Medications for Borderline Personality Disorder

Types of Medications Used to Treat BPD

Currently, there aren’t any FDA-approved medications to date that are specifically designated for use in treating BPD. However, a number of drugs have been approved for treating various symptoms of the condition, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, anticonvulsants, and anti-anxiety medications. 

Brand Name	Generic	Drug Type
Nardil	phenelzine	MAOI antidepressant
Prozac	fluoxetine	SSRI antidepressant
Zoloft	sertraline	SSRI antidepressant
Effexor	venlafaxine	SNRI antidepressant
Wellbutrin	bupropion	NDRI antidepressant
Abilify	aripiprazole	Atypical antipsychotic
Geodon	ziprasidone	Atypical antipsychotic
Risperdal	risperidone	Atypical antipsychotic
Seroquel	quetiapine	Atypical antipsychotic
Zyprexa	olanzapine	Atypical antipsychotic
Lithobid	lithium	Mood stabilizer
Depakote	valproate	Anticonvulsant
Lamictal	lamotrigine	Anticonvulsant
Tegretol or Carbatrol	carbamazepine	Anticonvulsant
Ativan	lorazepam	Benzodiazepine (anti-anxiety)
Klonopin	clonazepam	Benzodiazepine (anti-anxiety)
Xanax	alprazolam	Benzodiazepine (anti-anxiety)
Valium	diazepam	Benzodiazepine (anti-anxiety)
Buspar	buspirone	Anxiolytic (anti-anxiety)

 

Below, you can review some of the more commonly used medications and learn how they work.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are sometimes recommended to combat depressive symptoms like sadness, anxiety, and low mood in people with a BPD diagnosis. They’re generally not effective at treating anger and impulsive behavior, though. Common antidepressant borderline personality disorder medications might include:

• Nardil (phenelzine)
• Prozac (fluoxetine)
• Zoloft (sertraline)
• Effexor (venlafaxine)
• Wellbutrin (bupropion)

 

Antipsychotics

Antipsychotics might be suggested for people with BPD who have symptoms that include paranoia, anger, impulsiveness, and anxiety. It was the first type of medication that was tested and studied for treating BPD. Antipsychotics might be effective in reducing hostility, paranoid thought processes, impulsive behaviors, and anxiety. Commonly prescribed antipsychotic medications include:

• Abilify (aripiprazole)
• Geodon (ziprasidone)
• Risperdal (risperidone)
• Seroquel (quetiapine)
• Zyprexa (olanzapine)

 

Mood stabilizers/anticonvulsants

Mood stabilizers and anticonvulsants are prescribed to help people with BPD even out dramatic mood swings and impulsive behavior. 

Commonly-prescribed mood stabilizers and anticonvulsants for those with BPD include:

• Lithobid (lithium)
• Depakote (valproate)
• Lamictal (lamotrigine)
• Tegretol or Carbatrol (carbamazepine)

 

Anti-anxiety drugs

Anti-anxiety BPD medication might be effective for some people who exhibit very high anxiety as part of their BPD symptoms. Some of the most commonly-prescribed anti-anxiety disorder medications used to treat symptoms of BPD include:

• Ativan (lorazepam)
• Klonopin (clonazepam)
• Xanax (alprazolam)
• Valium (diazepam)
• Buspar (buspirone)

 

Other BPD treatments

A few other medications and holistic options have shown promise in treating borderline personality disorder as well.

For example, vitamin C, omega-3 supplements, some dementia medications, and drugs designed to combat facial paralysis are all exciting possibilities. More research is still necessary to determine whether they’re truly viable BPD treatments.

Possible Side Effects of BPD Medication

As with virtually all drugs, many borderline personality disorder medications have potential side effects. Things to be aware of if you’re considering medication for BPD might include:

• Weight gain
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Substance abuse

Benzodiazepines — anti-anxiety drugs including Ativan and Klonopin — can make BPD symptoms worse in some people. Therefore, these drugs require close monitoring. In addition to being potentially habit-forming and a risk of substance abuse, this class of borderline personality disorder medication may increase impulsiveness and suicidal thinking.

It’s not unusual for someone with BPD to need to try several medications or combinations of medication and other mental health treatment options before they find an effective solution that works best for their unique needs.

How to Get BPD Medication

BPD medication must be prescribed by a psychiatrist. Therapists and (in most states) psychologists won’t be able to write you a prescription. They can, however, refer you to a clinician who’ll be able to get you the medication for borderline personality disorder you need to best manage your symptoms.

Should You Treat BPD with Medication?

The decision whether or not to treat borderline personality disorder with medication should be made in consultation with your healthcare team. Many people have experienced substantial relief from the often-debilitating symptoms of BPD by using medication.

For others, though, the side effects can be more troubling than the symptoms. Ultimately, medication can be a useful borderline personality disorder treatment option for some people, but it’s not the right choice for everyone.

Questions to ask your doctor

When you meet with your doctor or therapist about possibly treating your BPD with medication, it’s important to have your questions ready. You’ll want to ask things like:

• What can I expect with this medication?
• What are the potential side effects of the medication?
• When and how should I take this medication?
• Is this medication habit-forming for some people?
• If this medication doesn’t work, what are my other options?
• How much does this medication cost…and do you have any co-pay cards or manufacturers’ discount codes?
• How long will I have to take this medication?

The good news is you don’t have to deal with the symptoms of BPD without help. Psychotherapy (talk therapy) — particularly a specialized type known as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which was developed specifically to treat BPD — is the first line of psychological treatment, but you can always discuss whether or not medication is something you should try.

For many people, BPD medication makes a huge difference in their quality of life. It can allow them to minimize, if not completely eliminate, the anxiety, depression, thoughts of self-harm, and mood swings that often accompany BPD. It’s also worth emphasizing that BPD medication generally works best when used in conjunction with other forms of treatment like therapy for borderline personality disorder.

If you don’t already have a therapist, ask your primary care physician to recommend someone with experience in psychological treatment for BPD. Talkspace offers online therapy options that pair you with a qualified therapist that specializes in helping your specific condition.