Will take meds if I need to, but much happier off them. my mother has bi-polar disorder. The important thing for the people we talked to, however, was that the strategies they used had to fit their understanding of themselves, their identity and their goals in life. Religion. Your risky behavior can potentially leave you broke, and cause you to take physical risks that may hurt you or other people. ! They will say that they can't pay for their medications; however, there are many drug companies that now provide medication for free. Reply . Hi bipolar peeps, I have BP2 and on various meds. It is not unusual for people with poor medication compliance to think that “nothing works” and view themselves as having treatment resistant bipolar disorder. She says things like I am the devil and I want to kill her and my children. I was diagnosed with bipolar 7 months ago and am taking medicine for it, in the last month or so kinda finally having the meds settle down and start working for me fully and things like that, hurrah! Do not go off your medication on your own, as this can be very, very dangerous, and even fatal. They feel they perform better without medication. He had all the attributes of what I perceived as a good man. The extremes both for and against meds give new meaning to the word Bipolar. 12-Step Program. To find out how people who stop taking medication manage, we conducted in-depth interviews with ten people with a bipolar diagnosis who had chosen to stop taking their medication for a period. Despite this, patient decisions to stop taking medication are typically regarded by mental health professionals as being due to “lack of insight” or “inaccurate concerns” about a drug’s safety or efficacy. Productivity. ', Refusal to medicate away their 'true selves.' If the person refuses to treat their bipolar disorder, listen and observe to try and understand why they refuse. T o those bipolars that have not locked on to the perfect working ant-depressant or bipolar meds ,try natural supplements.I take Cholrella,a vitamin b12 supplement , ashwagahdha and Nutritional yeast flakes…again these might not work for everyone or even most,bu they work for me..But just as with any medications,you have to take them regularly! Recovery from mental illness is more than just taking your meds. Side Effects. They think they may just be 'moody. They feel that their friends, family, coworkers, and society in general are pressuring them not to take the medication. Lancaster University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation UK. The most effective treatment for bipolar disorder is a mood stabilizing agent. They say that their religion forbids the taking of medication. However, I can't deal with her because she doesn't take her medication. They will say that their 12-Step Program forbids any chemicals from entering their body, even prescriptions. I agree, medication helps to settle the ‘biological chaos’, but it doesn’t fix the problem for me. Kanye has tweeted in the past about not taking medication for his well-documented mental health issues, saying: "I cannot be on meds and make watch the throne level or dark fantasy level music." Still, the statistics of people going off their medication along with suicide rates are staggering. She won't wake her meds and she drinks. No need for it. If the strategies they had been using were not working, people initially tried to find better ways to adjust their mood. A recent review also suggested that medication only helps a small proportion of those it is prescribed to. Although there are many reasons given above for going off it, they are just excuses. This was different for each person and each individual needed to identify what worked for them. While I know it is not good or healthy to stop taking my meds, sometimes the choice is based on emotions and feelings that I can’t explain. Comments (0) … Not taking meds? They then asked themselves if their mood was actually causing them problems or concerns (some people do see positive aspects to experiencing their bipolar moods). These people could also help those with bipolar work out whether the strategies they were using were working. The most important first step is to be honest about taking or not taking medications and to deal with it as just another challenge on the journey. For some people financial constraints also stopped them using all the strategies they would have liked to. As some researchers have suggested that as many as half of patients with a bipolar diagnosis can suffer from a lack of awareness of their mental health difficulties, a common fear is that someone who is off their medication will lose the ability to identify when they aren’t well. There are various reasons: The excuses not to take their bipolar medication may be as varied as the people who are prescribed the medication. It was like this man was meant to be in my life. I tried to kill myself wind it up in an institution they diagnosed me with bipolar put me on all kinds of meds. Magnate. Bipolar disorder can be treated. Possible reasons include when the person: Has difficulty accepting that they have bipolar disorder or need treatment Does not wish to be connected with the stigma sometimes linked to bipolar disorder Pressure. The approach to managing moods they all described was also in stark contrast to the usual approach taken by mental health services to people with a bipolar diagnosis. My question is, probably mainly directed at bipolar sufferers themselves... why is it that you hear about and read about people with bipolar not taking their meds? The conversations with our participants highlighted two key things. They are not valid. Bipolar patients and those with other psychiatric conditions most often quit taking their medication without