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RecurrentDepression

Substance – Induced Mood Disorder Specific Substances

David Mazoor, M.D.Published August 13, 20061 min read

Key points

  • Mood Disorders can occur in association with intoxication with the following classes of substances: alcohol; amphetamine and related substances; cocaine; hallucinogens; inhalants; opioids; phencyclidine and related substances; sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics; and other or unknown substances.
  • Some medications have an especially high likelihood of producing depressive features (e.g., high doses of reserpine, corticosteroids, anabolic steroids).
  • Mood Disorders can occur in association with withdrawal from the following classes of substances: alcohol; amphetamine and related substances; cocaine; sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics; and other or unknown substances.
  • Note that this is not an exhaustive list of possible medications and that many medications may occasionally produce an idiosyncratic depressive reaction.

Mood Disorders can occur in association with intoxication with the following classes of substances: alcohol; amphetamine and related substances; cocaine; hallucinogens; inhalants; opioids; phencyclidine and related substances; sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics; and other or unknown substances. Mood Disorders can occur in association with withdrawal from the following classes of substances: alcohol; amphetamine and related substances; cocaine; sedatives, hypnotics, and anxiolytics; and other or unknown substances.

Some of the medications reported to evoke mood symptoms include anesthetics, analgesics, anticholinergics, anticonvulsants, antihypertensives, antiparkinsonian medications, antiulcer medications, cardiac medications, oral contraceptives, psychotropic medications (e.g., antidepressants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, disulfiram), muscle relaxants, steroids, and sulfonamides. Some medications have an especially high likelihood of producing depressive features (e.g., high doses of reserpine, corticosteroids, anabolic steroids). Note that this is not an exhaustive list of possible medications and that many medications may occasionally produce an idiosyncratic depressive reaction. Heavy metals and toxins (e.g., volatile substances such as gasoline and paint, organophosphate insecticides, nerve gases, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide) may also cause mood symptoms.

Revised and edited by

David Mazoor, M.D.

Medically reviewedLast reviewed

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