PTSD Medications
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can occur after a person has experienced a traumatic event or a series of events. It leads to symptoms that include anxiety, hypervigilance, intrusive memories, flashbacks, and nightmares. The condition is typically treated with trauma-focused therapy and certain medications.
SSRIs
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) help relieve specific symptoms of PTSD by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that plays a role in mood and sleep. PTSD can disrupt how chemical signals are sent throughout the brain and body. Increasing serotonin levels can potentially help symptoms that impact mood, anxiety, and sleep. SSRIs that are often prescribed to treat PTSD include:
Zoloft (sertraline)
Paxil (paroxetine)
Prozac (fluoxetine)
SNRIs
Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) inhibit the reuptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is a chemical that acts as a hormone and neurotransmitter, playing an essential role in the body's fight-or-flight stress response. By increasing levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, SNRIs help with mood and anxiety symptoms of PTSD. The most commonly prescribed SNRI to treat PTSD is:
Effexor (venlafaxine)
Anti-Anxiety Medications
Anti-anxiety medications are sometimes prescribed to help people manage symptoms of anxiety. These medications increase the amount of GABA that binds to the central nervous system (CNS) receptors. GABA is an inhibitory receptor, so increasing its actions causes people to feel more relaxed, sedated, and sleepy. A few types of anti-anxiety medications that may be used off-label for PTSD include:
Ativan (lorazepam)
Klonopin (clonazepam)
Valium (diazepam)
Xanax (alprazolam)
Alpha-1 Blockers
Alpha-1 blockers are medications that act as alpha-adrenergic receptor agonists. They affect alpha receptors in the CNS, which helps inhibit the body's stress response. These medications are primarily prescribed to treat high blood pressure, prostate enlargement, and tumors. Alpha-1 blockers are also sometimes prescribed off-label to improve sleep and reduce nightmares in PTSD. The two alpha-1 blocker medications that are primarily prescribed for PTSD are:
Cardura (doxazosin)
Minipress (prazosin)
Mood Stabilizers
Mood stabilizers may sometimes be prescribed for PTSD if other first-line treatments are ineffective or do not provide sufficient relief. These medications are typically utilized to treat bipolar disorder and work to regulate mood and balance emotions, which may help people better manage some symptoms of PTSD. Mood stabilizing medications may include Lithium and anticonvulsant medications such as:
Depakote (divalproex)
Lamictal (lamotrigine)
Conclusion
Medication can be helpful in the treatment of PTSD, but it is often most effective when used along with trauma-focused therapy. The PTSD medications that are most frequently prescribed are Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), and Effexor (venlafaxine). Zoloft and Paxil are FDA-approved for treating PTSD, but other medications are often prescribed off-label depending on an individual’s specific needs. To learn more about how trauma-focused therapy and PTSD medications can help you, contact Colorway Wellness today!