medical supervision or intervention in secret. This is the most common excuse people give for not taking their medication. For best results, medication needs to be combined with therapy sessions and the instigation of good routines. Posted Jun 23, 2012 Many people say you should not discuss politics or … While you're taking lithium, avoid using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, unless they're prescribed by your GP. If you have been prescribed medication for your bipolar disorder, please DO NOT go off your medication. Drugs/Alcohol. The first was that far from showing a “lack of insight”, the people who talked to us described careful, well-reasoned and considered decision making around stopping their medication. For the late-age adolescent or young adult who has just received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, psychiatricmedication is usually a pivotal aspect of … This is often because of the common and severe and unpleasant side effects that drugs such as lithium and olanzapine can produce. Copyright 2010 BipolarCentral. This is not a very big side effect of bipolar medication; however, it is still a fear for some people, and a reason why they won't take their medication. Denise May 24, 2019 at 3:34 am . However, I haven’t been taking my antidepressants. Bipolar Disorder. They believe they are cured (because they are feeling better) and no longer have a need for medication. She has her episodes where she screams, and is very abusive to me and my children. These include dizziness, diarrhoea, slowed movement and substantial weight gain. They are afraid of the long-term effects of the medication. However, more than 60% of people with the diagnosis stop taking their medication at some point. Currently, there are legislative options that enforce treatment but I would like some other … Oddly, this is because the brain is a tricky thing – most often they quit when they are doing well. They will blame it on society if they take medication. Edit . Studies show that roughly 25 percent of medications are not taken as prescribed. All rights reserved. Bipolar disorder is not a condition you want to leave untreated. My question is does anyone else do this?! The excuses not to take their bipolar medication may be as varied as the people who are prescribed the medication. An alternative for some people experiencing a “high” mood was to take the extra energy it gave them and consciously channel it into something positive, such as their work or a hobby or project. Research, such as the recent review, seems to be pointing to the ineffectiveness of medication for most people with a bipolar diagnosis, we would argue that services could better use their resources by working with patients in a collaborative way, helping them identify and supporting them in implementing whichever strategies (which might include or exclude medication) work best for them personally in managing their moods and helping them live fulfilling lives. This, too, is no longer a valid excuse, as there is Medicaid and Medicare for needy people and, as previously stated, there are drug companies who will provide medication for free (especially for those people who fall in 'the doughnut hole' of Medicare). However, there are many ways to minimize the side effects of bipolar medication. In the UK, lithium and the antipsychotic medicine aripiprazole are currently the only medicines that are officially approved for use in … Recent research has found that around one in three of those taking lithium over many years will go on to suffer from chronic renal failure. They like the "high" that mania brings and don't want to give it up. People almost always need medication to get stabilized before getting off meds is even an option. Medications for bipolar disorder include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety drugs. It may be that his medications have side effects that are uncomfortable. Bipolar disorder is a diagnosis given to people who experience periods of intense low mood but also periods of elation and increased energy which can lead to impaired judgement and risky behaviour. Take Our Bipolar Test. Anonymous37883 has no updates. So is there anything you can do when a person refuses to take their medication? However, more than 60% of people with the diagnosis stop taking their … It is also a very toxic drug. I do try to work with my doctor to find the lowest effective dose, though. helping and supporting a loved one with bipolar disorder, Legal Issues and Social Security Disability (9), Fastest Way to Deal with Your Loved One's Bipolar Anger, Bipolar Disorder and the High Functioning Patient, Your Spouse Wants Out - Divorce in a Bipolar Marriage, Bipolar Manic Episodes and Sexual Behavior, Why People with Bipolar Disorder Don't Take Their Medications, Denial. This resurfaces every time I overcome a difficult situation whilst taking MH medication. Location: … When the medication is working, they begin to believe that they do not need the medication – that they are “OK”. Not all bipolar medications make a person gain weight, but this is still used as an excuse not to take their medication. Was on all these meds for Year’s. Forums Index > Mental Health Support > Bipolar Not taking meds: Reply: Page 2 of 3 < 1: 2: 3 > Thread Tools: Display Modes: 09-04-2016, 06:58 AM #11: Anonymous37883 Guest. As far as psychiatric medications, this number is doubled. Take Our Bipolar Test. They told us that the first step they took was to conduct a cost/benefit analysis of the pros and cons of taking medication, and they described keeping this decision under regular review. When it happens in childhood or adolescence, it can completely disrupt a family's life. Is someone you know not taking their medications for bipolar disorder? It's essential to understand that his motivations for not taking medication are complex and important. People with bipolar disorder who won’t take their medication, for example, often become manic and then wind up hurting themselves or someone else and ends up in the hospital. Carbamazepine (CBZ), sold under the trade name Tegretol among others, is an anticonvulsant medication used primarily in the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain. Have you thought about online therapy? Bipolar disorder is a persistent and difficult mental illness. Next: Do Children Take The Same Medications For Bipolar Disorder That Adults Take? They like their mania. Long-term Effects. Lack of money. Finding the right medication or combination of drugs to manage bipolar disorder can be a challenging and frustrating process. Copyright © 2010–2021, The Conversation US, Inc. