Unable to Take Medication

I'm new to online forums of any kind. Actually, I've never even met anyone else with bipolar disorder, so I don't know how common my issues are. I've been diagnosed for 10 years now. I've taken medication in the past and it worked for the most part, until it didn't.. The trouble is that I never realize when it stops working, it doesn't really click in my mind that something's different or wrong. Anyways, I stopped taking the meds to learn how to cope on my own and recognize the changes in my mood on my own. I’ve been off the meds for a couple years now and I’ve done quite well without them with the exception of a few more serious episodes. There have been times that I’ve tried going back on the meds and I’ve found that I’m unable to take them. I get physically sick and vomit the pills up right away. I’ve tried different types and combinations, but it seems to be a psychological block or something. I even tried liquid versions of my meds –nothing works. Apart from somehow having someone slip me my own meds without my knowledge, I’m at a loss and I feel like I need to go back on them. Has anybody else had this problem? By the way, I do go to a psychologist once a week which does help to a certain extent.

I've taken medication since 2004. My problem with them is nausea, as well. I've recently discovered that by drinking a lactose free one shot latte I can take the medication without becoming nauseous. As for the medication's efficacy, well, I've always been poor at taking my prescribed regimen, thus, I'll refrain from claiming that medication doesn't work. I also don't notice when I'm ill and that can be disconcerting, especially, when it should've been obvious to me that what I'm doing doesn't make any sense at all.

Hello lochnessie, welcome to Psych Central.

Have you explained this to your doctor? I would check with the pharmacist whether you can crush your medication and either put it in your food or in a drink.

It's all psychological if I'm understanding your story correctly. You have subconsciously become this way. You take the pills and your body physically reacts by throwing up. Have you talked to your psychologist? Maybe thru therapy you could eventually retrain your brain, like a CBT kinda thing. Just my thoughts.