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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Hugh on August 23, 2022, at 0:19:13
Despite the high prevalence of PTSD, the US Food and Drug Administration has only approved two medications to treat this condition -- sertraline and paroxetine -- and both have shown only limited effectiveness in reducing PTSD symptoms.
PTSD is also common among military veterans; more than 10 percent of US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patients experience these symptoms. Two years ago, researchers at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and the White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Vermont began to investigate whether existing medications may improve PTSD symptoms, with funding from the National Institute of Mental Health.
During an initial exploratory analysis among a national cohort of VA patients, the researchers unexpectedly found that several new direct acting antiviral (DAA) medications used to treat hepatitis C virus infection were associated with PTSD symptom improvement. The findings were published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.
Now, in a new, follow-up study, the researchers have conducted a more rigorous analysis to examine and compare the effectiveness of the previously identified DAAs in PTSD symptom improvement. Their new analysis suggests the most promising DAA for prospective study as a potential medication for PTSD in patients without hepatitis C virus infection.
Published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the new study found that the medication combination glecaprevir and pibrentasvir had the strongest association with PTSD symptom improvement among the DAAs most prescribed in the VA.
"Many people have PTSD, but there are few effective pharmacologic treatments and limited drug development for PTSD," says co-principal investigator and study senior author Jaimie Gradus, associate professor of epidemiology at BUSPH. "Existing effective treatments are mostly psychotherapy, and while they work well, there are also issues with them, including a lot of treatment dropout and they're time-intensive, so adding to the suite of treatment options for people is a high priority."
Full article:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-08-hepatitis-drugs-ptsd-symptoms.html
Posted by SLS on August 23, 2022, at 10:26:20
In reply to Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD, posted by Hugh on August 23, 2022, at 0:19:13
Hi, Hugh.
Prazosin (Minipress), and old, worthless antihypertensive, usually works wonders to squash PTSD nightmares, and reduce daytime anxiety and depression when taken throughout the day. It is a very "clean" drug. The only side effect was a reduction of sex drive. It wasn't completely abolished, though. It did not affect the quality of my erections, and orgasm was easy to achieve.
A dosage of 30 mg/day dosed as 10 mg t.i.d. is what is reported to work to treat PTSD.
* I had some impressive improvements in my depression with prazosin. However, I hit a plateau. It didn't makes sense to have an antihypertensive on board when adding Nardil.
- Scott
Posted by Hugh on August 24, 2022, at 10:40:15
In reply to Re: Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD » Hugh, posted by SLS on August 23, 2022, at 10:26:20
Another old, cheap antihypertensive drug that can work wonders with PTSD is propranolol.
CBS 60 Minutes report about using propranolol to treat PTSD:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49jUUfY84dE
> Hi, Hugh.
>
> Prazosin (Minipress), and old, worthless antihypertensive, usually works wonders to squash PTSD nightmares, and reduce daytime anxiety and depression when taken throughout the day. It is a very "clean" drug. The only side effect was a reduction of sex drive. It wasn't completely abolished, though. It did not affect the quality of my erections, and orgasm was easy to achieve.
>
> A dosage of 30 mg/day dosed as 10 mg t.i.d. is what is reported to work to treat PTSD.
>
>
> * I had some impressive improvements in my depression with prazosin. However, I hit a plateau. It didn't makes sense to have an antihypertensive on board when adding Nardil.
>
>
> - Scott
>
>
>
Posted by SLS on August 24, 2022, at 11:20:49
In reply to Re: Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD, posted by Hugh on August 24, 2022, at 10:40:15
> Another old, cheap antihypertensive drug that can work wonders with PTSD is propranolol.
>
> CBS 60 Minutes report about using propranolol to treat PTSD:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49jUUfY84dE
I couldn't watch the video. How well does propranolol treat PTSD nightmares?Propranolol has autonomic effects that lower heart rate and blood pressure (much more so than prazosin). There may be contraindications for some people to take propranalol.
The nightmares are probably the biggest concern for sufferers of PTSD.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on August 24, 2022, at 11:23:02
In reply to Re: Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD, posted by Hugh on August 24, 2022, at 10:40:15
Hi, Hugh.
Now, why didn't we think of this?
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21308782/
- Scott
Posted by Hugh on August 24, 2022, at 20:08:50
In reply to Re: Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD, posted by SLS on August 24, 2022, at 11:23:02
Nice find, Scott. People must have felt the same way when the peanut butter and jelly sandwich was invented.
> Hi, Hugh.
>
> Now, why didn't we think of this?
>
>
> https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21308782/
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by Jay2112 on August 24, 2022, at 20:40:04
In reply to Re: Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD, posted by SLS on August 24, 2022, at 11:23:02
For some, Prazosin is ineffective. (Myself included) It did nothing for my nightmares, and made me feel like total sh*t during the day. Clonidine, and one of it's off-shoots I can't recall the name of, combined with propranolol, has been a saviour to me.Perfect combo. I have a very high hart-rate, and these work well to keep me smooth throughout the day. I was diagnosed with PTSD about 7 years ago. I lost a child and partner/wife in a car accident about 24 years ago, but it took that long for me to get decent services and help.
