Disclosed is an irritation grenade (1) comprising a receptacle (2) with at least one compartment (12) within which an effective charge (3) is accommodated and which ends in one respective discharge port (21, 22) on opposite sides of the receptacle (2) while being locked by means of a closure (15). A rocker-arm type igniter (4) is provided to ignite the effective charges. The combustion gases of the effective charges (3) are deflected in part by parts of the rocker-arm igniter (4) such that the irritation grenade is displaced when the effective charges (3) are ignited. In order to prevent this from happening, the cross section of the discharge ports (21, 22) of the compartments (12) is embodied smaller on the side opposite the rocker-arm igniter (4) than the cross section of the discharge ports (21) on the side of the rocker-arm igniter (4) such that recoil forces which are generated when the effective charges (3) are burned and act upon the irritation grenade (1) are substantially identical on both opposite sides.