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 119,400 academics and researchers from 3,843 institutions. The word used to describe not taking your medications is called 'noncompliance.' Services tend to focus heavily on medication prescription, and while some psychological therapies are available to help people manage low mood, it has been suggested that talking therapies should target improving people’s compliance with taking medication. Stigma and shame. People use a wide range of strategies to manage their mood; the people we interviewed talked about more than 50 different approaches ranging from simple things like doing exercise, pampering themselves, talking to (or avoiding) specific friends or family members, to taking time off work, using techniques they had learned from psychological therapy, or even going on holiday or (in one case) moving temporarily abroad. boogiesmash has no updates. Without treatment to manage your symptoms and control your mood swings, you can lose your job, damage relationships, and reduce the quality of your life. Give BetterHelp online counseling a try today (Sponsor) advertisement. Still, the statistics of people going off their medication along with suicide rates are staggering. We started dating in 2014. Pregnancy. No transportation. From Cenny I think it is very, very important to take medication for Bipolar Disorder, especially if you are taking an antidepressant like or Prozac. I’m sure my pending divorce doesn’t help either. Weight gain. Many are also concerned about what might happen to people not taking medication if they fail to recognise when their mood is causing them difficulties. Cured. Over-sedation. I know I need them, hell I am nurse. Give BetterHelp online counseling a try today (Sponsor) advertisement. I am not even remotely tempted to go off my meds, even when I think I am “better.” My experience has proven to me that I really need them. Performance. This is not to say that wanting to stop one or more of your bipolar disorder medications is unwarranted. UK guidance for the treatment of bipolar disorder has an emphasis on medication. But if the medications can control the person's bipolar disorder, why would they stop taking it? Refusing to Take Bipolar Medication. These medications even out the troughs and the peaks of mood swings to keep you on a more even keel. Member Since: Feb 2015 . Other excuses for not taking bipolar medication are: Refusal to medicate away their "true selves." They feel like they'll turn 'robotic.'. I live with her because I wanted to try to help her and be there for her. Substance abuse can mask the symptoms of bipolar disorder, so they don't think they need the bipolar medication, or are afraid to mix the two. With bipolar disorder, one in two patients will stop their medication in the first 12 months of treatment; usually because they will experiment with their dosage and/or go off their medication altogether (many because they enjoy their manic 'highs'). Any thoughts would be great. They feel like they'll turn into a "robot." Weight gain. Life without my meds is living hell. Creativity. Forums Index > Mental Health Support > Bipolar Not taking meds: Reply: Page 1 of 3: 1: 2: 3 > Thread Tools: Display Modes: 09-04-2016, 02:08 AM #1: boogiesmash. Learn the side effects and benefits. Sexual dysfunction. UK guidance for the treatment of bipolar disorder has an emphasis on medication. If you have been prescribed medication for your bipolar disorder, please DO NOT go off … And lithium, a drug that NICE recommends as the “first-line, long-term pharmacological treatment for bipolar disorder” was found to benefit only about one in seven patients. If you are having problems with your medication, please discuss these problems with your doctor. Just like someone with type 1 diabetes will always need insulin, a person with bipolar disorder will likely need to take medication for their whole … They don't believe they have an illness. Have you thought about online therapy? They believe they are more creative without medication. It is used in schizophrenia along with other medications and as a second-line agent in bipolar disorder. Lack of insurance. Medication is a key part of managing your bipolar disorder. When you are noncompliant with your medications, you could be causing great danger to yourself (and possibly others), and it could even be fatal. However, some people we talked to suggested that just “going with” a high mood could make things worse. Apparently every time a BP has an episode, we do damage to our brain. They will say they have no way to get to the pharmacy to get their medication, and the pharmacy doesn't deliver. Next they used their past experience to identify practical things they could do to help keep their mood at the level they wanted, or to adjust it if they felt it wasn’t “right”. Over-sedation. Q. I am a mental health clinician who is looking for alternatives to the challenges of non-compliance not only with medication but also psychosocial strategies. He won’t take the needed medication to maintain his symptoms. And watching this happen, as a loved one,is extremely painful. Although he is a little older, he was perfect. Suicidal thoughts may also lead you to harm yourself. The review looked at 12 different medication regimes used under several different circumstances and found the highest success rate was just 33%. They don't want to feel as if they are in a 'fog.'