What About BPD and Drug Abuse (LSD, Marijuana)?
QUESTION:
Dr Heller,
In your book [Life at the border] you write that Sinemet drug is successful for borderlines with prior history of drug abuse. I have try therapy with Remeron, Risperdal ,seropram, and I did found help for my depression. I took Haldol for my psychotic effects with some successful. Now I take Prozac (20 mg /daily), Haldol de canoes 1mg per month and Tegretol retard 200 mg/daily. I have diagnosis us BPD and in the past I have try LSD, ecstasy, marihuana. What can I try to go out of my BPD? Is Sinemet successful for me? I received your book “Life at the Border” and I have ordered your book “Biological Unhappiness.” Is it any more for me?
ANSWER:
Substance abuse can cause brain damage, and its known that cocaine, LSD and marijuana do cause changes in the brains function. I dont know about ecstasy. Whatever damage was caused by substance abuse, we have to work with whats left and do the best we can.
I havent encountered anything on Sinemet in 10 years for the BPD. I dont use it.
Youre on some good medications for the BPD – Prozac, Haldol and Tegretol are great. I have a section on BPD medications that should be of help as well as the dysphoria instruction sheet.
The three keys to successfully treating individuals with the BPD are:
1) Making all the diagnoses and treating them comprehensively. The screening test I use for my patients should help you in this regard.
2) Having a formal plan for stress which that dysphoria instruction sheet covers
3) Retraining the brain is also crucial. I go over this in great detail in both books.
