Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCan Medication Help?AntidepressantsMood Stabilizers and AnticonvulsantsAntipsychoticsAnxiolyticsResearch on TreatmentNon-Medication TreatmentSide EffectsPrecautionsCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Can Medication Help?
Antidepressants
Mood Stabilizers and Anticonvulsants
Antipsychotics
Anxiolytics
Research on Treatment
Non-Medication Treatment
Side Effects
Precautions
Coping
However, medications can be prescribed to relieve BPD symptoms like mood swings, depression, impulsivity, and aggression. Depending on the types and severity of BPD symptoms, treatment may involve antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, oranxiolytics(anti-anxiety drugs).
This article looks at the four classes of BDP medications that are commonly prescribed as well as some newer ones that are being explored.
How Borderline Personality Disorder Is Treated
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Can Medications Help Treat BPD?
While it’s not considered the first-line treatment, there are some medications that may help some people with BPD.
Studies have shown that antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed medications for people with BPD, with close to 80% of BPD patients taking them.
MAOIs
MAOIs were the first drugs on the market for treating depression. They are also used to treat other psychiatric disorders, includingpanic disorderandsocial phobia.
There are different MAOIs. Two that have been studied in BPD are:
MAOIs are not the first choice of treatment for depression. Compared to SSRIs, MAOIs have more side effects, including dry mouth, drowsiness, insomnia, dizziness, and lightheadedness. These medications are also linked to major drug interactions and can triggerhigh blood pressureif dietary restrictions are not followed.
SSRIs
Types of SSRIs that have been studied for BPD include:
Mood stabilizers and anticonvulsants are used to help with BPD symptoms like anger, mood swings, and impulsivity. Mood stabilizers are traditionally used to treat affective disorders like bipolar disorder. About 36% of BPD patients take mood stabilizers.
Mood stabilizers and anticonvulsants that are prescribed to people with BPD include:
Antipsychotics can be used to help manage anger issues that are common in people living with BPD.While atypical antipsychotics can be used to treat impulsive aggression and improve affective instability, psychosis, and interpersonal dysfunction in BPD, the long-term risks compared to the benefits of using this drug class for people with BPD are not clear.
Typical antipsychoticsused for the treatment of BPD include:
Atypical antipsychoticsused for BPD include:
Side effects of these medications include slowness, stiffness, tremor, and restlessness. With long-term use, there is a risk of tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movements that can be permanent).
People with BPD can have intense anxiety lasting from a few hours to several days.They might be prescribed anti-anxiety medications (anxiolytics) to help ease these symptoms.
General side effects of anti-anxiety medications include feelings of sleepiness, fatigue, and mental fogginess or grogginess. Anti-anxiety medications can also build up in a person’s system over time. Long-term use is associated with sleep issues, memory issues, emotional dysregulation, and dependence.
Anxiolytics commonly prescribed for BPD include:
Stopping these medications suddenly can lead to withdrawal symptoms, including irritability, nausea, tremors, dizziness, blood pressure changes, rapid heart rate, and seizures.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911. The service is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.People who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY using your preferred relay service or dial711then988.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911. The service is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
People who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY using your preferred relay service or dial711then988.
Novel Treatments Under Investigation
Researchers are looking into several new treatments for BPD, including:
Are There Any Other BPD Treatments?
The main treatment for BPD is talk therapy (psychotherapy). Some people with BPD benefit from other kinds of therapy:
What Are the Side Effects of BPD Medication?
While the side effects of BPD medications vary depending on the type, some common side effects of the treatment to be aware of include:
Less common but potentially serious side effects of some BPD medications may include:
Precautions and Considerations
If you have certain medical conditions that affect how your body breaks down drugs, your BPD medication or dose might need to be changed. Your provider will also need to know about any other medications, over-the-counter (OTC) products, or supplements you take to make sure they will not interact with a BPD medication.
Do not change your dose or suddenly stop taking your BPD medication without talking to your provider first.
The cost of your BPD medication will depend on a few factors such as:
If you can’t afford your BPD medication, talk to your provider. They may have resources that can help you pay for your prescriptions. They may also be able to change where they send your prescription to be filled if you find that it costs less somewhere else—for example, switching to a different pharmacy.
If the cost of your medications is keeping you from taking them, your provider may talk to you about possibly switching to a more affordable treatment.
How to Cope With BPD
Living with BPD has challenges, but having a support team of your loved ones and providers can help you navigate them.
