Every person is different and bipolar disorder takes many forms, each with its own set of symptoms and strength. For this reason, one person may never have to take medication, another may only have to take it for a short time, and still another may need medication their entire life. A lot depends on how the bipolar disorder shows up in you and whether or not you have other conditions that sometimes come along with bipolar disorder. As a child, you can not make your own decision on whether you need to take you medication. That choice becomes yours somewhere between the age of fourteen and eighteen, depending on where you live. It is good to understand medications and what each does so that, when you can make the decision, you can do so with understanding.
Kinds of Medications
The most likely medicine you will be given is a mood stabilizer. These medicines help even out the brain chemicals that rule moods and help keep you from having extreme highs and lows.
Some bipolar people are given anti-depressants to help with depression. These types of medications, however, are not being given as often, especially to children.
Other types of medications you may hear about are anti-anxiety and anti-psychotic medications. These often help with symptoms that are present in in some people and can be very strong.
When you are younger, your parents and a doctor makes the decision on whether you need these medications. You can, however, be a very important part of the decision-making.
Your Input Is Needed Too
Parents and doctors can see how you act when taking a certain medication, but only you know how the medication makes you feel inside. It is important that you talk with these adults and be honest about what you are feeling. If the medicine makes you feel sick or dizzy, if it makes you too sleepy or unable to sleep, you need to let the adults in charge know so they can help. If there is anything about the medicine that does not seem right it is better to mention it than let it go. Medication should make you feel better, not worse.
Things to Remember
It is important to keep taking your medication as long as a doctor prescribes it, even if you feel better and don’t think you need it. Stopping some medications quickly can cause you to go into a severe case of mania or depression. Other medications can cause very bad health problems unless they are stopped slowly. If you feel a certain medication is not helping, talk with your parents or doctor and see if they can change the medication.
Even if someone else is also bipolar, you must never take their medication or share yours with them. Each of you is different and medications that help one person may actually harm another person. Never share medication and never take more than is prescribed. You should also never take any medication that is not given to you by a nurse, doctor or your parents, unless your parents have given you permission to do so.
Maybe one day you will no longer need to take medication for bipolar disorder and that would be wonderful. However, if you should always need it, that is also okay. Nobody enjoys taking medication every day, but if it can help you live a full life, it is worth it.
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