QUESTION:

I am diagnosed as having borderline personality disorder. I am taking Seroxat (in US known as Paxil), 20 mg a day. I have been taking it now for about six months. will this affect a future pregnancy? I mean, is the disorder heritable, and how will Seroxat influence a baby?

Second question is the use of drugs, the use of cocaine, XTC or speed, together with Seroxat. cocaine doesn't seem to have an influence on me any more, since I’ve been taking medicines, speed now has the effect of XTC. Whereas everybody feels the speedy effect of speed, I feel the XTC-effect of speed. What are the risks of using drugs?? They also operate on the serotonin level, don't they?

DR. HELLER'S ANSWER:

The risk of the child getting the BPD is likely 50/50 - but it's very much in your hands. The child needs careful attention. Prozac is usually more effective and is now acceptable during pregnancy.

The street drugs are dangerous and absolutely cause brain damage. You need to stop them, particularly cocaine. No studies have been done on taking dangerous drugs at the same time as taking appropriate ones.

I highly recommend that you get all your diagnoses made and treated. In my new book "Biological Unhappiness" I printed the screening test I use for my patients.

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