Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 2/6/2008

Question
Why would a person diagnosed being bipolar get off his meds on his own, whether he forgets or just feels better? I read an article once last year that said it only takes a patient once to get off his meds because of how it will make him feel, but there is a family member on wife's side that will go off his meds and problems will arise! I strongly feel he does it for sympathy, attention, or because he doesn't like something going on in his life.

Answer
Hi . . .

There are many reasons why people with bipolar disorder stop taking their medication. Among those reasons are:

1. Skipping a day or two of medication and when nothing bad happens deciding that the medications are totally unnecessary:

2. The person with bipolar disorder getting into a grandiose mode of thinking in which they believe that they know more about their situation than their doctor;

The patient becoming paranoid and suspecting the motives of the physician and the family members who support the need for medications to be taken.

I'm sure you can think of another few possible reasons.


Best regards . . .
Ivan
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