dothiepin-hydrochloride and zopiclone

Antidepressant-induced switch to mania has not been thoroughly characterized in bipolar disorder and is even less well understood in unipolar depression.. I describe, as a first-person narrative, my own experience of psychotic mania, which was suspected to have been induced by the tricyclic antidepressant, dosulepin. I have had a 16-year history of depression and was receiving sertraline 50 mg od when I was prescribed, off licence, dosulepin 25 mg 1-2 nocte for insomnia. Within days, I developed mild hypomanic symptoms and returned to my GP, who discontinued dosulepin but continued treatment with sertraline. I was also referred for psychiatric assessment. Two months later, I was detained under Section II of the Mental Health Act 1983 and admitted to hospital with psychotic manic symptoms.. More understanding of antidepressant-induced switch to mania is needed in unipolar depression. My case study highlights the need for prompt specialist care for patients with depression reporting even mild, sub-threshold symptoms of mania.

Topics: Adult; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; Azabicyclo Compounds; Bipolar Disorder; Commitment of Mentally Ill; Dothiepin; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Mental Recall; Piperazines; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Sertraline