How can I stick with my medications for bipolar disorder?

Even mental health professionals get confused about the myriad options available for treating bipolar disorder. Many manic or depressive episodes are triggered from noncompliance with medication due to either inadvertent or deliberate misuse of prescribed medications. Despite the frustration of finding the right mix of medications, however, pharmaceutical treatment is still the best way to maintain balanced moods in someone with bipolar disorder.

There are simple systems for ensuring that you take your medications for bipolar disorder. These can include some of the following strategies: Create text messages to be sent to yourself periodically as a reminder. Some cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) can be programmed to send text messages at set times.

You can also use one of several software programs, such as your e-mail program (Microsoft Office Outlook or Gmail by Google, for example) to remind you, either by e-mail or phone. Set your watch or cellular phone alarm to remind you to take medications. Some people put a note on the bathroom mirror to remind them to take their medications, especially if they have to take them at morning and night, which are the two times they are most likely to be in their bathrooms.

Put a note on your front door that says, "Did you take your meds today?"Note the times for your medication dosage as an appointment in your daily calendar or PDA. Purchase a pill dispenser that helps remind you of the medication you need to take each day. A pill dispenser also facilitates taking your medication with you in your purse or briefcase so that if you don't go home on a given night or some emergency separates you from your medications, you'll always have a supply of medication with you.

For people who travel frequently, when crossing borders, it's best to keep your medications in their prescription bottles so that, if you're traveling with controlled substances such as Klonopin (clonazepam), you won't risk being arrested for importation of a controlled substance, because the prescribing information will be on the containers. Put your medications in your carry-on luggage so that in case your bags get lost, your medications won't be lost with them. A medication log (which tracks all the medications you are taking), can help motivate you to take your medications regularly while keeping track of side effects and your intake of other substances that may interact with your medications.

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