Is it a sin to not take my meds?

[Holly3278]

Hi everyone. Is it a sin to not take my medicine? My doctor has me on anti-depressants and one other medication. I don’t like to take them however and haven’t been taking them for over a month. So, I was just wondering, is not taking my medication sinful? Could it be mortally or gravely sinful?

 

[LilyM]

You do have a duty to look after your health, both mental and physical. Your doctor prescribed those medications for good reason. To not take them without serious reason is likely sinful, the extent of the sin depends on other factors (what illnesses are being treated, what the effects are of not taking them and so on).

If you don’t like your medications, the proper course is to go back to the doctor and tell him or her, perhaps alternatives can be found that will work better for you, and not just to stop taking them. Even if you’re having really major side effects, you really ought to discuss it with a doctor before stopping.

 

[Holly3278]

You do have a duty to look after your health, both mental and physical. Your doctor prescribed those medications for good reason. To not take them without serious reason is likely sinful, the extent of the sin depends on other factors (what illnesses are being treated, what the effects are of not taking them and so on).

If you don’t like your medications, the proper course is to go back to the doctor and tell him or her, perhaps alternatives can be found that will work better for you, and not just to stop taking them. Even if you’re having really major side effects, you really need to discuss it with a doctor before stopping.

I understand what you’re saying. Thanks for your advice.

That said, I have borderline personality disorder, major depression, and anxiety disorder. When I don’t take my medicine, I often feel suicidal multiple times per week, especially during stressful times.

As for not wanting to take my medicine, it’s not because of side effects or anything like that. It’s just that I don’t like the hassle of trying to remember to take them all the time.

 

[Trishie]

Holly, you do need to take your medications if your doctor advises. St Alphonsis Ligouri said that we should do as our doctor asks. And I’ve read in scripture also that we ought to obey the doctor. I’d have to spend a bit of time looking for it in Proverbs or Wisdom or Ecclesiasticus, but it is there in the bible. I remember what’s said but don’t have a photographic memory.

Holly, if not taking your meds impacts on your well-being and relationships, then it certainly isn’t right not to take them. I don’t think you should be getting too caught up in what kind of sin, because the reality is, as Catholics we are obliged to take reasonable means to ensure our health and well-being. If you wish to stop taking your meds, then contact your doctor to check if this is what is advisable.

You need to keep yourself safe emotionally and mentally, so please do what you can with the means available.

Remember that the first commandment is to love God above all, but you knw the second is to love others as ourselves. And that means that Jesus also wants us to love ourselves, one means being to take proper care of yourself.

Anyway please check with your doctor, and try to do ask your doctor advises.

Warm regards, Trishie

 

[Holly3278]

Holly, you do need to take your medications if your doctor advises. St Alphonsis Ligouri said that we should do as our doctor asks. And I’ve read in scripture also that we ought to obey the doctor. I’d have to spend a bit of time looking for it in Proverbs or Wisdom or Ecclesiasticus, but it is there in the bible. I remember what’s said but don’t have a photographic memory.

Holly, if not taking your meds impacts on your well-being and relationships, then it certainly isn’t right not to take them. I don’t think you should be getting too caught up in what kind of sin, because the reality is, as Catholics we are obliged to take reasonable means to ensure our health and well-being. If you wish to stop taking your meds, then contact your doctor to check if this is what is advisable.

You need to keep yourself safe emotionally and mentally, so please do what you can with the means available.

Remember that the first commandment is to love God above all, but you knw the second is to love others as ourselves. And that means that Jesus also wants us to love ourselves, one means being to take proper care of yourself.

Anyway please check with your doctor, and try to do ask your doctor advises.

Warm regards, Trishie

Ok, thanks Trishie. As for not remembering that particular Bible passage, don’t worry about it. I don’t recall reading that in the Bible but I trust you that it is there.

 

[Trishie]

I understand what you’re saying. Thanks for your advice.

That said,
As for not wanting to take my medicine, it’s not because of side effects or anything like that. It’s just that I don’t like the hassle of trying to remember to take them all the time.

I agree with Lily,

And your comments…
"I have borderline personality disorder, major depression, and anxiety disorder. When I don’t take my medicine, I often feel suicidal multiple times per week, especially during stressful times. "

…make it definite that you need medication, and that it is very serious for you not to take them, because it could be life-threatening not to take them.

 

[Holly3278]

I agree with Lily,

And your comments…
"I have borderline personality disorder, major depression, and anxiety disorder. When I don’t take my medicine, I often feel suicidal multiple times per week, especially during stressful times. "

…make it definite that you need medication, and that it is very serious for you not to take them, because it could be life-threatening not to take them.

You know, I agree with you. I’m going to start taking my medicine again in the morning.

 

[Trishie]

Holly look after yourself. We all want you to be safe and happy!:grouphug: We care, you know!

I’m glad you’ve decided to take your medication!

 

[Holly3278]

Holly look after yourself. We all want you to be safe and happy!:grouphug:

Thanks Trishie.

 

[LilyM]

You know, I agree with you. I’m going to start taking my medicine again in the morning.

I have to take several different medications, which is a pain, so I do understand - but it can be done.

Make it a routine, put the medicine in your bathroom next to your toothbrush if you can, or somewhere else where you’ll be sure to see it every morning and take it.

 

[Holly3278]

I have to take several different medications, which is a pain, so I do understand - but it can be done.

Make it a routine, put the medicine in your bathroom next to your toothbrush if you can, or somewhere else where you’ll be sure to see it every morning and take it.

I’ve tried that. The first thing I do every day is come to the computer to smoke a cigarette so I put my medicine box in front of the monitor. I still forget to take my medicine. However, I have found that I usually forget to take it when the medicine box has been shoved out of the way and put under something or whatever. So maybe what I need to do is to make sure that it is in front of the monitor out in the open every night before going to bed.

