Depression Learning

citalopram/ celexa and mania

Question:

I’ve researched citalopram induced mania on the net and found there is a very small risk of this happening. Citalopram seems to be a relatively new drug. The reason the induced mania concerns me is that I’ve seen changes in my boyfriend’s behavior since switching from dysipromene (sp?) to celexa.  He has become short-tempered and pressures me to answer questions.  I’m cautious to accept some blame as difficulties in relationships does not negate the behaviorial responsibilities of either partner. I do not want to patronize him, and I want to avoid stigmatizing him with a mental health label, but I made a mistake due to my own lack of behavior control when I was reduced to tears; I entertained the possibility that something might be happening with his own mental health.  Big mistake.  I understand.  It made him even angrier. I am very sad about this.  I think we are going to break up, but he is waiting until Wednesday to make his decision.  I did say during the heat that we should break up, but I was wrong.  I said it because I felt he was being abusive to me.  I strongly sense that it is this drug. I’m in a difficult position because suggesting this to him might stir him.  If I am to blame I understand. I wonder if anyone has experienced similar circumstances.  Forgive me for sounding insensitive.  I am a MH advocate and avoid blaming situations on MH concerns.  I do realize that I can add to the problem. Sorry this is long.  Any thoughts will be appreciated on celexa causing mania or anything.  Thank you. Before you buy.

Response:

addendum (see below for original post): What angers him is that I interrupt him.  I cannot figure out when it is my turn to talk.  I have a problem knowing when he is finished talking so that it is my turn to talk.  He thinks that I’m copping out and that I know when a sentence ends.  I try very hard to wait before I speak.  He talks for a long time and mentions a lot of things which is great because he gets me to think, but I want to share an inspired thought so much that I end up interrupting him. That’s what I do wrong.  He interrupts me too but says it’s okay because he doesn’t like what I am about to say. It’s complicated and I’m confused.  I know this is limited information, but I’m trying to be as thorough as possible and to show how I’ve aggravated him. Also, I can’t afford therapy but will entertain the notion of therapy for myself if it will help us. Thanks again. **** I’ve researched citalopram induced mania on the net and found there is a very small risk of this happening. Citalopram seems to be a relatively new drug. The reason the induced mania concerns me is that I’ve seen changes in my boyfriend’s behavior since switching from dysipromene (sp?) to celexa.  He has become short-tempered and pressures me to answer questions.  I’m cautious to accept some blame as difficulties in relationships does not negate the behaviorial responsibilities of either partner. I do not want to patronize him, and I want to avoid stigmatizing him with a mental health label, but I made a mistake due to my own lack of behavior control when I was reduced to tears; I entertained the possibility that something might be happening with his own mental health.  Big mistake.  I understand.  It made him even angrier. I am very sad about this.  I think we are going to break up, but he is waiting until Wednesday to make his decision.  I did say during the heat that we should break up, but I was wrong.  I said it because I felt he was being abusive to me.  I strongly sense that it is this drug. I’m in a difficult position because suggesting this to him might stir him.  If I am to blame I understand. I wonder if anyone has experienced similar circumstances.  Forgive me for sounding insensitive.  I am a MH advocate and avoid blaming situations on MH concerns.  I do realize that I can add to the problem. Sorry this is long.  Any thoughts will be appreciated on celexa causing mania or anything.  Thank you. Before you buy.

Response:

