Husband taken off bipolar meds

[boobunnies]

My husband was diagnosed in California as bipolar by the professor of psychiatry at UCLA (ie a highly qualified person), and recieved treatment. He was arrested in Tennessee when we were visiting my family (he had stopped his meds and commited a crime). They gave him his meds for 5 months in jail and did well. Then they did his forensic eval and it said 'nothing was wrong with him' and they took his meds away cold turkey. There was a lot of problems at the facility and even the reports contradict themselves, but they won't reeval him. Now he's facing trial and has turned down some very good plea bargains because he isn't thinking right. They wont put him back on his meds, even though the med staff there saw the difference in his behaviour....even the DA has asked for the drugs to be started back! I even have the rest of his prescriptions here. Help!!!!

[jokersbaby3311]

I am bipolar and it is very hard when you don't get your medication. However i have went periods of time without taking it. It sounds to me that there might be something else wrong because being bipolar should not effect his thinking judgment. All bipolar does is effect your moods it is a unbalance in your hormones which causes your emotions to go up and down and it makes you have mixed emotions but it should not effect his judgment. I would tell him to see if he can see a doctor again or maybe even another psych doctor good luck with everything.

[Olderthanmost]

I am so sorry that both you and he are having to go thru this. Everyone knows my soap box is the lack of medical attention in prisons and jails. I hate it when they give them meds and then take them away. They do my husband like that with his blood pressure pills. One week, he gets them.. The next week, he doesn't. Back and forth. I hope that someone, somewhere will step in and help your husband. Remember , we are their voice.

[yourself]

Originally Posted by jokersbaby3311

I am bipolar and it is very hard when you don't get your medication. However i have went periods of time without taking it. It sounds to me that there might be something else wrong because being bipolar should not effect his thinking judgment. All bipolar does is effect your moods it is a unbalance in your hormones which causes your emotions to go up and down and it makes you have mixed emotions but it should not effect his judgment. I would tell him to see if he can see a doctor again or maybe even another psych doctor good luck with everything.

yes, bipolar obviously effects mood, but it can have a severe and significant impact on cognition that can stray into some rather astounding psychoses. You might want to read up more, especially on bipolar I, and bipolar with psychosis. Further, just a change in mood can impact how a person views something. Somebody who's depressed sees things very differently than somebody who's manic. There's a reason that poor impulse control is a symptom of true mania.

[yourself]

Originally Posted by boobunnies

My husband was diagnosed in California as bipolar by the professor of psychiatry at UCLA (ie a highly qualified person), and recieved treatment. He was arrested in Tennessee when we were visiting my family (he had stopped his meds and commited a crime). They gave him his meds for 5 months in jail and did well. Then they did his forensic eval and it said 'nothing was wrong with him' and they took his meds away cold turkey. There was a lot of problems at the facility and even the reports contradict themselves, but they won't reeval him. Now he's facing trial and has turned down some very good plea bargains because he isn't thinking right. They wont put him back on his meds, even though the med staff there saw the difference in his behaviour....even the DA has asked for the drugs to be started back! I even have the rest of his prescriptions here. Help!!!!

What has his attorney said? Has he been appointed a Guardian ad Litem to help? Has there been a competency hearing? The standard is "know the charges against him AND aid in his defense" If his thinking is seriously distorted, he cannot aid in his defense.

[Britrdazahead13]

This is a dangerous situation that is going to affect the rest of his life; the last thing he needs is some Bozo to come into the picture and tell him he doesn't need his meds. I would rant, rave, and carry on until I got someone somewhere to listen. I am bi-polar and just one day without my meds affects me and everyone around me. If you don't believe me just ask the kids!
Seriously though... try to find someone to help you. Is there someone in your state that can advise you? I would try in his prison forum first and then go from there. Some times the older members know things the rest of us don't I hope that is the case and someone comes along and posts real soon.
Best wishes and please keep us updated.

[boobunnies]

Originally Posted by yourself

What has his attorney said? Has he been appointed a Guardian ad Litem to help? Has there been a competency hearing? The standard is "know the charges against him AND aid in his defense" If his thinking is seriously distorted, he cannot aid in his defense.

