I'm now having MANIA after CPAP

Hi everyone. I have been using my cpap for 2 weeks now and am resting very well. Deep sleep every night. But it seems now that I am having crazy energy and it seems I am experiencing mania. I am talking to my Doc this Thursday. I am also bi polar. I am wondering that since I am getting sleep, underlying mental health issues are now going to resurface because of my heightened brain activity.

Don't get me wrong, the sleep is the best and I am so happy but scared at the same time.

CPAP solved my anxiety problems.
I also had more energy etc. and lost about 5 Kg I expect due to increased respiration efficiency.
I would hope CPAP will help solve any underlying mental issues. Reduced blood oxygen isn't good for the brain.
Please keep us posted as I haven't heard much about this issue.

jarablue wrote:Hi everyone. I have been using my cpap for 2 weeks now and am resting very well. Deep sleep every night. But it seems now that I am having crazy energy and it seems I am experiencing mania. I am talking to my Doc this Thursday. I am also bi polar. I am wondering that since I am getting sleep, underlying mental health issues are now going to resurface because of my heightened brain activity.

Don't get me wrong, the sleep is the best and I am so happy but scared at the same time.

Using cpap can change your medication needs. Getting actual sleep and O2 means you body works differently. For many it means their meds work more efficiently. Work with PCP on this.

I wish I could get some of that mania from my CPAP.


Eric

BlackSpinner has a good point. It could be that your medication needs to change, but I have another idea for you to discuss with your doctor. Maybe it's your adrenal glands.

My adrenal glands seem to be almost constantly active, and my best guess is that it's because of my untreated OSA. My half-baked theory is that because I a shot of adrenalin every few minutes to get through the night, my adrenal glands forget how to turn off. Recently, this has been more of a problem, but in hindsight, I think I've had a milder version for years. Now that I'm getting more adrenalin, and I've learned how to keep that from freaking me out, when I get even a little bit of rest, I am UP!!!. I'm not bipolar, but my current state is somewhat similar to mania. Over the last few weeks, I've been learning to function with it, and sometimes it's really quite nice, but it's a bit like riding a solid-fuel rocket. There is no way to turn it off. All you can do is steer.

Reading of other people's experiences, I wonder if I'm not the only one. It seems fairly common for people to feel great after a month or so of cpap, and then to experience a crash a month or two after which can last several months. Could it be that they feel great because they're getting some rest and still have overactive adrenal glands, and then they get tired again when their adrenal glands calm down and remain tired until their bodies fully recover and find a new balance?

If my guesses are right, rest plus adrenalin could push you to the manic side for a while. Or maybe this isn't actually mania, but the hyper-adrenalized state is similar. Perhaps a mild sedative would be useful for the next week or month. I took small doses of Valium for a couple weeks so that I could calm down enough to eat dinner and go to bed. But watch out, when you get to the readjustment and recovery period, you may wind up at the other pole, and the sedative would only make matters worse if you keep taking it.

I'd be interested to know what your doctor has to say about my guesses.

jarablue,

CPAP rarely, or maybe never, causes mania. If you google mania and cpap, you will find a few case reports, but considering the number of people with both bipolar disorder and OSA, it must be extremely rare.

Glad you are seeing your doctor Thursday, though. Please post a followup.

Yes, please let us know.
This is quite different from my feeling: just a few weeks into therapy--I was feeling a little bit 'dull'.
I may have been coming off a 24/7 adrenaline high--no idea, but it's gone now.
I was a little depressed a few weeks into my low-carb diet; I assume for the same reason; as that is also gone.
I do wonder if you had meds for the bipolar that may have brought you down a little from the apnea triggered adrenaline.
Maybe your doc will adjust your dosage. "Do not try this at home. . ."

Otter wrote:BlackSpinner has a good point. It could be that your medication needs to change, but I have another idea for you to discuss with your doctor. Maybe it's your adrenal glands.

My adrenal glands seem to be almost constantly active, and my best guess is that it's because of my untreated OSA. My half-baked theory is that because I a shot of adrenalin every few minutes to get through the night, my adrenal glands forget how to turn off. Recently, this has been more of a problem, but in hindsight, I think I've had a milder version for years. Now that I'm getting more adrenalin, and I've learned how to keep that from freaking me out, when I get even a little bit of rest, I am UP!!!. I'm not bipolar, but my current state is somewhat similar to mania. Over the last few weeks, I've been learning to function with it, and sometimes it's really quite nice, but it's a bit like riding a solid-fuel rocket. There is no way to turn it off. All you can do is steer.

Reading of other people's experiences, I wonder if I'm not the only one. It seems fairly common for people to feel great after a month or so of cpap, and then to experience a crash a month or two after which can last several months. Could it be that they feel great because they're getting some rest and still have overactive adrenal glands, and then they get tired again when their adrenal glands calm down and remain tired until their bodies fully recover and find a new balance?

If my guesses are right, rest plus adrenalin could push you to the manic side for a while. Or maybe this isn't actually mania, but the hyper-adrenalized state is similar. Perhaps a mild sedative would be useful for the next week or month. I took small doses of Valium for a couple weeks so that I could calm down enough to eat dinner and go to bed. But watch out, when you get to the readjustment and recovery period, you may wind up at the other pole, and the sedative would only make matters worse if you keep taking it.

I'd be interested to know what your doctor has to say about my guesses.

OTTER- well you've described my current state in your comment. I am a bipolar sufferer, generally leaning towards depression. Been having high cpapcompliance. 5 out of 7 nights getting 6-8hrs sleep. My adrenals are on overload, im very very jumpy/easily startled. And approaching a high level of mania. I was so hoping cpap would change my life for the better. Feeling frustrated to have developed subsequent issues though

A little louder please, he's not been here on this post in over 6 years. When you type into the WayBack machine you have to hit the keys very hard. Jim

To Bigtimetorifan: just see your doctor for advice on possible dosage adjustments.
Cpap changes hormone levels--especially when it works.
To Jim, please settle your horses.
Search engines use keywords, not dates.
Noobs may not even notice the dates of a thread.
Old threads get bumped to the front page all the time.
Most issues are timeless--we just get past them.
I was on the forum over a year before I realized that Snoredog had passed long before I joined.

I had hoped that being successful on CPAP would eliminate my need for an antidepressant, but no such luck. I tried and experienced a lot of anger/anxiety issues.

Bigtimetorifan wrote: Been having high cpapcompliance. 5 out of 7 nights getting 6-8hrs sleep.

High compliance only tells a small part of the story. Is your CPAP therapy effective? What is your AHI? Your leak level? Do you have dry mouth from using CPAP?

xxyzx wrote:

TASmart wrote:I had hoped that being successful on CPAP would eliminate my need for an antidepressant, but no such luck. I tried and experienced a lot of anger/anxiety issues.

========

sorry to hear that

maybe lsat et al could use some of your approach to get over their issues

YOU'RE the one with issues! Or, to put it in scientific terms, you're NUTS!