Posted by SLS on December 2, 2013, at 10:32:09
In reply to Re: Nightmares + Meds are they Connected? » Phillipa, posted by Twinleaf on December 2, 2013, at 9:42:01
> Nightmares are often related to past emotional trauma. Have you considered a low night-time dose of prazosin? It would be a safe med to take at 2 mg. or so, and could interrupt the cycle of nightmares.
It is good to begin prazosin treatment as a single 1 mg dose at bedtime for the first day. This is just to prevent a syncope. Once treatment is initiated, you can then move up in dosage rapidly. When prazosin was first being looked at for treating PTSD nightmares, dosages of 3 - 6 given at night was evaluated. More recently, dosages of 20 - 30 mg/day given in divided doses is being studied. Multiple doses is most effective because the half-life of prazosin is short. Once higher dosages of prazosin were given throughout the day, it was discovered that it significantly reduced daytime depression and anxiety. It should be understood that the study population chosen was comprised of people with PTSD. I have not seen any studies looking at prazosin to treat depression and anxiety in the absence of PTSD, chronic physical or emotional abuse, or childhood neglect. A related drug, doxazosin, has a long half-life, but does not seem to be clinically effective.
- Scott
Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.- George Bernard Shaw
poster:SLS
thread:1055195
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