Caffeine and Bipolar

Has anyone ever had a manic episode after drinking coffee? Could just be coincidence but yesterday after I had tea with lunch and today after I had some coffee in the afternoon, I became hypomanic and very irritable. I do notice that I seem to do fine during the day most of the time, with or without caffeine, and start getting edgy in the evening. Current medications are Zoloft and Lamictal, both taken once at bedtime.

Zoloft made me manic and irritable. Most bipolar's can't take SSRI's

I have to stay completely away from caffeine because it not only triggers mania I use it as a drug to escalate things. I haven't had a caffeinated beverage in 12 years because of this and it does help me. The drastic route is not necessary for most people but it was for me.

If I’m a bit manic caffeine makes me more so. If I’m depressed I can drink gallons of coffee and it has no effect.

Caffeine has no effect on me at all in regards to my stability.

My mood has to already be elevated for caffeine to have any effect.

Same for me

I take the same meds. I drink decaf. I can’t tolerate the caffeine level inregular coffee. Gives me a horrible, uncomfortable manic feeling.

I live off MTN dew, really that's the only thing I drink. I can drink water for a couple of days but if mtn dew enter my house I drink it until it's gone.

No. Coffee never made me manic. However, if I drink too much caffeine, my heart can race and I inevitably become anxious. There is a difference between agitated anxiety and mania. At least in my case. There's no real comparison.

Caffeine has zero effect on me or my sleep

Same here. I can drink a full pot of coffee when I'm depressed and it doesn't do a thing; the only time caffeine has any effect on my mood at all is when I'm already ramping up and I drink lots of Dutch Bros to extend the hypomania. It's not smart, I know, but it doesn't cause hypomania to escalate to mania so I don't really worry about it.

I've not had a manic episode from drinking coffee but I've noticed its made things worse mood wise, especially coupled with an irregular sleep schedule

When i am on no meds and depressed, coffee doesn't do anything, no energy at all, I might not sleep but I also won't move or do anything. My sister, who is also bipolar, she has worse manic episodes than I do ( I tend to have a lot more depression) and she had to swear off coffee completely years back, because it really had an effect on her.

Caffeine in moderation is fine for me, but I have memories making myself hypomanic by drinking six cups of coffee and staying up all night.

I think sometimes people think every mood is bipolar but sometimes we just get hyper from too much caffeine.

I have hypomania now from drinking 2 cups of coffee. This happens some days, while other times it just makes me alert not manic. It gets less severe as the day goes on. It isn't really the biggest offender of things that cause it for me. I take an antipsychotic, and trazodone for sleep. I just started taking Lamictal and it's not working yet.

I drink coffee in moderation and tea in large quantities and am fine.

Look - Lamictal can cause mania and so can Zoloft and you take both without anything to counteract them; shouldn't you first wonder about the meds and not caffeine making you symptomatic?

Best antidepressant after a couple of illegal ones.
Mix with HYDROXIcut HARDCORE three times a day, and dare to be depressed.

Cheers.

Thanks all for the replies. I think I just have to be cautious and watch my caffeine intake. Seems to be worse when I drink regular coffee vs. a latte or something less strong, so I think there is some validity to the caffeine link to my mood.

I find that instant is weaker than coffee from an espresso machine. But I also always add milk or cream.

Coffee is a drug for me. Too much definitely can push my hypomania towards mania. Same with alcohol, or pot.

It does effect my bipolar.

I like the hyponess it brings. Better than being depressed.

Caffeine is weird for me. Sometimes I can drink like 5 to 7 cups then go right to sleep afterwards. Other times it gives me an energy boost, which I often need. I think it can exacerbate things during mania, but for myself I don't think it causes it. I do have a bad habit of drinking cup after cup of it when I'm experiencing hypomania or mania in attempt to intensify the euphoric feelings though.

Yes, I believe caffeine can have negative effects, pacman_789. So I'd say be careful with it. You could also try to ask your doctor for advice. Just stay safe and take care of yourself. You should be fine. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you

Whenever I'm manic and inpatient the first thing off the menu is caffeinated tea. I complained to my psychiatrist about it. He responded caffeine when treating mania is "self-defeating". I pouted but he wasn't wrong.