“My son has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Does he need medication?”
My 15 year old son has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He gives me a very hard time about taking medication as it is. Is medication the only way to manage this?
2 Answers
If he really has Bipolar Disorder, then meds are usually necessary. However, in mild cases, a simple sleeping pill when one has trouble sleeping can be enough.
Many adolescents resist taking medication, but it is usually due to either side effects or not seeing a clear benefit from the medication. His psychiatrist should be talking to him about the medication to help him understand how it helps him and to minimize or prevent any side effects he has.
As last resort, you may need to use consequences and/or rewards to get him to take them, but this should only be done at your psychiatrist's direction.
Many adolescents resist taking medication, but it is usually due to either side effects or not seeing a clear benefit from the medication. His psychiatrist should be talking to him about the medication to help him understand how it helps him and to minimize or prevent any side effects he has.
As last resort, you may need to use consequences and/or rewards to get him to take them, but this should only be done at your psychiatrist's direction.
If he has truly been diagnosed as a bipolar patient by a psychiatrist, then pharmacotherapy plus therapy is the best way to address this. Preventing a manic or hypomanic episode is the most important thing so his Mental health doesnt deteriorate
