Many factors have the potential to trigger manic episodes. Although mania is most commonly associated with bipolar disorder, it can also occur as a result of medication use or other illnesses.

Certain types of drugs may cause mania as a side effect of their use. Amphetamines, antidepressants (and withdrawal from antidepressants) and corticosteroids all may cause episodes of mania. Specific medications that have been associated with mania include bromocriptine (used to treat various conditions, including amenorrhea, infertility and Parkinson’s disease), levodopa (used to treat Parkinson’s disease) and methylphenidate (used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]). Cocaine and other stimulant use may also cause mania-like symptoms.

Certain diseases can also trigger manic episodes, including infections such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), influenza and the late stages of syphilis (a sexually transmitted disease). High levels of thyroid hormone and the connective tissue disease systemic lupus erythematosus also are associated with mania.

In addition, several neurologic disorders are known to be potential triggers of mania. These include:

• Brain tumors
  
  
• Head injuries
  
  
• Huntington’s disease (progressive wasting of nerve cells in the brain)
  
  
• Multiple sclerosis (autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system [CNS])
  
  
• Stroke
  
  
• Sydenham’s disease (movement disorder associated with rheumatic fever)
  
  
• Temporal lobe epilepsy (marked by seizures that cause abnormal electrical activity in the temporal lobe)