BPDFamily.com

   I have been asked by a friend just what is the meds that are used for this BPD, and I answered that there is not one specific med for this affliction, but rather it is hit & miss using one or more meds in combination as well as figuring out the right dosage... . I also stated to me friend that alcohol is a big no-no, ... . not even one drink.

 

  Now, my answer really was based on what I have read. And that is all.  In other words, ... I do not have any experience from a personal perspective on this topic (mainly because I did not get to that point of helping my mate with her affliction but rather, I bailed on the relationship due to her continued denial that she even had a problem).

   Can anyone put there two cents in if someone was to ask them the same Q?

There is a long thread on the Question board about it:

What Medications are used for BPD and what their side effects? (https://bpdfamily.com/message_board/index.php?topic=141634.0)

I think, this is a complex question and not being answered easily.

Yes, medications used for mental illness is complex.  However alcohol is a big no no as you said because it renders the medication ineffective.   

Crack Cocaine is helpful as it helps in reaching a faster, deeper bottom.

My ex's favourite medication for feeling better appears to be the exchanging of sexual fluids!

lol... . good one! 

The thread Surnia posted is a good one.  To give a Cliff's Notes summary, though, any meds that are typically used for depression and anxiety can potentially be used with BPD.  Also, many atypical antipsychotic meds, of the type used with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, are used, but at lower doses than typical.  I will say that medicines are less understood and are generally less effective than medicines with other conditions.  YMMV of course.

My x was on a variety of meds and they helped in some ways, but once the switch in her brain got thrown to crazy, NOTHING helped. Recovering from BPD is about learning to keep yourself from getting to the crazy point because once you're there, you're lost.

My stbxBPDh was on a variety of atypical antipsychotics, antidepressants, antianxiety, ect. However, he also drank and smoked marijuana, which I am unsure if that actually impeeded him or if nothing truly worked. I know over the 3 yrs since his diagnosis he has been on about 25 different combos and dosages, nothing provided sustained relief only short term. And like another who posted on this topic, once the CRAZY button was pushed nothing helped save for exhaustion.

Surnia gave you a great thread that is worth the read.

The short version:

BPD as its own - no meds for a cure.  Meds can help with the anxiety often associated with it and like any mental illness, alcohol only confuses the sypmtoms.

BPD with another mental illness (ie - bipolor) - meds can be used for bipolar to help, but won't change the BPD component.

Overall, BPD recovery is best with DBT... . it basically teaches mindfulness in the painful emotions combined with an appropriate way to handle those emotions without destroying themselves or those around them. 

Studies have shown that treatments such as DBT can actually form new neuro pathways in the brain - rerouting the wiring that goes to maladaptive coping basically.

Simply and elegantly put.  That's the story.  My BPDw had been on 15 different medications during the first 10 months of 2013.  Medical professionals try a lot of off-label medications because this is a mood disorder unlike any other.  It is so faceted, that co-diagnoses and overlapping diagnoses demand different things.  Think of it as the French dessert the Napoleon.  You try making (or living) with that at home.  It never comes out like at the restaurant (or on TV).  That's when I turn to these boards to find chefs as stymied as myself.  I cry all the time and it's not because I am busy peeling onions.

My ex was on lithium before she got pregnant. It didn't seem to help and when she drank on it, it made her extra crazy.

She's not on anything now. I'm sure that's going well for her.

My partner graduated from an extensive DBT program and it helped her a great deal. She incorporated a lot of it into herself, but let a lot of it go and got lazy and "didn't have time" for therapy. If one doesn't keep on top of one's self one can fall behind again.

Thanks, ... . this was very, very informative.

After my exBPDgf finally got a psych eval she was prescribed the antipsychotic abilify to go with her effexor and xanax.

When she was on her meds last oct, nov and part of dec she was doing amazingly well compared to the past.  I was impressed with the positive changes.

She got off the abilify and effexor at the end of Dec.   Our new year's eve was horrible after she had a resentful tantrum for no good reason and she degenerated rapidly and started self injury again about a week ago.

Now she had her meds but we are NC with each other.

The meds seemed to working really well. I was encouraged to see that. Too bad things ended the way they did.