Tell Me More About Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
2. What are the physical treatments for PTSD?
In the acute phase of PTSD the stress may be relieved initially by a brief use of anti-anxiety medication such as the Benzodiazepines (BZs) (e.g. Alprazolam (Xanax), Diazepam (Valium), or Lorazepam (Ativan). BZs are fast-acting but are also addictive and should not be taken daily for more than 2-3 weeks. BZs alone are not effective for long term treatment.
In the mid-term, PTSD is typically treated with an anti-depressant. Several studies have shown that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication is effective in relieving PTSD. Examples include Paroxetine (Paxil), Sertraline (Zoloft) and Citalopram (Celexa) and can be augmented with non-SSRI Venflaxamine (Effexor). It usually takes 2-3 weeks for the effects of an anti-depressant to become noticeable.
Reference
Friedman MJ, Davidson JTR, Mellman TA and Southwick SM Pharmacotherapy (Chapter 5 and 17) Foa EB, Keane TM and Friedman MJ eds. (2000) Effective Treatments for PTSD. Guilford Press. NY. |
