Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a plant grown in the Andes Mountains, formerly used for nutritional purposes. Nowadays is used as a nutritional supplement and energizing.

To describe a case of manic episode secondary to maca consumption, as an ingredient of an energizing product.

To report on antidepressant properties of maca, based on a clinical case.

X. is a 27-years-old male without any psychiatric history. He came to the emergency service because of the presence of sudden onset behavioral disorders, presenting a manic-like episode of seven hours of evolution. His symptoms consisted in psychomotor restlessness, hyperactivity, insomnia, verbose and loud speech, hyperthymia, megalomaniac verbalizations, and unsuitable future plans. The patient had self-awareness of his symptoms and was self-critical with his behavior. He reported he was consuming an energizing supplement containing maca from about two weeks ago. Treatment with olanzapine 20 mg was initiated, and the patient remained under observation for 24 hours.

Symptomatology subsided completely after 24 hours. The patient is discharged from the hospital with diagnosis of manic episode secondary to maca, without any treatment. He was advice to not take stimulants.

There are studies reporting that maca plant has antidepressant properties, associated with the activation of noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems, as well as the attenuation of oxidative stress. However, more studies are needed to identify specific compounds that produce these effects.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.