Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
05:42
The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior
Published on: March 2, 2015
Hypomania induced by escitalopram: 2 case reports.
1Department of Psychiatry, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, India. drrcspsy@rediffmail.com
Psychopharmacology Bulletin
|July 25, 2009
Summary
Escitalopram can trigger hypomania in patients with recurrent depression or major depressive disorder. Atypical antipsychotics and divalproex effectively treated these cases, highlighting diagnostic and treatment considerations.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antidepressant-induced hypomania is a recognized phenomenon.
- Escitalopram is a commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
Observation:
- Two patients with a history of depression experienced hypomanic switches while treated with escitalopram.
- One patient had recurrent depression, and the other had major depressive disorder with hypertension.
Findings:
- The hypomanic episodes resolved with the discontinuation of escitalopram.
- Both patients achieved remission of hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms with atypical antipsychotics and divalproex.
Implications:
- This case series underscores the importance of monitoring for hypomanic or manic switches during SSRI treatment, particularly in patients with pre-existing risk factors.
- The findings suggest that mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics may be effective in managing antidepressant-induced hypomania.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview
Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as a...
01:30Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.
01:23Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic symptoms in all...
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation. For...
01:28Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...