Bipolar Medication- Should You Take It?
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008Many patients are tempted to stop taking their bipolar medication when they start to feel better, and truthfully, if your medication is working for you, that is the absolute LAST thing you should do. Bipolar disorder is generally an recurring disorder, and each time a patient suffers an episode, it is that much harder to get back on track and treat effectively. Un treated or poorly treated bipolar disorder can create lasting damage to a persons nervous system, which would end up making recovery 10 times more difficult, if not impossible.
Patients who are tempted to stop taking their bipolar medication should stop to think for a moment. Bipolar disorder affects judgment, especially during a manic phase. Despite the fact that you feel better now, and are feeling happy, stopping your medication would be a mistake that would land you right back where you were, and struggling all the harder to over come your disorder. Why derail all that progress?
A good way to keep yourself on the right path, is to create a checklist of your life before medications, and your life after. Was your life better or worse? In what ways does your bipolar medication effect you? How does it help you? Also, remind yourself what life is like when you are off meds, and enlist your family to keep you on track. An alternative to stopping bipolar medication, is speaking to your doctor about possibly reducing your dosages, and see how you do.
Also always keep in mind that stopping bipolar medication abruptly can result in some serious withdrawal symptoms, including pain and suicidal thoughts. Why put yourself back into such a dark place unnecessarily? Take your bipolar medication instead.
