Researchers haven’t yet identified a single drug that can completely treat Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), but they have found that certain medications can help you manage some of the more problematic BPD symptoms.
There are several reasons why medications can benefit people with Borderline Personality Disorder. Medications can help manage some of the problematic symptoms of BPD by stabilizing overactive emotions, reducing impulsiveness and irritability, and sharpening thinking and reasoning abilities. Medications can also help treat other psychiatric disorders that often co-occur with BPD, such as anxiety disorders, Bipolar Disorder, depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and schizophrenia.
Some BPD experts, such as renowned psychiatrist Robert O. Friedel, strongly advocate for medication to treat people with moderate to severe symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder.
Medications Prescribed for BPD Symptoms
Three types of medications are generally prescribed for Borderline Personality Disorder treatment:
- Antidepressants: Antidepressants can help to stop the suicidal thoughts that often occur in people with BPD.
- Mood stabilizers: Mood stabilizers can help ease the impulsiveness, anger, anxiety, depressed mood, and general level of functioning for people with BPD.
- Antipsychotics: Antipsychotics can help address the paranoid thoughts, disorganized thinking, and uncontrollable anger that some people with BPD may experience.
If you’re resistant to taking medication, you might think about the fact that Borderline Personality Disorder is caused by a biological disturbance in your brain, rather than a personality flaw. Medications work to achieve a chemical balance needed for optimal brain function. They can reduce your BPD symptoms and make BPD treatment more effective.
Therapy for BPD Treatment
If you have been prescribed medications and taking them regularly, you may not feel as overpowered by your Borderline Personality Disorder symptoms and feel more in control of your emotions. That may leave you more open to BPD treatment through therapy.
Therapy for your Borderline Personality Disorder can help improve your interpersonal skills and conflict resolution abilities. Therapy can also help you better manage your BPD symptoms along with needed medications.
The most effective therapy for BPD is typically provided by a therapist trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Therapists trained in DBT are often found at residential treatment centers for BPD and other BPD treatment facilities.
As you adjust to having more stable emotions, thought patterns, and improved results from therapy, you may find that you can decrease your medications or even stop taking them altogether.