the dose, taking another medication to control the side effects or trying a different medication altogether.
“We recommend that the prescribers talk to patients about their thoughts and experiences of the medications they take, paying particular attention to these issues which may stop patients from taking their meds,” Prajapati adds.
2. Difficulty Remembering to Take Medications
Sometimes we get busy and caught up in the day-to-day hassle of life and forget to take our medications. If you have an intense medication regimen, try talking with your doctor about once-a-day or extended-release medications. You may also consider trying the following:
- Keep a list
- Take your meds at the same time
- Leave yourself notes
- Use a pillbox
- Keep a calendar
- Set an alarm
- Ask your pharmacist if they have reminder tops (caps with reminder alarms for your medications).
- Turn your bottle upside down after you take your pills, then turn it upright at the end of the day as a reminder to start fresh tomorrow
3. Fear of addiction
Mood stabilizers are not considered addictive. However, if you have been taking them for months or years, your body has adjusted to them. This can result in withdrawal. The withdrawal is generally mild, however. The greatest risk of stopping medication is the return of bipolar disorder symptoms. If your doctor deems it appropriate, you will be advised to lower your dose gradually over a four to six-week period. If you feel unwell after stopping medication, your doctor may advise you to go back to your original dose or find another dose that works better for you.
4. Preference for Alternative Treatment
Many people are not fond of medication and opt to try alternative methods. Some of these methods have been supported by scientific evidence to provide benefits in treating depression, although the effectiveness is uncertain.
Alternative treatments should not be used as a replacement for medications. They should be used in conjunction with medication. Many people have reported increased benefits with combining the two together. You should always check with your doctor before starting any alternative treatments because they may interact with any medication you are already taking and cause unintended side effects.
5. Beliefs and knowledge About the Disorder
Many people have their own beliefs about what bipolar disorder is or may feed into myths causing them to try alternative methods that don’t work instead of taking their medications. Some of these myths include:
- Bipolar disorder is just mood swings, which everybody has
- Bipolar disorder can be cured through diet and exercise.
- Artists with bipolar disorder will lose their creativity if they get treatment.
- All medications for bipolar disorder are the same.
These myths can be dispelled by research on this condition and discussion with your doctor.
6. Family and Health Care Professionals
Having the right medical professional that makes you comfortable and that you can trust is essential because a lack of trust can result in you not following the medications your doctor prescribes you. This may take some time, but you should make sure you are being heard and your doctor is finding the best solution for your condition. If you don’t have that with your current doctor, keep looking until you find one you are comfortable with.
The researchers are developing a tool to identify people who struggle to take their medication and their individual reasons. They hope it will help prescribers and patients work together and offer individualized support.
Bipolar disorder may come with a lot of fear, but if you take your medications and follow a healthy regimen, it is completely functional.