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Medication Noncompliance

By Michele Soloway

Probably the biggest problem when dealing with bipolar disorder is medication noncompliance. This is the term used for the failure to take medication.
The failure of those with bipolar disorder to take prescribed medications (usually antipsychotics and/or mood stabilizers) is probably the most serious problem in their course of treatment. It often leads to relapse of symptoms, rehospitalizations, homelessness, jail or prison, episodes of violence, and/or loss of job, family and relationships.
Although bipolar at present has no cure, it is controllable with medications and therapy; however, if the bipolar sufferer does not take his/her medication, it is not overly dramatic to say that "all hope is lost."

Current statistics state that up to 20% of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder will, without proper medication, commit suicide. That percentage is even higher, taking into consideration those unreported cases, and undiagnosed or misdiagnosed cases.

One of the biggest reasons given by people with the disorder for medication noncompliance is either not filling prescriptions at all or stopping medications due to the cost of those medications.

I cannot stress enough the importance of medication compliance; of taking your medication religiously, no matter how good you feel, or no matter how much you think you don't need it. I lost my own sister to suicide because she went off her medications, and I firmly believe had she stayed on them, I would still have her today.

There are resources available for people who cannot afford their medications:

1. Your psychiatrist: Very often, your psychiatrist is provided samples by the drug manufacturers and can provide them to you for free. If you ask, he/she may be able to help you by providing free samples.
2. The drug manufacturer: Some drug manufacturers have what is called the "Compassionate Use Program." If you call them directly, they will tell you if they provide it for the medication you have been prescribed, if you are eligible, and what the process is. You will need your doctor's or psychiatrist's assistance, but if you are eligible, they will provide it to you for free.
3. Canadian-based companies: Because of their health care system, Canadian pharmaceutical manufacturers can offer medication at a lower rate than in our country. These companies can be found on the internet.
4. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance: Described below.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) is a coalition of biopharmaceutical research companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations, and community groups that have come together to form the largest private-sector program to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that is right for them.

By calling 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669), patients can learn whether they may be eligible for one or more patient assistance programs. A trained specialist will ask a series of short questions and help identify the right patient assistance program for them.

Patients can also visit the program's user-friendly web site, www.pparx.org, which will guide them through the application process.

Though each patient assistance program has its own eligibility criteria, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance encourages anyone who does not have prescription coverage and has trouble affording their medicines to call 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) or visit www.pparx.org to see if they may qualify for one or more programs.

About the Author

Michele Soloway has dealt with bipolar disorder from a very young age. Her grandmother, mother, herself, and her teenage son all have the disorder. She also lost her sister to suicide because of bipolar disorder. Michele has a blog for bipolar survivors at http://bipolarsurvivor.blogspot.com, and is also a contributing writer to www.bipolarcentral.com.

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Featured Article:

Being the Ultimate Perfectionist

                                                           By Michele Soloway Sexton

I am the ultimate perfectionist.  Yes, me.  I even got a fortune cookie one time that said, "You have a yearning for perfection," do you believe that?"  Even Confucius knows it!

But it's a real battle for me.  I expect things from myself that I would never expect from anyone else, and it really messes with my bipolar disorder, because, well, no one's perfect, and no one can live with that kind of stress.

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It's ok to make mistakes.  That's what I've been learning.  If you don't learn that, you'll be bound up in fear (another thing that's bad for our bipolar disorder). 

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