Search
Most Popular Articles
- Discussion of the Human Body Defense System
- The story of the 12 animals zodiac in China
- How to Balance Your Body to Get Pregnant
- Eating Junk Food -- The Hidden Price
- How To Stop Your Cat Scratching - Get Rid Of Those Fleas
- Ski Boots -- Testing 1, 2, 3
- Wear it Up or Wear it Down?
- Cat Care, Cat Products and Cat Diseases
- Choosing a Cell Phone
- Artificial Satellite Types
7 Questions You Need to Ask About Bipolar Medication
 Category |
: Health |
 Times Read |
: 58 |
 Date |
: 31 January 2008 09:26 |
One of the most critical parts of bipolar treatment is medication. Without the correct medication, you or your loved one may go in and out of episodes without long periods of stability in between. However, even once your doctor has helped you find the right medication for you, there are still some important questions you need to ask about that drug.1. Is a small overdose dangerous?Sometimes individuals take their medications incorrectly by accident. They may take the pills too close together or take too many pills at one time. With many medications, these small overdoses dont pose a threat to your system. Other drugs are more powerful and can cause serious harm to your body if you take more than prescribed. While its never a good idea to deliberately overdo medication, you need to know what might happen if it accidentally occurs.2. Will there be withdrawal or rebound effects from the previous medication?Generally, if you are trying a new medication, then youll need to be taken off of the previous medication you were using. In some cases, something as simple as switching drugs can be quite difficult for the patient. Prescription medications can be addictive and quitting "cold turkey" can sometimes result in serious withdrawal effects, including rebound symptoms (meaning the treated condition comes back with greater intensity). Your doctor should advise you about the potential for withdrawal and/or rebound effects.3. Is there a major FDA warning about the drug?When you take any type of prescription medication, its a good idea to pay attention to the news. As weve seen in recent months, a few drugs that are being sold can cause significant problems for patients. If the FDA puts out a warning about your medication, you want to know about it so you can speak to your doctor about the potential dangers. By paying attention to the news, you can ensure that you wont be the last one to find out about these type of developments.4. Does the drug interact with any other medications/supplements you are taking?Problems with drug interaction should be taken very seriously by you, your doctor, and your pharmacist because it can cause serious health problems and even death. When you talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your prescription, make sure you tell them the names of all the medications you are currently taking, including both prescription and over-the-counter types. You should also ask about potential drug interaction difficulties between the medication and any vitamins or herbal supplements that you take regularly.5. Do you need to take the medication at a specific time each day? What happens if you dont?In many cases, the effects of your medication are determined by the time of day when you take them. For example, if you take some types of drugs too late in the evening they may interfere with your ability to sleep or to wake up in the morning easily. Make sure you talk to your doctor about exactly how you should be taking your medication, as well as the ramifications for deviating from that schedule.6. Will the drug alter your motor vehicle skills, mood, or behavior?Medications are used to treat certain problems but that doesnt mean there arent sometimes unforeseen consequences of taking the drug. Many prescriptions come with warnings about not using heavy machinery or driving a motor vehicle while taking the drugs. Doctors may also alert patients that the drug may cause them to be grumpy or to have other mood changes. Take these warnings seriously and let those around you know of the potential changes.7. What side effects should I watch for? What if the side effects worsen?Today, medications often cause mild side effects in patients, such as nausea or sleepiness. Your doctor and pharmacist should tell you what those side effects are. If they dont, you need to ask so youll know what to expect. You should also find out about potential serious side effects, such as an increase in heart attack risk or the possibility of liver damage. If you experience intense side effects after staring a drug, you should talk to your doctor immediately.
About the Author
David Oliver is the founder of BipolarCentral.com, a one-stop source of information on how to cope and deal with bipolar disorder. Sign up for one of his FREE Mini Courses on bipolar by visiting FreeBipolarCourse.com
Random Article 1 |
Random Article 2 |
Other articles in this series looked at a number of exercises, mainly from the perspective of developing a comprehensive muscle building program. Sometimes we take things for granted, especially when it comes to performing the basic exercises that constitute the core of most bodybuilders training re
|
Youve seen them a hundred times: "Before" and "After" pictures. Are you ready to be the one in the photos? Dont wait until you lose more weight. You can have an "after" picture today. Youve probably noticed that the photos from before and after a diet dont always show a great weight loss. Oh, many t
|
Random Article 3 |
Random Article 4 |
by: David Leonhardt Just when you thought you had all the fun you could possibly handle with Saddam Hussein, North Korea, Al Quaeda and the winter that just wont die, along comes SARS severe-acute respiratory syndrome. I recently fielded a call on this subject from one of my bigge |
by: Gerald Armstrong There is no known cure for breast cancer. More than 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year worldwide. Scientists dont know why most women get breast cancer, yet breast cancer is the most frequent tumor found in women the world over. A wo |