Association of late-onset bipolar disorder with self-medication with "energy enhancing pills"

• Main Authors: Aakanksha Singh, Sandeep Grover
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
• Series: Journal of Geriatric Mental Health
• Subjects: Energy enhancing capsules; over-the-counter; psychiatric side effects; self-medication
• Online Access: http://www.jgmh.org/article.asp?issn=2348-9995;year=2015;volume=2;issue=1;spage=53;epage=56;aulast=Singh

Self-medication is quite prevalent in South East Asia and particularly in India. However, little knowledge about the medicines often exposes the patients to the untoward side effects. There is a scanty literature on psychiatric side effects of these drugs and none in elderly population. Here, we report a case who presented with symptoms suggestive of bipolar affective disorder, which was found to be linked to his use of medicines available over-the-counter (OTC). His mental status improved with stoppage of OTC medications and use of low dose Quetiapine.