A new study examines why this happens, finding six key factors that stop people who have bipolar disorder from taking their medications. The reasons include unpleasant side effects, difficulty in remembering to take the medications, fear of addiction, and preference for an alternative treatment.

Why do people with bipolar disorder stop taking their meds?

The single most significant reason why individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder fail to take their medication is because of their lack of awareness of their illness (anosognosia). Other important reasons are concurrent alcohol or drug abuse; costs; and a poor relationship between psychiatrist and patient.

What happens when a bipolar person stops taking their medication?

If you suddenly stop taking lithium, one of the drugs most commonly prescribed to stabilize bipolar disorder moods, you can experience “rebound,” a worsening of your bipolar symptoms.

Do bipolar people stop taking meds?

Around half of people with bipolar disorder dont take their medication which can lead to a relapse of symptoms. And this can have a knock-on impact with problems at work, strained relationships with family and friends, hospitalisation, and an increased risk of suicide.

Why bipolar has no cure?

To date, scientists have neither identified the actual cause of bipolar disorder nor found a cure. The longer answer is more complicated than this, however. Although bipolar disorder has no cure, people with the condition can experience long periods during which they are free of symptoms.

Is caffeine good for bipolar disorder?

Avoiding too much caffeine may be helpful for getting good sleep, which is especially important for people with bipolar disorder. When someone with bipolar disorder is feeling depressed, extra caffeine may temporarily cause a boost in energy, and possibly mood. The problem is that caffeine can disrupt sleep.

What is the best medicine for bipolar disorder?

Youll typically need mood-stabilizing medication to control manic or hypomanic episodes. Examples of mood stabilizers include lithium (Lithobid), valproic acid (Depakene), divalproex sodium (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro, others) and lamotrigine (Lamictal).

What vitamins are good for bipolar disorder?

Vitamin C. An older study found that people with bipolar disorder have too much of the mineral vanadium, which factors into mania and depression. Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, has been observed to protect the body from damage fueled by too much vanadium.

Can I live with bipolar without medication?

In those instances, if one can consistently utilize healthy lifestyle management and good self-care, then it may be possible to maintain mood stability without medication. I have found thats usually just not the case for many with bipolar disorder.