Borderline Personality Disorder
Medications
Medicines may be used to try to reduce symptoms of borderline personality disorder, such as impulsive behavior or depression. Often a combination of different medicines may be the best treatment.
Medication Choices
The most commonly prescribed medicines for borderline personality disorder are:
- Antidepressants, which may help reduce anger, irritability, impulsive behaviors, and depression. Those most often prescribed for these behaviors are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and similar medicines.
- Mood stabilizers, which may help control impulsive behaviors and anger.
- Atypical antipsychotics, which are sometimes used to help reduce impulsive and reckless behavior.
What To Think About
It may take several weeks for medicines to become effective. You may need to try more than one medicine before you find the one that is right for you. Your doctor may also prescribe a combination of medicines to reduce your symptoms.
FDA Advisory. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory on antidepressant medicines and the risk of suicide. The FDA does not recommend that people stop using these medicines. Instead, a person taking antidepressants should be watched for warning signs of suicide. This is especially important at the beginning of treatment or when doses are changed.
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| Author: | Jeannette Curtis | Last Updated: March 17, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry | |
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