He had his competency hearing....that was why they did the forensic eval. He's just 'calm' enough to pass, but his judgement is screwy...but not in an 'in your face' type of way. As part of his plea bargain, we all agreed that it is best he stay in a little while longer BUT be given his meds and be stabalized in there and not in our home since we have a 2 year old. HE requested it!! And when I say 'we' I mean him, my, his lawyer, the DA (!!) and the judge ALL think its best BUT here in our county the JAIL is in control and noone can make them change giving his meds because they are using the old 'we have to go by his last evaluation' rule. If they had not done the forensic eval, he would still be on his meds. Even the medical DIRECTOR herself commented how much better he had done while on them. This is a seriously ridiculous situation. They won't give him the meds because of the 'rule' but yet won't let us PAY to have another eval done to override the idiotic one. I even have a whole bottle of meds but they will not give it to him. We've begged, pleaded and everything else. I warned them he is a ticking time bomb and they told me 'don't worry our guards can handle him if he gets out of line' That's like saying we're not going to give a diabetic his insulin because when he hits the ground we can give him a shot after the fact. Even his cell mate has made comments about his own safety. I've shown them letters he's written too when he's sick. I'm ready to scream.

[boobunnies]

Originally Posted by Britrdazahead13

This is a dangerous situation that is going to affect the rest of his life; the last thing he needs is some Bozo to come into the picture and tell him he doesn't need his meds. I would rant, rave, and carry on until I got someone somewhere to listen. I am bi-polar and just one day without my meds affects me and everyone around me. If you don't believe me just ask the kids!
Seriously though... try to find someone to help you. Is there someone in your state that can advise you? I would try in his prison forum first and then go from there. Some times the older members know things the rest of us don't I hope that is the case and someone comes along and posts real soon.
Best wishes and please keep us updated.

I'm just heartbroken about the whole situation. I tried for 5 years to get him to get help. His family tried all his life. I've endured untold verbal abuse and all the things that go with the condition (excessive spending, promiscuity, alcohol abuse etc). I've hung on through it all because I've seen the 'better man' inside when he's on meds. FINALLY he hits bottom and 'gets it'. Here we have a bipolar that WANTS their meds and has begged for 8 months for them! How rare is that? He wants them so bad he WANTS to stay in jail longer so he can stabalize in there so his family doesn't have to endure him stabalizing (he's one of the few that actually gets much worse for about 2 weeks when he first takes the meds, but then stabalizes very nicely) This is just heartbreaking. This d**m sickness has robbed us from so much. He's never spent a birthday or Christmas with our son, I've never celebrated an anniversary with my husband. I'm just at my wits end and I'm so tired of defending my choice to stay with my husband who is sick. What ever happened to 'in sickness and health' ?

[yourself]

Contact his attorney. If you get no joy from him/her, contact the local chapter of NAMI and see if somebody there can help you. Perhaps the threat of a 1983 civil rights law suit will get them to pay attention.

[6wolverines]

Contacting NAMI is a brilliant idea. I will consider doing that myself. My son, too, is off his medications. And with that comes the mania (self hair pulling) and utter lack of impulse control, among other debilitating symptoms. He's been off meds for who knows how long. Upon seeing him yesterday, my guess would be he's been off for as long as he's been in their custody. NAMI.....indeed. Thank you, yourself!

[only1love]

My situation was a little different than yours is but I think perhaps his lawyer can help you. My former fiance "snapped" when in the SHU for over a year. He was hearing voices, seeing things and according to his attorney, unable to understand what he was telling him and unable to assist in his own defense.

Motions were put in to postpone decisions. He was evaluated, placed on medication and seen by a psychiatrist until such time as his lawyer could deal with him. I can't make a diagnosis, but I do know that if his lawyer cannot work with him, they can ask the judge for another opinion and a postponement while they get one.

It was a very good move in our case.

[yourself]

Originally Posted by only1love

My situation was a little different than yours is but I think perhaps his lawyer can help you. My former fiance "snapped" when in the SHU for over a year. He was hearing voices, seeing things and according to his attorney, unable to understand what he was telling him and unable to assist in his own defense.

