Medication?

Anyone have any success with treating BPD with medication? I experience extreme depression (complete inability to function... can't eat, can't shower, can't wake up, certainly can't hold down a job) along with extreme mood swings, irritability, crippling anxiety, violent outbursts... I know these are a bunch of different symptoms but I don't want to take a cocktail of pills, but I'm not completely against medication. I used to be anti-meds, but I've been so close to the point of not existing anymore that I figure I might as well try medication.

I'd like to know about positive experiences with medication. I know that many people who have taken meds have had all sorts of horrible experiences, but please focus on things that have been helpful.

Four weeks ago I started taking Lexapro and today I am starting to notice a difference. Initially I noticed that it was helping with my anxiety, but I was emotionally numb, which was pretty awful. However, today I am starting to feel a sense of well being. It didn't make any of my baggage go away, but I don't feel hopeless and suicidal anymore. I feel kinda good, and I'm not sure what to do with that.

Treating BPD with medication can be incredibly effective if and when it works - but it's tricky. No specific class(es) are indicated for BPD but specific meds from each class can work.

The meds which have worked for me are Xanax, Klonopin, Geodon, Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, Trileptal, Lamictal; even Adderall at one stage (the situation was desperate, my psych knew I was going to top myself soon but I wasn't saying it). The rest did nothing. Either meds work for me, or they don't...

Here's a good page on it:

http://bpd.about.com/od/treatments/a/BPDmeds.htm

I usually don't like to reference information/sites like that -- but that page is so excellent and illustrates what I'm saying so heavily that I must. Also, I thought it would be useful to you in your circumstance.

Edit: I've been on a combo of Lamictal and Klonopin for 7 years, and it works so well that I shall stay on it for years to come. I'd be more than happy to add something to it though, although the mystery med I'd perhaps add to it doesn't exist yet. It doesn't take care of everything, and what it does take care of -- it doesn't take of completely, although it radically turned my life around without changing who I am or my personality in the slightest.

Lexapro (10mg)

Lamictal (150Mg) - Generic name is Lamotrigene. This has made a HUGE difference in regulating my mood swings. No side effects either. Just don't make the stupid mistake I did (twice) and neglect to refill ur prescription in a timely manner... after about a week without it, you'll start to experience withdrawal symptoms which are, in essence, intense shifts & changes in mood (can be quite scary).

I take citolopram for my depression and Quetiapine (Serequel) for my BPD & anxiety problems. So far so good. But I fear my medication is causing my hair loss. BPD medication has some scary side effects such as lactating from the breasts (producing breast milk when NOT pregnant), Parkinsons-like tremors and ticks, difficulty speaking and using language and difficulty thinking or loss of concentration.

However, before my medication I couldn't speak, look people in the eye, eat, drink, sleep. I had severe panic attacks that ended up with hospitalisation and I couldn't get out of bed. I just stared into space, wasting away into my bed covers. Charming picture, yes? Now I have a part time job (only 8hrs a week) and I can actually have a conversation with people! I still have bad days, today for example I've had a shower but I've put pjs on and can't seem to get back out of bed. I'm also feeling very aggressive today.

I know you want to know about good experiences but it's important to note that all medication has side effects. The pros & cons must be weighed up. To me, I need to try and improve my quality of life and medication has done that to some degree. Therefore, job done medication!

I was refusing therapy (just because I felt like I needed a break from it, I'd been in therapy for around 5 years, it clearly wasn't working) but now I feel like medication and therapy needs to be used in conjunction. There is no quick fix but I feel like it's worth trying.

I hope this helps. Good luck finding what works for you!

I'm probably not the one to ask about which meds are good as I react to everything they give me. In the meantime while the doctors are trying to work out what does work for me, I take a Vitamin B complex and an iron supplement each day which help prevent me falling through the floor.

I just started a new one yesterday...and I've only felt really drowsy- I'm wondering when the rest of the side effects are going to hit me.