Prazosin Curbs Trauma Nightmares
Written: Jan 28 '08 (Updated Feb 24 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very few side effects, low doses are most effective, does not induce tolerance.
Cons: Does not build up in system so must be taken regularly to continue benefits.
The Bottom Line: Buy it. PTSD is a progressive illness that leads to agoraphobia. Do *not* let it ruin your life and make you housebound. Take back control of your emotions.
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| welleducated's Full Review: Prazosin 1mg 200 Pill |
There are three chemicals involved in the body's fight-or-flight response: adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine. Fight-or-flight is a natural response that occurs when we perceive danger. By releasing these chemicals in to the system, our body prepares us to fight more effectively or run away more quickly. This natural process gives us an advantage in dangerous situations and is a process we share with most of the animals on the planet.
In the case of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), these chemicals continue to flood into the brain long after the danger has passed. This becomes a problem as we are more hyper vigilant, have problems sleeping, become irritable and are quick to anger. Two generic blood pressure medications have been shown to significantly reduce the effects of PTSD symptoms. This is amazing news for two reasons:
1. Antidepressants and anxiety medications (which are shown to be ineffective and often aggravate PTSD symptoms) can finally be replaced with medications that are shown to be specifically effective in treating PTSD.
2. Since these effective drugs (propranolol and prazosin) are much older, they are available in generic form and MUCH cheaper. Prazosin can cost as little as 10 to 30 cents a day!
Unlike propranolol, prazosin (pronounced PRAISE-oh-sin) works in the body by blocking reception of noradrenaline. This means that it blocks the "alpha" adrenergic receptors in the brain. (Propranolol acts on adrenaline, blocking the "beta" adrenergic receptors.)
Noradrenaline is similar to adrenaline in that both are stimulants (also known as adrenergics). This would explain the effectiveness of both prazosin and propranolol. By blocking the reception of these stimulants, the body will feel less of the fight-or-flight response that causes PTSD. Although prazosin does not block the release of noradrenaline, it does reduce the physical responses produced by noradrenaline by blocking reception of the drug in the brain. Think of it as blocking a quarterback's pass. If the receiver can never catch the ball, he will never be able to get the ball into the end zone to score a touchdown.
By blocking the brain’s response to noradrenaline, REM sleep is normalized and increased. Prazosin is not a sedative and does not induce sleep. Rather, it blocks the stimulus, allowing one to sleep naturally and for longer. This is important because trauma nightmares have been shown to occur when there is disruption in REM sleep or when the individual is in a stage of light sleep. By increasing the length and depth of “good” sleep, normal dreaming can occur. While it is possible to have nightmares, studies show that they are part of the normal sleep cycle rather than part of the trauma. Taking prazosin allows one to resume normal sleep patterns.
Prazosin does not induce tolerance – or rather it does not build up in the body. One dose works for 6-8 hours, which means one can take prazosin for years without having to increase the dosage they initially find effective. One must continue to take prazosin for continued effects, as trauma nightmares usually return when the medicated is no longer used. However, with counseling and prazosin, one would probably be able to work through the trauma more effectively and, eventually, eliminate the need for the drug as the memories become resolved in both the conscious and subconscious mind.
For treating post-traumatic stress disorder, lower doses are more effective. Patients take between 1 mg and 15 mg (1/3 to 1/2 of the dosage for people with high blood pressure). The average dose was around 13 mg a day. Because the drug lasts for 6-8 hours, prazosin is most effective when the dosage is split up and taken 3 times a day. People who take prazosin report better sleep quality, less trauma nightmares, a great sense of well-being and greater functioning.
While prazosin is a blood pressure medication, PTSD patients did not see a significant change in blood pressure when compared with those using a placebo. However, if you tend to have a lower blood pressure range 120/70 or less, you could experience increased symptoms of dizziness when standing or a sensation of tingling in your limbs. Occasional side effects reported are nasal congestion, headache and dry mouth. Each of these side effects was reported as mild. Headaches are more likely due to the adjustment of chemicals in the brain. Nasal congestion can be counteracted with an antihistamine like Benadryl or Vistaril, which are also effective tools in the treatment of PTSD as they help reduce the release of adrenaline.
Dr. Murray A. Raskind, executive director of the mental health service at the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System and lead author of a study appearing April 15 in Biological Psychiatry said, “This drug [prazosin] has been taken by many people for decades. If there were serious long-term adverse side effects, it is likely we would know about them by now.” Raskind, also a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington, estimates that of the 10 million U.S. veterans and civilians live with PTSD, about half have trauma-related nightmares that could be helped with the prazosin.
For information regarding prazosin side effects at higher doses, see the National Institute of Health:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682245.html
Keep up-to-date on PTSD, find support and find solutions at:
www.CarrotofHope.org
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Recommended:
Yes
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welleducated
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Location: Arizona, USA
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