QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I am a 26 year old female with BPD symptoms that started at 15 years of age. I also experience generalized anxiety, panic attacks and depression. Every doctor wants to put me on SSRI antipsychotics. I have bad reactions to all antidepressants and antipsychotics. I don't know what to do. My current doctor seems to think therapy is my only hope, but with the anxiety I have, I rarely leave the house. I feel dysphoric all the time, but antipsychotics make me anxious. I read your book, "Life At The Border" and I understand my illness. I must find some medications to help me get started. I have had so many bad reactions (usually anxiety, feelings of unreality, feelings of being in a dream, or panic attacks) from antidepressants and bad experiences with psychedelic drugs, that I am paranoid to take any medications. Even Xanax doesn't help me anymore.
Thanks.
ANSWER:
I would be highly suspicious of the generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and possibly
post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If the GAD is present, taking BuSpar would within a
few weeks enable you to take SSRI's like Prozac.
If
BuSpar also makes you sick, Remeron can stop that problem and enable you to get into
balance.
Once you're able to take BuSpar for a few weeks (with Remeron if needed), you should
be able to take Prozac and then Tegretol without difficulty. This would stop the mood
swings and dysphoria (anxiety, rage, depression and despair).
