Improving Bipolar Disorder Medication Non-adherence
Do you ever struggle to get a person with bipolar disorder to take their medicine? The clinical term for this is medication non-adherence, and it is a common problem in the mental health field. Some patients simply refuse to take their prescriptions, or they skip doses. However, there are ways to help them and improve outcomes.
Understanding the Need for Medicine
A common complaint among caregivers and family members is that the bipolar patient does not think he or she needs medicine. They do not think they are sick, and they are often scared to take drugs. It is important for them to understand why they have been prescribed the medicine. It may take the entire team of doctors, friends and family members to convince the person to take the drugs, but it is crucial not to give up.
Understanding Medication Guidelines
Some people with bipolar disorder are prescribed multiple drugs, so confusion is easily created. They do not know how much or when to take certain pills, and they may not be able to ask for help. A family member or friend may need to step in and create clear instructions. This is the right time to turn to a pharmacist or your doctor for better guidelines. Once the instructions are given, you may have to create a laminated sheet or poster with all of the medications.
Dealing with Side Effects
Side effects are an issue with most medications, and this is often one of the reasons non-adherence occurs. People with bipolar disorder get tired of the side effects and simply stop taking the drugs. Or they feel so good they think they are cured and no longer need medication. However, this can lead to disastrous consequences. To help them, you may need to consult with the doctor and pharmacist again. They may have suggestions for different medications without the side effects, or they may change the dosage of current prescriptions. In either case, the key is not to ignore complaints from the patient because this can lead to them not taking their medicine. And once they stop taking their medication, it is very hard to get them to realize they are ill and need to continue taking their meds.
Lana Bandoim is a freelance writer and editor. Her work has been published on websites ranging from Yahoo! News to Technorati.
My personal NOTE:
In my training as a nurse and working with the mentally ill, I have found that Bipolar illness is the most difficult of psychiatric diagnosis to control but it can be done so don’t give up hope! The trick is to keep them taking their medication! A convenient way is to have the pills in pill boxes that are available at all pharmacies. Then have their medication/s organized by day/time of day, for a week at a time, ready to take. There are pill boxes with both AM & PM daily slots available also. Or if that freaks them out and looks to much like they are taking “medicine”, have them leave their pills by the sink where they brush their teeth nightly ( to take before they brush their teeth ) OR leave their pills by the coffee pot if they brew coffee every AM and take it with their first cup of joe! Seeing the medication will help them to remember to take it even when they are feeling good.
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I am bipolar amongst over mental health issues. Good article as I have a friend who refuses to get her meds adjusted and is driving everyone in the household crazy as she thinks there is nothing wrong with her. We are all concerned that she is going to have another heart attack from all the bipolar stress she is going through.
Thanks so much for sharing. I never used to
Be a big fan of medication. But I’m learning that the right medication can make a difference.
Kristen, my thought is that God give the physicians and scientists knowledge to help through medication. Yes the right medication can change your world for the better!
I have a brother who is 48 years old, I love him so much!! Since my Dad passed 3 years ago he is not taking his Bi-Polar medications or even following any kind of scheduled life. He has been court ordered into the hospital and had electric shock treatments but that has not worked. He lost his 17 year marriage and visitation with his kids. He has stolen off my Mom, and physically harmed me 3 times as I am POA and he wants more money from Mom.My poor Mom has been through so much she is now is assisted living. I have gone downhill also.The day I lost my Dad it seems I lost a brother and Mom right behind them. although she is alive , inside her is numb and depressed….I pray for all people with mental illness, sometimes people can not see it, but they are going through so much pain and agony that it hurts everyone that loves them… Sad part is there is nothing other then being there for them, that we can do….In a lot of ways mental illness is worst then a physical illness….
impulsive57 I agree that mental illness is worse than a physical one. We’ve had many things in our family and know the pain you speak of.
There is a ray of hope that with a court ordered hospital stay, if he can get the right medication and stay on it, he may improve immensely. I have seen it personally with 2 of my friends.
But I know your pain and feeling of despair. Take time for yourself even if it is only a short time. You need to feed your soul so you can go on. Are you seeing a therapist? It would help you tremendously to speak to someone about all that is going on in your life.
Keep in touch.
Reading this post was very helpful for me. I have a family member who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has really resisted the idea of medication. I am going to share this with them in hopes of easing their mind.
Kim, So a month has passed, I hope your family member is doing better whether on or off medication. But for most who have Bipolar disease medication is really needed. We just need so much more research for diseases of the brain.
thank you for such amazing information. i loved the Understanding the Need for Medicine Tip as i really feel that people sometimes just have medicines for the sake of having it and because they are told to but i always do a great amount of research before having any medicne as i believe there could be harmfull sideffects of the medecines too.
Era Light (Melissa George)
Melissa, It is true that most medications for bipolar will have some side effects but you have to weight the benefit vs the side effect. For some with bipolar, medication is the only answer. It is such a difficult disease to control.
As I work with patients trying to find what will work best for them and what they will tolerate, I realize that as frustrated as I get with the process, it doesn’t even compare to how frustrated and sometimes angry they get. As a family practice provider, a lot of my patients don’t have access to mental health so we have to work through it bit by bit together. I try to encourage my patients to become their own experts on their disease and hopefully learn enough to advocate for themselves.
Rebecca it is good advice to advocate for yourself and do as much research as you can for yourself. Bipolar is difficult disease to control even when managed by a mental health professional. It’s great they have you for support in a community without access to mental health…very hard.
This is such a hard illness to live with. Believe me, I know
Jane, I can only imagine…friends and family suffer from it. I have seen the impact and felt it. Your life isn’t easy.
This post really speaks to me because I have bipolar disorder and don’t take medicine regularly. I am afraid to take pills because my dad died of a prescription pill overdose. That has affected me for years. I simply try other ways to deal with my illness.
Hi Amy, I can understand your reservations but if you control your own pills you should be fine and feel so much better.