Bipolar Violence - The Sad Result For Many Non-Treated Bipolar Disease Patients

One of the worst side effects of bipolar disease left untreated is the violence that comes from it. This could be a self-caused treatment failure. The medical term used to describe for this self faliure is called "noncompliance."When you stop taking your medicine, you increase the chances of bipolar violence and can cause great danger to yourself and others.

Medical studies have shown that approximately 25 percent of prescribe medicines are not taken. When it comes to psychiatric medicines, this number can be doubled. For bipolar disease, nearly 50 percent of bipolar patients will stop medication in the first year of treatment; usually because they will experiment with their dosage and/or go off their medication altogether (mostly because they enjoy their "highs" while manic).

But if the medications can control the person's bipolar disorder, why would they stop taking it? These are some of the excuses:
> Denial. They don't believe they have an illness. They think they may just be "moody."
* Refusal to medicate away their "true selves." They feel like they'll turn "robotic."
* Side effects is the most common excuse given for people who stop taking their medicine. However, there may be several effective ways to deal with side effects and keep them to a minimum..
* Oversedation - perople do not want to feel like they're in a fog.
* Weight gain: Many use this excuse even though not all bipolar medications cause weight gain.
* Sexual performance - Although not a side effect of most bipolar disease medications, it's still used as an excuse to stop taking prescribed medications.
* Lack of money. They will say that they can't pay for their medications; however, there are many drug companies that now provide medication for free.
* Lack of insurance. 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).
* No transportation. They will say they have no way to get to the pharmacy to get their medication, and the pharmacy doesn't deliver.
* Stigma and shame. They will blame it on society if they take medication.
* No need for it. They believe they can handle their bipolar disorder on their own, without medication.
* Cured - Some think they are cured and no longer need medicines.
* Alcohol or Drugs: Abuse of these substances can mask the real symptoms of bipolar disease. People often think they don't need the medication or are afraid to do both..
* Long Term effects - some persons are worried about long-term effects of medication
* Pressure: Some people feel that their family, friends or co-workers (or society in general) are pressuring them not to take their medicine.
* Religion - people say their religion prevents them from taking medicines..
* 12 Step Programs: Some patients will say that their program prevents them from taking any chemiclas, even prescribed ones..
* Pregnancy, is often used by some women who are worried that their prescribed medications will affect their unborn fetus..
* Performance. They feel they perform better without medication.
* Creativity. They believe they are more creative without medication.
* Productivity. They believe they get more done without their medication.

Bipolar Violence can be the result of untreated bipolar disorder. However, the excuses not to take bipolar medication may be as varied as the people who are prescribed the medication. Yet, the statistics of noncompliant patients along with suicide rates are staggering..

If you are prescribed medicine for your bipolar disease, please Do Not become noncompliant. There are many reasons given for stopping, but they are just excuses. No matter how you look at it, the excuses are not valid.

If you are having problems with your medication, please discuss these problems with your doctor. You should never stop taking prescribed medications without discussing them first with a professional health provider -- this is very, very dangerous, and the resultant bipolar violence can cause serious bodliy injuries or even death.