Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group

Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.

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mujicaptsd 05/07/2016

For the last 5 years kidney disease disqualified me to PTSD meds. A month ago, though, my kidney doc gave me the go ahead for Seroquel to help with flashbacks and nightmares.

After jumping through the referral, insurance, and pre-screening hoops, I finally got in to see a psychiatrist for it. Instead of Seroquel, though, he prescribed Prazosin, saying it was new as a PTSD med since I was up to date on such things 5 years ago.

I was happy not to get Seroquel because I would avoid its weight gain side effect. I've started taking Prazosin, and will go back in 2 weeks to the psychiatrist to report in on effects and side effects.

Does anyone here know anything about Prazosin for PTSD?

silverstars 05/07/2016

Hi muji,

my pyschiatrist told me about this med a few months ago,when i was having looping flashbacks when i went to bed,as well as nightmares.

apparently a lot of success has been found with it being used for PTSD related nightmares.

in the end,because my looping thoughts were intertwined with my OCD,we went with another med,Latuda.

i do know that because it is actually a blood pressure med,it is important to monitor that,and take care to stand up slowly when you are lying or sitting down.

i myself have naturally very low blood pressure,so i know i would have to be extra careful.

i do hope this med helps you,muji,and that you do not experience any side effects.

aliceunchained87 05/07/2016

I don't have any experience with Prazosin, but I just want to take a moment to extend my support as you go through this. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to navigate five years of not benefiting from a medicine you would otherwise like to take. I sincerely hope that this new medicine works out for you!

shotime 05/07/2016

Hi there.
I've been on Prazosin for over a year now and it has helped me tremendously with my PTSD nightmares and flashbacks. At one point I was taken off of it and I noticed a major difference so was put back on.

It may lower your blood pressure as silverstars mentioned. I know I tend to have low blood pressure as it is so I have to be careful but I've not had a problem.

I hope this med helps you like it has helped me

powerpurplewarrior 05/07/2016

I've been on Prazosin for many years. I'm on 5mg now. The purpose is not to take the nightmares away but to help make them less powerful. It helps make the nightmares more manageable therefore helping you sleep better.
If I were you I would ask for both. Seroqule will help with mood, depression, anxiety, and really help you sleep as it is very sedative.

That's all I got

WeepyOne 05/09/2016

I've been on 6mg of Prazosin for about five years now. It has helped tremendously. The nightmares and flashbacks haven't gone away totally but are now manageable as just passing thoughts. I do still have bad days though but still makes it easier to use my DBT skills. But my abuse was extraordinarily severe, so I've been told by umpteen Drs. So I take any reduction in symptoms that I can get. I hope you can find some help from using it. If I recall it didn't help immediately as I had to work my way up from 1 mg to 6. Good luck.

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