Bipolar Violence - The Risk For Untreated Bipolar Disorder
One of the worst side effects of bipolar disease left untreated is the violence that comes from it. This could be the result of someone who simply stops taking their medication. When you fail to take your medications, 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 prescribed medications keep the patitent's bipolar under control, why do they become noncompliant?? 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. This is the most common excuse people give for not taking their medication. However, there are many ways to minimize the side effects of bipolar medication.
* Oversedation, nobody wants to be like they are in a fog.
* Gaining Weight: Not all bipolar medicines cause weight gain, but people use this exucse none the less.
* Sexual dysfunction. This is not a very big side effect of bipolar medication; however, it is still a fear for some people, and a reason why they won't take their medication.
* Lack of money. Many will say they cannot pay for their medicine. But there are many free sources from companies that now provide the medicines 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.
* Shame and/or Stigma: People will blame everything on society of they use their medications
* No need for it. They believe they can handle their bipolar disorder on their own, without medication.
* Cured - because they think they are cured (mostly because they're on a manic high) and don't have a need for medication.
* 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..
* Longterm effect -- people are afraid of the longterm effects of the medicine.
* 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: Some females will be concerned that their bipolar disease medicine will affect their unborn child..
* 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 may occur as a result of untreated bipolar disease. 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 have been prescribed medication for your bipolar disorder, please DO NOT go off your medication. Although there are many reasons given above for going off it, they are just excuses. No matter what the cirumstances given, they are not valid.

If you are having any difficulty, please discuss your medication issues with your doctor.Whatever you may think, do not go off your meds on your own -- this can be very risky and very, very dangerous becuase bipolar violence can cause serious harm and sometimes fatal.

Additional information can be found here for bipolar violence