 

[rayne89]

I understand what you’re saying. Thanks for your advice.

That said, I have borderline personality disorder, major depression, and anxiety disorder. When I don’t take my medicine, I often feel suicidal multiple times per week, especially during stressful times.

As for not wanting to take my medicine, it’s not because of side effects or anything like that. It’s just that I don’t like the hassle of trying to remember to take them all the time.

Holly if you haven’t read the book Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified by Robert Friedel, I highly recommend it. I’m actually in the midst of reading it because a young adult I’m close to has BPD. It’s excellant and written for the patient. Among other things, it explains types of treatment and the importance of sticking with treatment in order to have a good outcome for those who have BPD.

It also discusses overlapping disorders (such as major depression etc.) that are common with in those who have BPD. If you don’t want to purchase it, check your library that’s where I checked out the copy I’m reading.

 

[masterjedi747]

The first thing I do every day is come to the computer to smoke a cigarette so I put my medicine box in front of the monitor. I still forget to take my medicine.

Hmm… well, if it were me, I’d do something really “annoying” to remind myself. The good-old “out-smart myself now so I can’t forget later if I tried” technique.

Like maybe keep the cigarette box under the medicine box, so you have to pick it up to get at the cigarettes. Or tape a bright-colored object to the cigarette box that will remind you to take your medicine in the morning. Or stick the medicine box in the pair of shoes that you’ll be wearing in the morning, and put them out in the open where they can easily be seen.

…just something not just that you’ll not only see, but that you’ll actually have to interact with. I find that it works for me, anyway. But maybe I’m just weird like that.

At any rate, if you resolve to make it part of your daily routine, and just do your best to keep it up for a solid week or two, you’ll probably find that you unconsciously start to develop a habit, and that forgetting to take your meds will virtually become a non-issue. (God Bless!)

 

[Holly3278]

Holly if you haven’t read the book Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified by Robert Friedel, I highly recommend it. I’m actually in the midst of reading it because a young adult I’m close to has BPD. It’s excellant and written for the patient. Among other things, it explains types of treatment and the importance of sticking with treatment in order to have a good outcome for those who have BPD.

It also discusses overlapping disorders (such as major depression etc.) that are common with in those who have BPD. If you don’t want to purchase it, check your library that’s where I checked out the copy I’m reading.

Thanks for the book recommendation. I know my library doesn’t have it and I don’t have the money to purchase it but I might be able to get it on interlibrary loan.

Hmm… well, if it were me, I’d do something really “annoying” to remind myself. The good-old “out-smart myself now so I can’t forget later if I tried” technique.

Like maybe keep the cigarette box under the medicine box, so you have to pick it up to get at the cigarettes. Or tape a bright-colored object to the cigarette box that will remind you to take your medicine in the morning. Or stick the medicine box in the pair of shoes that you’ll be wearing in the morning, and put them out in the open where they can easily be seen.

…just something not just that you’ll not only see, but that you’ll actually have to interact with. I find that it works for me, anyway. But maybe I’m just weird like that.

At any rate, if you resolve to make it part of your daily routine, and just do your best to keep it up for a solid week or two, you’ll probably find that you unconsciously start to develop a habit, and that forgetting to take your meds will virtually become a non-issue. (God Bless!)

Thanks for the recommendation. I might try that.

 

[gentlefaith]

in Sirach 38 it speaks of doctors and medications that have been provided thru God’s good love for us… it is a chapter i read when ever i think i don’t want to take my meds… maybe it will help you too

 

[Holly3278]

I’m kind of in a quandary right now. I think I might be pregnant and I don’t want to take my medicine because I’m afraid it might harmfully affect my baby if I am indeed pregnant. What should I do?

 

[masterjedi747]

I’m kind of in a quandary right now. I think I might be pregnant and I don’t want to take my medicine because I’m afraid it might harmfully affect my baby if I am indeed pregnant. What should I do?

…you mean, like, aside from contacting your doctor ASAP and asking him?
I might do some online research about anti-depressants / pregnancy, and see what turns up.

 

[Holly3278]

…you mean, like, aside from contacting your doctor ASAP and asking him?
I might do some online research about anti-depressants / pregnancy, and see what turns up.

Well, I can’t really contact my doctor until Monday now. So I have to choose what to do between now and Monday. I think I’ll just refrain from taking my medicine until Monday just in case. I did take my medicine on Thursday though. I didn’t take it on Friday because I couldn’t find all of it.

 

[masterjedi747]

Well, I can’t really contact my doctor until Monday now.

…I think you should probably still give it a shot, actually. Even if you can’t contact your doctor directly, there should still be someone on call during the weekends to help answer questions (or put you in direct contact your doctor, if necessary).

But I mean, I just know that my mom is a nurse, and she’s often been at home and “on call” for other doctors during the weekend or when they are away, etc… so it’s been my experience that doctors usually don’t leave their patients high and dry, and that you can indeed contact them (or someone else) if it’s important. …and I would certainly think that this qualifies.

 

[Holly3278]

…I think you should probably still give it a shot, actually. Even if you can’t contact your doctor directly, there should still be someone on call during the weekends to help answer questions (or put you in direct contact your doctor, if necessary).

But I mean, I just know that my mom is a nurse, and she’s often been at home and “on call” for other doctors during the weekend or when they are away, etc… so it’s been my experience that doctors usually don’t leave their patients high and dry, and that you can indeed contact them (or someone else) if it’s important. …and I would certainly think that this qualifies.

Ok thanks MasterJedi. I’ll try calling the doctor’s office in the morning. Actually, I might call the hotline tonight and see if they can help me. Thanks again!