Substance/Medication-Induced Mood Disorder

What is substance/medication-induced mood disorder?

A mood disorder is a type of mental illness. It makes you feel overly intense sadness or joy along with other symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. A substance/medication-induced mood disorder is a change in the way you think, feel, or act caused by a drug or toxin. You may have symptoms of a mood disorder while you are using the substance or medicine. You may also have symptoms once you stop using it.

Bipolar disorder and depression are also examples of mood disorders. Mood disorders can interfere with your daily life.

What causes it?

Chemicals from substances or medicines can affect your brain and how you think, act, and feel. Certain substances or medicines can change the balance of those chemicals. When this happens, you may start having symptoms of a mood disorder.

Some of the most common substances that can cause a mood disorder include:

• Alcohol

• Street drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, cannabis, phencyclidine (PCP), and other opioids

• Certain medicines, such as amphetamines, ketamine, sedatives, and hypnotics, including over-the-counter and prescription options

• Toxins, such as heavy metals and inhalants

If you have a mood disorder, the substances you take may not be the cause. However, they could make an existing mood disorder worse.

What are the symptoms?

You may have a substance/medication-induced mood disorder if you experience any of these symptoms when you are using or stop using a specific substance or medicine:

• Sadness or hopelessness

• Very high energy or very low energy

• Insomnia and difficulty sleeping

• Lack of interest in life

• Lack of focus or concentration

• Racing thoughts

• Irritability and annoyance

• Anger

If you need emergency help, call 911.

How is it diagnosed?

It’s important to contact your doctor if you’re having any of these symptoms after taking certain substances or medicines. Your doctor can also refer you to someone who specializes in mood or mental disorders.

A diagnosis often starts with a conversation. Your doctor may ask about:

• Which substance(s) you currently take or used to take

• How much you took and for how long

• Your symptoms

• How long your symptoms have lasted

• If your symptoms have changed

• Information about your habits and lifestyle

Your doctor may also want to:

• Review your medical history

• Discuss your family medical history

• Give you a physical exam

• Observe or keep track of your symptoms after stopping or being exposed to the substance or medicine

• Conduct lab tests (such as blood work)

How is it treated?

A substance/medication-induced mood disorder may resolve once the body has fully processed the substance. This depends on the type of substance or medicine that was taken and how much of it the body needs to process. It also depends on the withdrawal period. Your doctor may prescribe medicine to help you, depending on your symptoms.

It’s important to stay in touch with your doctor so they know how you are doing, especially if you:

• Find your symptoms are not going away

• Experience big changes in how you feel

• Start to feel worse

Living with a substance/medication-induced mood disorder

Managing a substance/medication-induced mood disorder most likely means that you’ll need to avoid that substance or medicine, and potentially other substances, in the future. This is not always easy. You may need additional support and guidance along the way. Work with your doctor to find the best treatments. Ongoing support for a mood disorder may include:

• Therapy or visits to a mental health center

• Medicine

• Lifestyle or environmental changes

• Diet and exercise changes

• Support from family and friends

Ask for help when you need it. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free and confidential information to get help and find support.

Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, if you are struggling with thoughts of hurting yourself or others, have alcohol or drug concerns, or simply need to talk to someone. This is a free and confidential service. Counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.