his behavior and if he does not, I still advise avoiding him and his behavior as much a s possible.  No one deserves to put up with abuse.

[jeleanora]

I have heared abour tourettes and Bipolar having some link, maybe only for some people. I have also, always, been told that parents with tourettes syndrome have a high chance of passing anxiety and depression to their children. (Great.)
My father has also taken risperdal, I have as well. Yet, again, because of his terrible diligence with taking his meds many of the good side effects never appear. I completely understand the bursts of anger as a sudden response because of Bipolar, but, for him that usually appears during mania, which he probably is in for all we know.
It was really helpful talking with you, thanks a lot.
At least I know now that Im not walking alone in the dark.

[jeleanora]

Thank you for responding.
Yes he had tourettes as a kid, but like many poeple with tourettes his ticks have changed or worsened/gotten better over time. He has taken medication for his ticks for about twenty or so years. I completely agree that many of his reactions and demeanors are effects of medication that have evolved over time (the first medication he was ever put on was Lithium, at a very high dose).
I don't want to sound unsympathetic, and I understand that you might think I am, but he has had anger ever since I can remember. Although, I know that some is due to the Bipolar and meds, his anger has been a major part of our family's life, and he (we all) have gone through treatment after treatment to lessen the anger. He can get violent and very mean, he used to abuse alcohol, which only made it worse.

but, enough of that. I'm definitely going to look into tardive dyskinesia. Also, the Geodon side effect of agitation and irritability, sounds promising. If only he would let us talk to his doctors. He is also uber paranoid, about many things.
Thank you so much for your insight, I knew I could count on this site. : ]

[wineandroses]

It is interesting your Dad has tourettes.  I had tourettes as a kid and have read there may be a link between Bipolar and Tourette Syndrome.

I am bipolar and I have issues with quick and sudden burst of anger/rage.  The anger comes on so quickly I have little or no warning in advance, I have no control over it. I take an antiphycotic medication for my anger; Risperdal.  However, unless your dad recongnizes his abrupt anger is an issue he will not mention it to his doctor.  I can't advise you on how to approach your Dad about speaking with his doctor but it is causing problems in the family.

[ILADVOCATE]

Did he always have these tics? Geodon like all antipsychotics (except for Clozaril) can cause movement disorders both temporary and permanent and although temporary movement disorders can (and should be) treated with a side effect pill if they are not the psychomotor agitation and spasmic activity they cause can be quite painful. Speak to his psychiatrist (or have someone else do so) about potential causes of this and this is one cause they generally would look into. The potential of permanent movement disorders such as tardive dyskinesia (for more information google "Patient Education Tardive Dyskinesia", note as the site itself says "some of these medications may be medically neccessary") builds up over time as a person takes medications that can cause it such as antipsychotics. As well Geodon can sometimes cause agitation and irritability and if this happens when he takes it and wears off that could be another cause. If he has no control over it that doesn't mean its false and his psychiatrist should be alerted to this and examine potential causes.