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Can We Stop Medicines For Bipolar Disorder Inspite Of Having No Symptoms?
Question: I am having issues with my ex-husband. Before we were married he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. About 5 years into our marriage he stopped taking his meds and refused therapy claiming he was fine and didn't need it anymore. He began a career in real estate and admitted to me that he didn't feel he could make money with the meds. He says that when he returned to the doctor, the doctor said he was fine - which I doubt. Anyway, its been a roller coaster ever since. He is controlling, deceptive, and manipulative and I still think he has a problem. My question is, can such disorders go away as he claims it did?
Brief Answer:
He could be off treatment
Detailed Answer:
HI
Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query.
I think, first you should know few thing about bipolar disorder and borderline personality. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental illness characterized by episodes of an elevated mood known as mania, usually alternating with episodes of depression. During mania an individual feels abnormally happy, energetic, or excitable, but often makes poor decisions due to unrealistic ideas or poor regard of consequences and in depression, patient feels sad, does not want to do anything, feel tiredness etc. In bipolar disorder, to make diagnosis of mania or depression, we see continuous mood changes. For manic episode, mood changes should be for minimum 4 to 7 days or for depression for minimum two weeks. If a person has such kind of episodes, then we can say, he has bipolar disorder.
Now few words about borderline personality. In borderline personality disorder, patients has a pattern of marked impulsivity and instability of affects, interpersonal relationships and self image, intense fears of abandonment and intense anger and irritability, the reason for which others have difficulty understanding. People with BPD often engage in idealization and devaluation of others, alternating between high positive regard and great disappointment. Self-harm and suicidal behavior are common.
Number of time, patients with borderline personality are misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder or visa versa. I think, you have to remember, bipolar disorder is episodic illness and sometime, episode does not come for years. In that case, there is no need to take medicine for life long. If in last five years of your marriage, there is no manic or depressive episode, in that case, doctor can think about to keep him off drugs. There is no harm in it.
Rest, if he is controlling, deceptive, and manipulative, that is part of his personality and for that there is no need to give him medication. You can take help of psychologist.
In case, you need further help, you can ask.
Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
He could be off treatment
Detailed Answer:
HI
Thanks for using healthcare magic. I, Dr Abhishek Kapoor, would help you in this query.
I think, first you should know few thing about bipolar disorder and borderline personality. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental illness characterized by episodes of an elevated mood known as mania, usually alternating with episodes of depression. During mania an individual feels abnormally happy, energetic, or excitable, but often makes poor decisions due to unrealistic ideas or poor regard of consequences and in depression, patient feels sad, does not want to do anything, feel tiredness etc. In bipolar disorder, to make diagnosis of mania or depression, we see continuous mood changes. For manic episode, mood changes should be for minimum 4 to 7 days or for depression for minimum two weeks. If a person has such kind of episodes, then we can say, he has bipolar disorder.
Now few words about borderline personality. In borderline personality disorder, patients has a pattern of marked impulsivity and instability of affects, interpersonal relationships and self image, intense fears of abandonment and intense anger and irritability, the reason for which others have difficulty understanding. People with BPD often engage in idealization and devaluation of others, alternating between high positive regard and great disappointment. Self-harm and suicidal behavior are common.
Number of time, patients with borderline personality are misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder or visa versa. I think, you have to remember, bipolar disorder is episodic illness and sometime, episode does not come for years. In that case, there is no need to take medicine for life long. If in last five years of your marriage, there is no manic or depressive episode, in that case, doctor can think about to keep him off drugs. There is no harm in it.
Rest, if he is controlling, deceptive, and manipulative, that is part of his personality and for that there is no need to give him medication. You can take help of psychologist.
In case, you need further help, you can ask.
Regards
Dr. Abhishek Kapoor
Psychiatrist
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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