Motions were put in to postpone decisions. He was evaluated, placed on medication and seen by a psychiatrist until such time as his lawyer could deal with him. I can't make a diagnosis, but I do know that if his lawyer cannot work with him, they can ask the judge for another opinion and a postponement while they get one.

It was a very good move in our case.

I'd imagine the dx was "brief reactive psychosis" or some such. But, really the dx doesn't matter: the legal standard is: 1. does he know what's happening, and 2. can he aid in his own defense.

Mental conditions may mean that he cannot aid in his defense or understand what's going on, but so can medical conditions. So, if a guy is having a heart attack, he's sent to the hospital until he's able to understand and aid. Hopefully the appropriate intervention is rendered, and he's stabilized enough that he can come back, but if a stroke puts him in a coma, or significantly diminishes his faculties, he may never be rendered able.

Point is - before trial, and before a verdict, really, any condition, medical or psychological, can make somebody incompetent to stand trial.

One thing that can be done is his attorney can ask the judge to have a Guardian ad Litem appointed to the Defendant. The GAL can ask to have a psychiatrist, separate from the State and Defense counsel's pro, come in and render another opinion. The GAL then prepares a report based on ALL information available, and makes a recommendation to the judge. The judge can then accept of refuse any or all of the GAL recommendations. A GAL report may be enough to get the prison thinking 1983 civil rights violation and suit should it continue to deny meds. think of it as a third shrink to break the tie of the other two shrinks, and to break it in such a way that the Judge can make a recommendation, including a strong reference to potential civil suit.

[toddsmomma]

I deeply feel for you. The penal system regarding mental health is terrible at best. I agree with the last post. Get his lawyer to attempt the GAL. You are his voice as you know. So, many are falling through the cracks and these institutions are getting by with far too much, when it comes to inmates meds, etc. Bipolar can definitely effect a person's comprehension of what is going on, when not properly medicated. My son was a full blown bipolar. Personally, it is deplorable how the system is treating these inmates with mental problems. Many times the penal system only makes the inmates worse with their mental problems. I know my sorrow began, the day they got their hands on my son. My son never came home after prison the same. Today he is dead. Not trying to be negative and not all end like my story. But, my advice is to scream it from the rooftops, in order to help and save your loved one. I battled the system myself, but knowing what I know today, I would have screamed it at them. Once the system has them, they become their property. I so do not agree. They are human beings with conditions. And they are our loved ones, that have to worry ourselves crazy, when they are not being properly treated. I hope I am making some sense here. I just lost my son Todd last year. But, I trying to help. Bless you during this difficult time.

[Pabrown210]

Texas prisons have a high rate of discontinuing needed medications from those suffering from a mental illness. Why they do this is not always known of it malicious or if it is under professional judgement. There is a high amount of individuals who are malingering in order to recieve medications so they can sell them to other inmates. This causes the mental health dept to take every person under high scrunity. Although this occurs, they should not discontinue the medications that need it. The bad side is when a person places on the medical chart that the mess are not needed or that that believe the person is not mentally ill the other staff follow the past considerations. It begins a cycle that can not always be corrected.

You should try to obtain the other medical records and then send a copy to the unit he is incarcerated at. Write a letter explaining his history and request a reexamination. No guarantees on anything with prison officials but I hope this helps.

[Flagirl1960]

Originally Posted by yourself

yes, bipolar obviously effects mood, but it can have a severe and significant impact on cognition that can stray into some rather astounding psychoses. You might want to read up more, especially on bipolar I, and bipolar with psychosis. Further, just a change in mood can impact how a person views something. Somebody who's depressed sees things very differently than somebody who's manic. There's a reason that poor impulse control is a symptom of true mania.

IN TOTAL AGREEMENT with the above post. With my bipolar 1 , went off meds, paid no
mind to the consequences of my actions, incarcerated twice, became
psychotic, etc. ,Lost cognitive thinking skills, became impulsive, lawless, etc. The DSM IV and soon DSM V, shows the bipolar spectrum to include practically all other mental illnesses, adhd, add, ptsd, gad, personality disorders, alcoholism, drug abuse, which manifest in many different ways, as it depends on the individual. saying all that, being without medication
is a very dangerous situation for the patient and the LEO's. Not enough knowledge is out there or being practiced to fully
appreciate this very serious situation.
If someone agrees with a post that mimics "being off meds is "ok" or workable" is not very well read on the
illness and/or has not experienced the episodes brought on by this disease. that's just my firsthand opinion. thanks for listening.