Hi, I read your post with interest because I’ve been on Citalopram for about 5 weeks to treat a long-term depression. I’ve been on many different meds over the past two years and they all have their side-effects. Everyone is different in the way they respond to meds not to mention the added dynamic of multi-flavoured depressive symptoms. So, it’s hard to make assumptions about your boyfriend’s behaviour without coloring it with my own projections. Be aware of that. I’ve never had manic episodes due to Citalopram – but everyone’s different. Agitation, nervousness and anxiety are listed as common side-effects. Aggression is listed as a rare side-effect. So its difficult to say what’s happening in your partner’s case. You don’t say how long he’s been on Citalopram. For me, some of the early side-effects tend to wear off over time. For instance, excessive sleepiness and social withdrawal and desire for isolation. Its generally agreed that many cases of depression are about suppressed anger – which may be what is happening in your boyfriend’s case. But this is pure speculation on my part. Citalopram can also cause sexual dysfunction which can add to the frustration of a depressed man. Also, imho, maintaining a relationship is *very* difficult for a depressive. I tend to have little energy left for my mate and find small tasks ridiculously burdensome. You sound very sincere in your desire to make it work. Above all, you need to be very patient and sensitive to your partner. For the most part he will have reduced ability to control his emotions and thoughts. Certainly he still has to be responsible for the way he treats you. But, believe me, his ‘response-ability’ *will* be diminished to some extent. I lost a wife of 13 years due to my depression so I can’t help but suggest that you hang in there if he’s willing. Lower your expectations of him. Try not to continually try to ‘fix’ him or analyse his illness. Its not that simple and it can aggravate him if you persist.  Give him space if he needs it and show him you simply care. I think that’s about all you can do for him. Eventually, he may begin to respond to the Citalopram (it can take a month, maybe longer). Be patient. I don’t feel *you* need to do therapy – its just important that you find out as much as you can about depression not so much to cure him, but to understand him. And writing to this newsgroup is a very good start. You’ll get to hear it from the horse’s mouth. Hope this helps, Rossco – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – addendum (see below for original post): What angers him is that I interrupt him.  I cannot figure out when it is my turn to talk.  I have a problem knowing when he is finished talking so that it is my turn to talk.  He thinks that I’m copping out and that I know when a sentence ends.  I try very hard to wait before I speak.  He talks for a long time and mentions a lot of things which is great because he gets me to think, but I want to share an inspired thought so much that I end up interrupting him. That’s what I do wrong.  He interrupts me too but says it’s okay because he doesn’t like what I am about to say. It’s complicated and I’m confused.  I know this is limited information, but I’m trying to be as thorough as possible and to show how I’ve aggravated him. Also, I can’t afford therapy but will entertain the notion of therapy for myself if it will help us. Thanks again. **** I’ve researched citalopram induced mania on the net and found there is a very small risk of this happening. Citalopram seems to be a relatively new drug. The reason the induced mania concerns me is that I’ve seen changes in my boyfriend’s behavior since switching from dysipromene (sp?) to celexa.  He has become short-tempered and pressures me to answer questions.  I’m cautious to accept some blame as difficulties in relationships does not negate the behaviorial responsibilities of either partner. I do not want to patronize him, and I want to avoid stigmatizing him with a mental health label, but I made a mistake due to my own lack of behavior control when I was reduced to tears; I entertained the possibility that something might be happening with his own mental health.  Big mistake.  I understand.  It made him even angrier. I am very sad about this.  I think we are going to break up, but he is waiting until Wednesday to make his decision.  I did say during the heat that we should break up, but I was wrong.  I said it because I felt he was being abusive to me.  I strongly sense that it is this drug. I’m in a difficult position because suggesting this to him might stir him.  If I am to blame I understand. I wonder if anyone has experienced similar circumstances.  Forgive me for sounding insensitive.  I am a MH advocate and avoid blaming situations on MH concerns.  I do realize that I can add to the problem. Sorry this is long.  Any thoughts will be appreciated on celexa causing mania or anything.  Thank you. Before you buy.

Response:

Thank you.  I want to hang in there.  The old saying is is if you want to you will.  But I don’t want to be swallowed up by this.  A relationship is /two/ people understanding each other. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I read your post with interest because I’ve been on Citalopram for about 5 weeks to treat a long-term depression. I’ve been on many different meds over the past two years and they all have their side-effects. Everyone is different in the way they respond to meds not to mention the added dynamic of multi-flavoured depressive symptoms. So, it’s hard to make assumptions about your boyfriend’s behaviour without coloring it with my own projections. Be aware of that. I’ve never had manic episodes due to Citalopram – but everyone’s different. Agitation, nervousness and anxiety are listed as common side-effects. Aggression is listed as a rare side-effect. So its difficult to say what’s happening in your partner’s case. You don’t say how long he’s been on Citalopram. For me, some of the early side-effects tend to wear off over time. For instance, excessive sleepiness and social withdrawal and desire for isolation. Its generally agreed that many cases of depression are about suppressed anger – which may be what is happening in your boyfriend’s case. But this is pure speculation on my part. Citalopram can also cause sexual dysfunction which can add to the frustration of a depressed man. Also, imho, maintaining a relationship is *very* difficult for a depressive. I tend to have little energy left for my mate and find small tasks ridiculously burdensome. You sound very sincere in your desire to make it work. Above all, you need to be very patient and sensitive to your partner. For the most part he will have reduced ability to control his emotions and thoughts. Certainly he still has to be responsible for the way he treats you. But, believe me, his ‘response-ability’ *will* be diminished to some extent. I lost a wife of 13 years due to my depression so I can’t help but suggest that you hang in there if he’s willing. Lower your expectations of him. Try not to continually try to ‘fix’ him or analyse his illness. Its not that simple and it can aggravate him if you persist. Give him space if he needs it and show him you simply care. I think that’s about all you can do for him. Eventually, he may begin to respond to the Citalopram (it can take a month, maybe longer). Be patient. I don’t feel *you* need to do therapy – its just important that you find out as much as you can about depression not so much to cure him, but to understand him. And writing to this newsgroup is a very good start. You’ll get to hear it from the horse’s mouth. Hope this helps, Rossco

[snip for space] Before you buy.

