Conditions and symptoms
What Is a Manic Episode? Signs and Medicine Warnings
Manic episode · say it: MAN-ik EP-ih-sohdAlso written: mania, manic phase, manic symptoms
Short answer
A manic episode is a period of unusually high or irritable mood with high energy, little need for sleep and racing thoughts, lasting days or longer.
What it means
A manic episode is a distinct period, usually lasting at least a week, of abnormally elevated, expansive or irritable mood together with increased energy. Common features include needing much less sleep, talking fast, racing thoughts, feeling unusually powerful, being easily distracted and taking risks, such as spending a lot. It is a core feature of bipolar I disorder. Severe mania, or mania with risky behaviour or loss of touch with reality, needs urgent medical help.
Manic episodes appear on medicine labels in two ways. Mood stabilisers and some antipsychotics list 'acute manic or mixed episodes' as a use. Antidepressant labels warn that they can trigger mania or hypomania in people with undiagnosed bipolar disorder, so they advise screening for bipolar disorder before starting, and reporting unusually high mood or reduced need for sleep.
Hypomania is a milder, shorter form that does not seriously disrupt daily life or need hospital care. A 'mixed' episode means features of mania and depression at the same time.
Where you may see it
- The 'Warnings and Precautions' section of antidepressant labels ('activation of mania/hypomania')
- Indications on mood stabiliser and antipsychotic labels
- Psychiatry clinic letters and discharge summaries
📄 How it looks on a report
Prior to initiating treatment, screen patients for a personal or family history of bipolar disorder, mania, or hypomania.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Feeling happy or energetic is not the same as a manic episode, which is a marked change lasting days.
- The antidepressant warning does not mean the medicine causes bipolar disorder; it can unmask it in some people.
- A manic episode is not a choice or a character flaw; it is a medical symptom.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Manic episode”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Amitriptyline
An antidepressant of the tricyclic type
- Aripiprazole
an atypical antipsychotic medicine
- Bupropion Hydrochloride
an aminoketone antidepressant, a type of medicine used to treat depression
- Citalopram
a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), a type of antidepressant medicine
- Divalproex Sodium
An anti-epileptic (anti-seizure) drug of the valproate type. The label also uses it to treat manic episodes of bipolar disorder and to prevent migraine headaches.
- Duloxetine
A serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) 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
- Gabapentin
An antiepileptic (seizure) medicine. The label also describes it as a treatment for nerve pain after shingles.
- 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.
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Manic episode” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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