Antidepressant Induced Mania
Although antidepressants are generally known for their tranquilizing effect, occassionally this effect backfires and the person becomes manic instead. This also can happen to people on heavy tranqilizers like Valium. I’ve even known someone who got manic smoking marijuana for the first time. Just because antidepressants happen a certain way for some people doesn’t mean it will happen that way for you.
What Is Mania
A bipolar depressive on YouTube nicknamed “Guy Interrupted” described mania as “Bugs Bunny on speed.” That’s a fairy accurrate description. Althugh I’ve never experienced mania, I have been stuck inside of rooms with someone going through a manic phase. At least the experience wasn’t boring.
The many syptoms of antidepressant induced mania include:
- Talkingreallyfast
- Racing thoughts
- Not needing to sleep
- Giving away money or posessions
- Overspending
- Full of grandiose plans
- Hearing voices
- Constantly beginning projects but not finishing them
There was this one woman I briefly knew who went book shoppping while manic. She intended to go buy one book, which happened to be published by Penguin. It had a little penguin on the spine. Instead of buying one book, she bought about thirty, because she didn’t want the one penguin to be lonely.
So, you can see there’s sort of a logic system going on but it’s not necessarily a good thing (except for Penguin publishers and booksellers).
Should You Stop the Meds Abruptly?
If your loved one taking a new antidepressant gets manic — or if you realize ou are getting manic — then you need to contact your doctor or therapist right away. In some instances, stopping the meds all of a sudden may bring on painful withdrawal symptoms. Or your doctor might suggest just reducing the dose.
Hope this helps.
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:35 am
Thank you! just what I need to read right now…