This combo extinguishes nightmares, as well as intrusive thoughts/flashbacks and severe anxiety in the daytime.Jay
Posted by SLS on August 24, 2022, at 21:08:10
In reply to Re: Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD, posted by Jay2112 on August 24, 2022, at 20:40:04
> For some, Prazosin is ineffective. (Myself included) It did nothing for my nightmares, and made me feel like total sh*t during the day. Clonidine, and one of it's off-shoots I can't recall the name of, combined with propranolol, has been a saviour to me.Perfect combo. I have a very high hart-rate, and these work well to keep me smooth throughout the day. I was diagnosed with PTSD about 7 years ago. I lost a child and partner/wife in a car accident about 24 years ago, but it took that long for me to get decent services and help.
> This combo extinguishes nightmares, as well as intrusive thoughts/flashbacks and severe anxiety in the daytime.
>
> Jay
>
Reports like yours are invaluable, Jay.
Clonidine makes sense. It is a presynaptic NE alpha-2 agonist. It probably dampens the fight-or-flight response. However, clonidine is frequently depressogenic, even with people who never had a depressive episode before.Of the two drugs, which one helps with the nightmares?
- Scott
Posted by Jay2112 on August 24, 2022, at 22:36:25
In reply to Re: Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD » Jay2112, posted by SLS on August 24, 2022, at 21:08:10
> > For some, Prazosin is ineffective. (Myself included) It did nothing for my nightmares, and made me feel like total sh*t during the day. Clonidine, and one of it's off-shoots I can't recall the name of, combined with propranolol, has been a saviour to me.Perfect combo. I have a very high hart-rate, and these work well to keep me smooth throughout the day. I was diagnosed with PTSD about 7 years ago. I lost a child and partner/wife in a car accident about 24 years ago, but it took that long for me to get decent services and help.
> > This combo extinguishes nightmares, as well as intrusive thoughts/flashbacks and severe anxiety in the daytime.
> >
> > Jay
> >
>
>
> Reports like yours are invaluable, Jay.
>
>
> Clonidine makes sense. It is a presynaptic NE alpha-2 agonist. It probably dampens the fight-or-flight response. However, clonidine is frequently depressogenic, even with people who never had a depressive episode before.
>
> Of the two drugs, which one helps with the nightmares?
>
>
> - ScottHey Scott,
Well, c'mon, this is not a peeing match..lol. The clonidine has been my goto for many years. And, one of the largest components of PTSD is all angles of anxiety. That clonidine has some sedative properties has been cited in the literature as an advantage. My PTSD, as I explained, is incredibly complex, with periods of deep, sharp, angular injury, from nightmares, to flashbacks, sweats in -40 weather, like a constant, horrific bombardment of imminent death. I'd walk into a WalMart, hear a child crying, and I would run, rip into my car and into my basement...black...just black, to dark out ANY kind of sound or stimulation.
I tried Prazosin, numerous times, and it completely worsened my symptoms. I found great relief with clonidine, and slightly less with guanfacine. Absolutely NO drug will work for everyone. This piece explains it, for me, anyhow. I am GLAD you found something that works for you.
Best
Jay
Posted by SLS on August 25, 2022, at 13:00:58
In reply to Re: Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD » SLS, posted by Jay2112 on August 24, 2022, at 22:36:25
You're right. This isn't a peeing match.
Why would you say such a thing - even jokingly?
- Scott
Posted by Jay2112 on August 26, 2022, at 20:26:57
In reply to Re: Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD » Jay2112, posted by SLS on August 25, 2022, at 13:00:58
> You're right. This isn't a peeing match.
>
> Why would you say such a thing - even jokingly?
>
>
> - ScottBecause...I have a demented sense of humour Scott, part of my mania has been taking hold. But, thankfully, Risperdal is starting to smooth me out. I am sorry...for whatever I said.
Jay
Posted by SLS on August 26, 2022, at 22:39:00
In reply to Re: Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD » SLS, posted by Jay2112 on August 26, 2022, at 20:26:57
Thank you for clarifying.
I didn't know that mania was a feature of your illness. Is it a mixed-state (dysphoric) mania?
- Scott
Posted by Jay2112 on August 27, 2022, at 20:09:10
In reply to Re: Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD » Jay2112, posted by SLS on August 26, 2022, at 22:39:00
> Thank you for clarifying.
>
> I didn't know that mania was a feature of your illness. Is it a mixed-state (dysphoric) mania?
>
>
> - ScottThanks for your understanding. Yes, it is a mixed state feature and Tegrotol seems to be helping. (Say Amen! lol) I am more on the depressed side, and it's tough to elevate mood without triggering damn mania. Believe me..I have tried almost every drug/combo going.
Jay
Posted by Hugh on August 29, 2022, at 17:13:12
In reply to Re: Hepatitis C drugs may help PTSD » Hugh, posted by SLS on August 24, 2022, at 11:20:49
Scott,
I took propranolol for several years, as needed, for palpitations. Then I switched to atenolol because it worked better. I don't have a problem with nightmares, except the occasional ones I still get that I'm taking a final that I haven't studied for or that I'm still working at a despised job that I quit years ago.
Beta-blockers can disrupt sleep by suppressing nighttime melatonin production. This can be ameliorated by taking melatonin supplements.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120928085629.htm
Atenolol disrupts my sleep less than propranolol did.
> > Another old, cheap antihypertensive drug that can work wonders with PTSD is propranolol.
> >
> > CBS 60 Minutes report about using propranolol to treat PTSD:
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49jUUfY84dE
>
>
> I couldn't watch the video. How well does propranolol treat PTSD nightmares?
>
> Propranolol has autonomic effects that lower heart rate and blood pressure (much more so than prazosin). There may be contraindications for some people to take propranalol.
>
> The nightmares are probably the biggest concern for sufferers of PTSD.
>
>
>
> - Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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