[drizzay]

hi i am sorry to say but bi-polar does effect the jugdement of a person and cause a lot of problems my dad tried to kill his brother because of a bad med they tried on him you need to read more on it it changes a person whole wrold and the ones that live with them

[yourself]

bipolar is just like any other medical problem: there's a spectrum in the condition. Some have it really bad, some just a touch. Some respond well to medication, some do not respond to medication.

If somebody you love has bipolar, education is key, but so is effective treatment. Effective treatment does not always mean management with drugs. It does not mean the drugs that work for one person will work for somebody else, even if they are family (please don't try to share your bipolar meds with a kid, sibling, or spouse).

Bipolar, especially at the extreme ends of the spectrum, can look a lot like other diseases and medical conditions. As a result, if you suspect there's a problem, the first person you should talk with is your primary care physician. Once other physical conditions are ruled out, then a psychiatrist can be consulted for medication management, and a psychologist can be employed for other therapies. Going on drugs, going off drugs, or changes in drugs should be carefully monitored by a fully licensed an qualified professional.

The prison system is quite comfortable putting somebody with a diagnosis on the cheapest drugs within their formulary, whether they work or not. Further, adults have the ability to take or refuse any medication, psych or otherwise. Until a court order forcing medication is recorded, even a convicted criminal has the right to refuse meds.

All drugs come with side effects. All therapies have risks associated with them. Forcing a person into one treatment modality or another is a short term "fix" for a life-long problem when it comes to disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar and others. But the facts are the facts: not everybody with bipolar needs drugs. Not everybody with bipolar can actually take meds. It's like diabetes - some people need insulin to manage their diabetes. Others can manage without. Either way, it alters your lifestyle and your life significantly.

[KOAS'girl]

My man hasn't been officially diagnosed with bipolar but he goes from one extreme to another n a very short time. He gets to thinking bad things and than actually believes that I'm doing these bad things. I want to help him but don't know what to do. Does anyone have any suggestions.

[Nieves915]

Originally Posted by jokersbaby3311

I am bipolar and it is very hard when you don't get your medication. However i have went periods of time without taking it. It sounds to me that there might be something else wrong because being bipolar should not effect his thinking judgment. All bipolar does is effect your moods it is a unbalance in your hormones which causes your emotions to go up and down and it makes you have mixed emotions but it should not effect his judgment. I would tell him to see if he can see a doctor again or maybe even another psych doctor good luck with everything.

I tend to disagree that it doesnt affect a persons judgement. I have been living with a bipolar person for two years now, and prior to that my ex husband was bi polar as well. When they are not on thier meds, yes thier emotional state is as risk but thier thought patterns are different as well. they mind races. They do not think things through, as it the case with the OP's husband.
I can only speak in what I know of bi polar in my world. My husband now is not dealing well at all with jail. He thinks all the time, never resting, he is insecure, overbearing, anxious, quick to do without thinking. On his meds those characteristics are non existant.
I realize you have bi polar but I have also realize that there are many different stages of that disorder, and it affects individuals differently. If you are placed on meds for bi polar those are meds that you should be on for the rest of your life. It is not something that goes away, and it is not something you can control. its not like your having a temper tantrum and then get over it. I have dealt with the worst of it, and I can tell you that medication to ease a persons mind, and keep thier thoughts from exploding out of their head is soo important..... I think the OP had reason to be concerned. If he is not willing to take a good plea, then he is not thinking properly. Bi polar individuals usually think they are right about eveything, and tend to dismiss a lot of the reality that we live in. Its difficult to be the wife of a bi polar man. you never know what the day will bring.

[ladyK]

My son has bipolar and I agree, there are times he has no reasoning judgement. He always remembers the bad things that has happen never the good. He beleives everyone is out to get him. It's very sad.