Do medications change who you are?

I have type 1 Bipolar.

I thought I was practically normal when I was young. Yes I was moody and could see things that no one else could at times but normal, happy, loved people self. I never took medications because we didn’t know if there was anything wrong.

After I had my children my life went spinning out of control and I was hospitalized and diagnosed bipolar. I then was a loner and avoided as many groups and parties as possible. I felt confused, stupid and dazed. I was rarely happy and complained a lot, which distanced me from others even further.

I’m now what you would call stable. My current doctor has me on a very good drug combination and for once things look up. But I can’t help but wonder if all these different medications that I have tried and been on has changed who I am. I’m no longer social, happiness comes in waves (between the manias and depressions) and I’m afraid of decision making because I’m no longer confident or I don’t think I can think straight. All of this wasn’t me before medications.

What do you think? Can medications change who you are? (Sorry for the length.)