1. Understand Common PTSD Medicines and Their Side Effects
To find the right PTSD medication, you'll have to submit to an in-depth analysis of your condition. You'll need an intake assessment performed by a qualified clinician to determine the proper course of treatment.
Five major classes of anxiety medications are used to control symptoms in adult patients. Primarily, antidepressants are used--more specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This class of drugs includes fluvoxamine, citalopram and sertraline. Tricyclic antidepressants and oxidase inhibitors might also be used if your response to SSRI treatment is unsatisfactory.
Anxiolytics, a class of anti-anxiety drugs that enhance the natural action of serotonin produced by the brain, may also be prescribed for you. Drug treatment might be supplemented with anticonvulsant medications, if your response to antidepressants or anxiolytics is partial. Finally, noradrenergic agents and atypical antipsychotics may be use to block the receptors in your brain that respond to anxiety or stimulate serotonin production.
Close consultation with a medical doctor is necessary to determine which of these medications will be most effective for you. A number of key factors must be taken into consideration to find the right medication, including your susceptibility to drug side effects, contraindications with other medications and your age and overall health.
The side effects of these drugs vary quite a but, but they frequently cause drowsiness, changes in body weight, sexual dysfunctions and extreme emotional reactions in some cases. Drug treatment may be stopped by the supervising physician or psychiatrist if you respond poorly. In addition, some of these drugs, particularly benzodiazepine, carry a risk of dependency. Other alternatives may make better choices if you already exhibit tendencies towards substance abuse.
2. Deal With Complex Post-Traumatic Stress
While the aforementioned medicines may be used to treat a complex case of PTSD in which additional psychological conditions have developed, you may also be introduced to some other drugs if you have post-traumatic stress. Specifically, sedatives like alprazolam might be added to your drug-treatment regimen to control acute symptom episodes and aid your sleep.
3. Additional Considerations for Children and Adolescents
Generally, drug treatments are not used with children. However, exceptions may be made for older adolescents. A general lack of scientific data regarding the long-term effects of antidepressant and antianxiety medications on children makes most practitioners reluctant to prescribe them. Instead, talk-based therapies, such as cognitive-behavior therapy and family counseling, are favored for helping younger PTSD patients.
4. A Word About Self-Medication
Drug and alcohol abuse occurs in a significant percentage of adult PTSD sufferers. Many experts believe individuals are driven to substance abuse as a means of escaping powerful, uncontrollable traumatic memories. Researchers agree that this is a very dangerous path for PTSD-affected individuals to follow. If you or someone you know suffers from PTSD, watch for signs of substance abuse and act to prevent it.