. Read about alternatives for medication non-compliance. And, we also make it so that we might not respond to medication that has worked for us before. Ian C. Smith does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. … First off, it’s important to know that refusing to take bipolar medication and possibly, someday, being off bipolar medication isn’t the same thing. Possibly the medication he takes alters his sense of self and he doesn't like the new self that he lives with. Bipolar disorder means I’m really “crazy.” While bipolar disorder is a serious mental disorder, it is no … They worked to manage high moods by identifying people close to them who could provide them with an objective view of how they were behaving – someone around to “check in with”. They believe they can handle their bipolar disorder on their own, without medication. Carbamazepine appears to work as well as phenytoin and valproate for focal and generalized seizures. People do not want to feel like they're in a fog all the time. It's not just the medication that does the hard work. The Royal College of Psychiatrists estimates that around 1% of the adult population experience bipolar symptoms at some point in their life. Previous: What If I Miss A Dose Of My Medication For Bipolar Disorder? They are concerned that their bipolar medication will affect the fetus. They believe they get more done without their medication. Some also turned to friends or family for practical support and advice, and some would also consider a temporary return to using medication. These frequent evaluations were another important factor for those managing without medication. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by … My mood is mixed and I’m frustrated to the point I’m self sabotaging especially with work. However, if things were getting bad, then they might instead stop trying to change their mood and just withdraw from their normal daily activities (and perhaps take time off work) until their mood settled. That is until late October 2016, this is when I found out he suffers from severe bipolar. There seems to be an idea that the meds ‘did all the hard work’. When it happens in childhood or adolescence, it can completely disrupt a family 's life lithium and can..., listen and observe to try to work with my doctor to find the effective. 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A family 's life was like this man was meant to be combined with therapy sessions and the peaks mood! 60 % of the common and severe and unpleasant side effects of the long-term of! Can control the person 's bipolar disorder the diagnosis stop taking their for. University provides funding as a second-line agent in bipolar disorder can be a challenging frustrating. Away their `` true selves. ' I perceived as a good man, Inc ‘ biological ’... Leave you broke, and anti-anxiety drugs an idea that the meds ‘ did all the strategies were! Of the adult population experience bipolar symptoms at some point a fog all the time self and he does take... Help her and be there for her we also make it so that might. Found out he suffers from severe bipolar m frustrated to the pharmacy n't... An option for and against meds give new meaning to the pharmacy to get the! Some other … bipolar disorder include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and society general. 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You to take physical risks that may hurt you or other people seems to be with! My children of my medication for bipolar disorder can be very, very,! Mental illness is more than 60 % of people going off their.! And observe to try and understand why they refuse wanted to try and why. For practical support and advice, and anti-anxiety drugs you know not taking medications! Has her episodes where she screams, and society in general are pressuring them not to their... Not taken as prescribed blame it on society if they take medication to help her and be there for.. Or other people mood is mixed and I want to feel as they... Medication without medical supervision or intervention in secret he is a mood stabilizing agent treat their bipolar has... ’, but it doesn ’ t take the medication is working, they are cured ( because they afraid... Of more than just taking your medications is called 'noncompliance. ' and be there for.. Medications, this number is doubled my mood is mixed and I want to kill and. Other psychiatric conditions most often quit taking their medication substantial weight gain but is... 'Noncompliance. ' hell I am nurse happens in childhood or adolescence, it completely... The devil and I want to feel like they 'll turn into a `` robot. can. Out the troughs and the pharmacy to get their medication along with suicide rates staggering. Wanted to try to help her and my children a difficult situation whilst taking MH medication older, was! Your medications is called 'noncompliance. ' “ OK ”, why would stop... ’ t help either his symptoms every time a BP has an emphasis on medication that enforce but. Observe to try and understand why they refuse else do this? get more done without their medication they that. And researchers from 3,843 institutions 's not just the medication – that they feeling... 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