Frequently, during periods in which I'm not feeling so well, I forget to take my meds for many days at a time. I have forgotten the meds almost every day for a week now. It's not the end of my psyche, as I was on a relatively low dose (5 mg Zyprexa), but it does make me unbalanced and I'm feeling hypomanic-y and agitated, which is also business as usual. So naturally I'm wondering "will this bad habit screw up my brain even more?". And I'm back to the "I'm not sure I need my meds, in fact I think I'm much better off without them". Actions & consequences. What I can't figure out though is where to go from now. Yes, my meds help me, etc., but I don't want brain damage and I don't want withdrawals, and I'm not yet ready for the giant project which is finding a new psychiatrist who is willing and able to see me. I don't need someone to tell me to take my meds, I need someone to tell me why the heck I can't learn a simple routine and whether this inability of mine to learn simple things could eventually damage the grey thinking mush.

[comicgeek007]

I'm in the same boat. I guess I'll take my meds when I remember just to avoid withdrawal, but after the bs last night getting told there was no way I actually had a pdoc appointment and I won't be able to get one for another month, part of me wants to go back to not taking meds

[Turtleboy]

hmm is the brain damage you are talking about come from taking the meds or not taking them? i often forget mine for a week at a time i only notice when i start getting dizzy spells, i wasn't aware not taking your med's could cause this problem, it seems quite alarming,
on the routine side of things i find setting a time on my phone help remind me (when i actually set it)
when i hear that tone i know its medicine time, hope it helps a little man

[Peeps]

I use a dose tray thingie I bought at CVS. Seriously, like $5. It has a slot for AM and for PM, Sunday thru Saturday. It helps me to remember to take my meds by setting it on the counter, next to my coffee pot. That way, anytime I'm in the kitchen, it's there and I can clearly see if I've taken that dose for the day. I usually set it up every Sunday night.

As for causing problems by not taking your meds. Some meds take a little time before they start working... to get in your system, I guess. By skipping doses, consistently, it would seem you'd be keeping yourself from getting a regular dose, meaning getting treatment from those meds.

[A Red Panda]

I'm terrible with remembering things for a consistent time. Even with my birth control pills. I got into the habit of just taking it when I wake up - because I typically wake up around the same time every day!

I just decided to add vitamins and now sertraline to that same morning routine. The issue is when I wake up insanely early (like today, I woke up at 2am!) I'll forget. So I leave my phone alarm on, and when it goes off I'm like "Oh yeah. THIS is when a sane person wakes up... time to get the pills and breakfast!"

Also: they're all sitting on the counter. Not in any cupboards. It's just me at home, so I've got them sitting somewhere where I CAN'T miss them! (I used to just keep my birth control pills sitting on my nighttable, or next to my toothbrush..)

[Confusedinomicon]

If I have to take morning meds I always forget. However, if I take meds at night, I never forget.

It took me like 3 years to get into the habit of remembering to take meds. I only forget now if I don't fill my prescriptions and have 2-3 days before I can get it. >_>

Even if I feel better, I just take the meds regardless. My pdoc is right...practically everyone takes some kind of medication now. My pdoc takes 10+ supplement pills a day.

[BlackPup]

It's hard to remember to take them when you're feeling bad. I use a dossette box to hold a weeks meds. I used to have to set alarms on my phone to remember to take them. Otherwise you could take them when you brush your teeth or something. Though I often forget that when I feel bad.

There is a theory that episodes damage your brain so if that's right not taking meds could be bad for your brain. But it's just a theory.

Originally Posted by Turtleboy

hmm is the brain damage you are talking about come from taking the meds or not taking them? i often forget mine for a week at a time i only notice when i start getting dizzy spells, i wasn't aware not taking your med's could cause this problem, it seems quite alarming,
on the routine side of things i find setting a time on my phone help remind me (when i actually set it)
when i hear that tone i know its medicine time, hope it helps a little man

From forgetting to take them. I've heard about the theory that episodes gradually worsen the bipolar illness, and episodes, at least in my case, often come when I forget to take the meds for a few days. Also, when I tapered off Zyprexa last time I got some ataxia (spasms mostly in neck, arms, upper body) that lasted for a few weeks, so I'm worried that this could progress since my blood levels of Zyprexa are very unstable. I can't make up my mind if these meds are a good thing or a bad thing, but I remembered them the last two nights now and I do feel much better already.