Work on developing healthy coping skills and reach out for help if you feel like your treatment needs to be changed to better meet your needs and goals.
Health-promoting habits like getting regular physical activity, nourishing your body, sleeping well, and reducing stress will also help you cope with BPD.
Summary
Medication is not the first-line treatment for BPD, but it can help some people manage the condition more effectively.
Your provider might want you to try adding medication to therapy and other strategies that are part of your BPD treatment plan. While they can have benefits, medications also come with side effects and risks to consider.
If you’re not sure if your BPD medication is helping, talk to your provider. Never change your dose or stop taking your BPD medication without asking your provider first.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stoffers‐Winterling JM, Storebø OJ, Völlm BA, et al.Pharmacological interventions for people with borderline personality disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;(2):CD012956. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012956.xRipoll LH.Psychopharmacologic treatment of borderline personality disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2013;15(2):213-224. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.2/lripollGartlehner G, Crotty K, Kennedy S, et al.Pharmacological treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.CNS Drugs. 2021;35(10):1053-1067. doi:10.1007/s40263-021-00855-4Harvard Health Publishing.What are the real risks of antidepressants?Stoffers-Winterling J, Ole Jakob Storebø, Johanne Pereira Ribeiro, et al.Pharmacological interventions for people with borderline personality disorder. 2022;2022(11). doi:h10.1002/14651858.cd012956.pub2Mercer D, Douglass AB, Links PS.Meta-analyses of mood stabilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics in the treatment of borderline personality disorder: effectiveness for depression and anger symptoms.J Pers Disord. 2009;23(2):156-174. doi:10.1521/pedi.2009.23.2.156.xNational Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:595584. Published 2020. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584National Alliance on Mental Health.Lorazepam (ativan).Olabi B, Hall J.Borderline personality disorder: current drug treatments and future prospects.Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2010;1(2):59-66. doi:10.1177/2040622310368455.xKaraszewska DM, Ingenhoven T, Mocking RJT.Marine omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for Borderline Personality Disorder: A meta-analysis.J Clin Psychiatry. 2021;82(3):20r13613. Published 2021 May 4. doi:10.4088/JCP.20r13613Moghaddas A, Dianatkhah M, Ghaffari S, Ghaeli P.The potential role of naltrexone in Borderline Personality Disorder.Iran J Psychiatry. 2017;12(2):142-146.Rameckers SA, Verhoef REJ, Grasman RPPP, et al.Effectiveness of psychological treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder and predictors of treatment outcomes: A multivariate multilevel meta-analysis of data from all design types.J Clin Med. 2021;10(23):5622. Published 2021 Nov 29. doi:10.3390/jcm10235622
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stoffers‐Winterling JM, Storebø OJ, Völlm BA, et al.Pharmacological interventions for people with borderline personality disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;(2):CD012956. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012956.xRipoll LH.Psychopharmacologic treatment of borderline personality disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2013;15(2):213-224. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.2/lripollGartlehner G, Crotty K, Kennedy S, et al.Pharmacological treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.CNS Drugs. 2021;35(10):1053-1067. doi:10.1007/s40263-021-00855-4Harvard Health Publishing.What are the real risks of antidepressants?Stoffers-Winterling J, Ole Jakob Storebø, Johanne Pereira Ribeiro, et al.Pharmacological interventions for people with borderline personality disorder. 2022;2022(11). doi:h10.1002/14651858.cd012956.pub2Mercer D, Douglass AB, Links PS.Meta-analyses of mood stabilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics in the treatment of borderline personality disorder: effectiveness for depression and anger symptoms.J Pers Disord. 2009;23(2):156-174. doi:10.1521/pedi.2009.23.2.156.xNational Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:595584. Published 2020. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584National Alliance on Mental Health.Lorazepam (ativan).Olabi B, Hall J.Borderline personality disorder: current drug treatments and future prospects.Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2010;1(2):59-66. doi:10.1177/2040622310368455.xKaraszewska DM, Ingenhoven T, Mocking RJT.Marine omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for Borderline Personality Disorder: A meta-analysis.J Clin Psychiatry. 2021;82(3):20r13613. Published 2021 May 4. doi:10.4088/JCP.20r13613Moghaddas A, Dianatkhah M, Ghaffari S, Ghaeli P.The potential role of naltrexone in Borderline Personality Disorder.Iran J Psychiatry. 2017;12(2):142-146.Rameckers SA, Verhoef REJ, Grasman RPPP, et al.Effectiveness of psychological treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder and predictors of treatment outcomes: A multivariate multilevel meta-analysis of data from all design types.J Clin Med. 2021;10(23):5622. Published 2021 Nov 29. doi:10.3390/jcm10235622