Response:

I’m not sure this is of help.  You don’t say if your boyfriend is diagnosed as bipolar.  Is he?  I have had dysphoric hypomanic responses to SSRI’s, esp. Prozac, because I’m bipolar II.  Dysphoric hypomania makes one irriatable and angry, like a dark mania.  If he is bipolar, he could have a manic response to any antidepressant.  It’s something to talk to a doctor about.  Well, something for him to talk about, he has to be willing to do this. As far as your relationship, I wish you the best of luck on that.  Right before being diagnosed as bipolar I had some bad interactions with my boyfriend, similar to what you are experiencing.  We recently parted ways, partly because of my disease and his inability to accept it and deal with it.  I guess he technically doesn’t have to deal with it anymore, but then again if he claimed to love me????  I don’t know, I don’t want to blame myself or my disease for his inability to accept me for who I am. Diane – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve researched citalopram induced mania on the net and found there is a very small risk of this happening. Citalopram seems to be a relatively new drug. The reason the induced mania concerns me is that I’ve seen changes in my boyfriend’s behavior since switching from dysipromene (sp?) to celexa.  He has become short-tempered and pressures me to answer questions.  I’m cautious to accept some blame as difficulties in relationships does not negate the behaviorial responsibilities of either partner. I do not want to patronize him, and I want to avoid stigmatizing him with a mental health label, but I made a mistake due to my own lack of behavior control when I was reduced to tears; I entertained the possibility that something might be happening with his own mental health.  Big mistake.  I understand.  It made him even angrier. I am very sad about this.  I think we are going to break up, but he is waiting until Wednesday to make his decision.  I did say during the heat that we should break up, but I was wrong.  I said it because I felt he was being abusive to me.  I strongly sense that it is this drug. I’m in a difficult position because suggesting this to him might stir him.  If I am to blame I understand. I wonder if anyone has experienced similar circumstances.  Forgive me for sounding insensitive.  I am a MH advocate and avoid blaming situations on MH concerns.  I do realize that I can add to the problem. Sorry this is long.  Any thoughts will be appreciated on celexa causing mania or anything.  Thank you. Before you buy.

Response:

I’m unable to say for sure what he’s been diagnosed with but to say that part of it has to do with depression caused by pain.  He has been misdiagnosed in the past and given antipsychotics.  He might have hypomania. I don’t want to blame his disease or myself either, but I do want to find insight into how we can be helped. It is difficult to relate during the hard times.  I have to be careful.  Sometimes we don’t share what sounds like the same feelings. As far as love goes, I don’t know.  Love has been a topic throughout time subject to many definitions and perceptions.  Maybe love might involve leaving a loved one because remaining with a loved might make them worse.  I don’t know which precipitates the other.  In other words, acts of love show themselves in many ways, many of which can be misunderstood.  Sorry.  I carry on too much. Thank you for your insight. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m not sure this is of help. You don’t say if your boyfriend is diagnosed as bipolar. Is he? I have had dysphoric hypomanic responses to SSRI’s, esp. Prozac, because I’m bipolar II. Dysphoric hypomania makes one irriatable and angry, like a dark mania. If he is bipolar, he could have a manic response to any antidepressant. It’s something to talk to a doctor about. Well, something for him to talk about, he has to be willing to do this. As far as your relationship, I wish you the best of luck on that. Right before being diagnosed as bipolar I had some bad interactions with my boyfriend, similar to what you are experiencing. We recently parted ways, partly because of my disease and his inability to accept it and deal with it. I guess he technically doesn’t have to deal with it anymore, but then again if he claimed to love me???? I don’t know, I don’t want to blame myself or my disease for his inability to accept me for who I am. Diane

[snip for space] Before you buy.

Response:

Hi! I hope I could give some insight. Irritability can be caused by a lot of things. It may be caused by depression itself. Some may experience agitation or even irritability from medication like SSRIs. Occasionally, it’s difficult to pinpoint which one cause the other. Few clues can however help. Did celexa precede irritability or was it the other way around? did celexa worsen longstanding dysphoric mood? Irritability or dysphoric mood due to depression may lessen if the depression is treated well. Good luck! I’ve researched citalopram induced mania on the

net and found there is a very small risk of this happening. Citalopram seems to be a relatively new drug. The reason the induced mania concerns me is

that I’ve seen changes in my boyfriend’s behavior since switching from

dysipromene (sp?) to celexa. He has become short-tempered and

pressures me to answer questions. I’m cautious to accept some blame as difficulties in relationships does not negate the behaviorial responsibilities of either partner. I do not want to patronize him, and I want to

avoid stigmatizing him with a mental health label, but I made a

mistake due to my own lack of behavior control when I was reduced to tears; I entertained the possibility that something might be happening with his own mental health. Big mistake. I understand. It made him even angrier. I am very sad about this. I think we are going

to break up, but he is waiting until Wednesday to make his decision. I did say during the heat that we should break up, but I was wrong. I said it because I felt he was being abusive to me. I strongly

sense that it is this drug. I’m in a difficult position because suggesting

this to him might stir him. If I am to blame I understand. I wonder if anyone has experienced similar

circumstances. Forgive me for sounding insensitive. I am a MH advocate and avoid blaming situations on MH concerns. I do realize that I

can add to the problem. Sorry this is long. Any thoughts will be

appreciated on celexa causing mania or anything. Thank you. Before you buy.

Before you buy.

Response:

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