I think I'm going to find an alarm clock, since I usually have my phone on silence mode or it's out of power. Maybe that will make it a little easier. Thank you!

Originally Posted by Peepshowgirl

As for causing problems by not taking your meds. Some meds take a little time before they start working... to get in your system, I guess. By skipping doses, consistently, it would seem you'd be keeping yourself from getting a regular dose, meaning getting treatment from those meds.

But I'm worried about the withdrawals, since they seem to cause episodes sometimes. I wonder if there have been studies on how med compliance and prognosis are related in bipolar illness? That sounds like something I should check out. Dose trays are great, I have two! I can't do the kitchen thing though, since I take mine before bed time and don't frequent the kitchen at that hour. But thanks for the tip! I'll probably do that if I get morning meds. I think I'll try having a bowl of pills somewhere I can see them, to help remind me. I guess that could work?

Originally Posted by BlackPup

It's hard to remember to take them when you're feeling bad. I use a dossette box to hold a weeks meds. I used to have to set alarms on my phone to remember to take them. Otherwise you could take them when you brush your teeth or something. Though I often forget that when I feel bad.

There is a theory that episodes damage your brain so if that's right not taking meds could be bad for your brain. But it's just a theory.

Yeah I forget/skip brushing my teeth too. Maybe I should have bowls of pills everywhere, so I can't miss them.

Thanks for all the replies people!

I have those little Sun-Sat pill containers. One for the morning, and one for the night meds. That helps me remember. My problem is that once I start feeling better, that little voice in my head says "I don't need them," and I stop taking them. Then 6 or so months later, I'm back into that evil up and down cycle.

[EBD8]

Originally Posted by Mandrec

Frequently, during periods in which I'm not feeling so well, I forget to take my meds for many days at a time. I have forgotten the meds almost every day for a week now. It's not the end of my psyche, as I was on a relatively low dose (5 mg Zyprexa), but it does make me unbalanced and I'm feeling hypomanic-y and agitated, which is also business as usual. So naturally I'm wondering "will this bad habit screw up my brain even more?". And I'm back to the "I'm not sure I need my meds, in fact I think I'm much better off without them". Actions & consequences. What I can't figure out though is where to go from now. Yes, my meds help me, etc., but I don't want brain damage and I don't want withdrawals, and I'm not yet ready for the giant project which is finding a new psychiatrist who is willing and able to see me. I don't need someone to tell me to take my meds, I need someone to tell me why the heck I can't learn a simple routine and whether this inability of mine to learn simple things could eventually damage the grey thinking mush.

After over 20 years of doing the same thing I can tell you that you are only playing with fire. If you have had the opportunity to read any books on bipolar they are adamant that people can go up to years without evidence of swings from manic, hypo-manic or depression. I can tell you from experience that what you think you may be experiencing can change before you are aware of it and you are in trouble with either the law, family, or losing a job or all three. You don't mention your age so I'm not sure of your situation. I just know that I personally I have many regrets. When I felt my best is when I got in the most trouble. I can only speak for myself. I probably wouldn't be responding if I just didn't go through this in early May when I started drinking vodka, something that I had done before without trouble and within 2 hours if not for my girlfriend, police and paramedics I would not be here. I spent 5 days inpatient, started on different medication and am stable again. I did it the hard way. I knew, knew, knew that I needed my meds adjusted weeks before and didn't go. It's just not worth anymore for me. I have 3 daughters and 3 grand children. I can't do this to them or myself any more. Trust that doctors and researchers are looking for newer medications with less side effects. Find a good support group. Find a friend or family member you can trust and confide in them. What ever you do. Stay with you meds. I know it sucks. For me it's just not worth the risk. I'm 54 y/o. don't make the same mistakes I did. BOL