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Stoffers‐Winterling JM, Storebø OJ, Völlm BA, et al.Pharmacological interventions for people with borderline personality disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;(2):CD012956. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012956.xRipoll LH.Psychopharmacologic treatment of borderline personality disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2013;15(2):213-224. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.2/lripollGartlehner G, Crotty K, Kennedy S, et al.Pharmacological treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.CNS Drugs. 2021;35(10):1053-1067. doi:10.1007/s40263-021-00855-4Harvard Health Publishing.What are the real risks of antidepressants?Stoffers-Winterling J, Ole Jakob Storebø, Johanne Pereira Ribeiro, et al.Pharmacological interventions for people with borderline personality disorder. 2022;2022(11). doi:h10.1002/14651858.cd012956.pub2Mercer D, Douglass AB, Links PS.Meta-analyses of mood stabilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics in the treatment of borderline personality disorder: effectiveness for depression and anger symptoms.J Pers Disord. 2009;23(2):156-174. doi:10.1521/pedi.2009.23.2.156.xNational Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:595584. Published 2020. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584National Alliance on Mental Health.Lorazepam (ativan).Olabi B, Hall J.Borderline personality disorder: current drug treatments and future prospects.Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2010;1(2):59-66. doi:10.1177/2040622310368455.xKaraszewska DM, Ingenhoven T, Mocking RJT.Marine omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for Borderline Personality Disorder: A meta-analysis.J Clin Psychiatry. 2021;82(3):20r13613. Published 2021 May 4. doi:10.4088/JCP.20r13613Moghaddas A, Dianatkhah M, Ghaffari S, Ghaeli P.The potential role of naltrexone in Borderline Personality Disorder.Iran J Psychiatry. 2017;12(2):142-146.Rameckers SA, Verhoef REJ, Grasman RPPP, et al.Effectiveness of psychological treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder and predictors of treatment outcomes: A multivariate multilevel meta-analysis of data from all design types.J Clin Med. 2021;10(23):5622. Published 2021 Nov 29. doi:10.3390/jcm10235622
Stoffers‐Winterling JM, Storebø OJ, Völlm BA, et al.Pharmacological interventions for people with borderline personality disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;(2):CD012956. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012956.x
Ripoll LH.Psychopharmacologic treatment of borderline personality disorder.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2013;15(2):213-224. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.2/lripoll
Gartlehner G, Crotty K, Kennedy S, et al.Pharmacological treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.CNS Drugs. 2021;35(10):1053-1067. doi:10.1007/s40263-021-00855-4
Harvard Health Publishing.What are the real risks of antidepressants?
Stoffers-Winterling J, Ole Jakob Storebø, Johanne Pereira Ribeiro, et al.Pharmacological interventions for people with borderline personality disorder. 2022;2022(11). doi:h10.1002/14651858.cd012956.pub2
Mercer D, Douglass AB, Links PS.Meta-analyses of mood stabilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics in the treatment of borderline personality disorder: effectiveness for depression and anger symptoms.J Pers Disord. 2009;23(2):156-174. doi:10.1521/pedi.2009.23.2.156.x
National Institute of Mental Health.Borderline personality disorder.
Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:595584. Published 2020. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584
National Alliance on Mental Health.Lorazepam (ativan).
Olabi B, Hall J.Borderline personality disorder: current drug treatments and future prospects.Ther Adv Chronic Dis. 2010;1(2):59-66. doi:10.1177/2040622310368455.x
Karaszewska DM, Ingenhoven T, Mocking RJT.Marine omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for Borderline Personality Disorder: A meta-analysis.J Clin Psychiatry. 2021;82(3):20r13613. Published 2021 May 4. doi:10.4088/JCP.20r13613
Moghaddas A, Dianatkhah M, Ghaffari S, Ghaeli P.The potential role of naltrexone in Borderline Personality Disorder.Iran J Psychiatry. 2017;12(2):142-146.
Rameckers SA, Verhoef REJ, Grasman RPPP, et al.Effectiveness of psychological treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder and predictors of treatment outcomes: A multivariate multilevel meta-analysis of data from all design types.J Clin Med. 2021;10(23):5622. Published 2021 Nov 29. doi:10.3390/jcm10235622
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