Conditions and symptoms
What Is Hypomania? Why Antidepressant Labels Mention It
Hypomania · say it: HY-poh-MAY-nee-uhAlso written: hypomanic episode, hypomanic
Short answer
Hypomania is a milder form of mania: a few days of unusually high or irritable mood and energy that others notice, without severe disruption.
What it means
Hypomania is a period of raised or irritable mood, more energy and activity, less need for sleep, faster talking or more ideas than usual. It lasts at least several days and is noticeable to others, but it is not severe enough to seriously disrupt work or relationships or to need hospital care, and there is no loss of touch with reality. It is a feature of bipolar II disorder.
Medicine labels mention 'mania/hypomania' together, mostly on antidepressant labels, because antidepressants can sometimes trigger these states in people with an underlying bipolar condition. Corticosteroids and some other medicines can also cause it. Labels ask patients and families to report signs early, as the treatment plan may need changing.
Mania is the more severe form. Hypomania can feel pleasant or productive, which is why it is often missed; a sudden change from your usual self is the key sign.
Where you may see it
- Antidepressant leaflets under 'Activation of mania or hypomania'
- Corticosteroid leaflets under mood changes
- Psychiatry clinic letters
📄 How it looks on a report
Patients should be advised to report symptoms of mania or hypomania, such as greatly increased energy, reduced need for sleep and racing thoughts.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Hypomania is not just being in a good mood.
- Feeling productive does not mean it is harmless; it can be followed by depression.
- A label warning does not mean it will happen to you.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Hypomania”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Citalopram
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of antidepressant medicine
- Escitalopram
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of antidepressant
- Fluoxetine
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of antidepressant medicine
- Lamotrigine
An anti-epileptic (seizure) medicine and mood stabilizer. The label describes it as an anti-epileptic drug of the phenyltriazine class that is chemically unrelated to other anti-epileptic drugs.
- Mirtazapine
An antidepressant medicine. The label describes it as having a tetracyclic chemical structure and belonging to the piperazino-azepine group of compounds.
- Paroxetine
A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of antidepressant medicine
- Sertraline
An SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), a type of antidepressant medicine, according to the label
- Venlafaxine
An antidepressant. The label's patient information describes it as a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Hypomania” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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