Ptsd Meds, Any Suggestions

[Moonkindredlass]

I'm currently on 1.5 to 2mg Lorezapam daily for anxiety, which I have extremely, and 15mg Mitrazapine. However I think the Mitrazapine is making my nightmares worse. I've recently read that anti-depressants can sometimes be worse for PTSD suffers. Does anyone have any suggestions on what medicines work better? I'm going to my doctor on Monday to discuss this and I'd like to be better informed. I was also on Lyrica instead of the Lorezapam, he keeps switching me back and forth and uping and lowing my doses on all.

 

[Shellbell]

I'm also on Mirtazapine, so can't help with advising of a different one.

My nightmares are pretty bad, but I assumed it was starting therapy and starting to talk about the trauma's that was making this worse, not the medication.

All my other PTSD symptoms of anxiety, flashbacks, hypervigilance, avoidance, withdrawing etc are also getting worse, so I assume this is why my nightmares are getting worse.

 

[JustBe]

Hmmm, I used to take Zoloft and Xanax, but after awhile they stopped working. Now I'm only taking Citalopram 20mg. I still have anxiety and nightmares, but my panic attacks are fewer and the deep depression has lifted.

I hope that helps a little.

 

[matthios]

Minipress (prazosin) has been shown to be very successful with nightmares. It's a blood-pressure med rather than something going after your neurotransmitters... as a result, the side effects are also on the mild-to-none side (much more so than benzos/ssri/snri)

 

[Moonkindredlass]

Thank you to everyone who has answered my post. My doctor really has no clue about PTSD, he's informed me about this and we're both learning together. It frustrates me though because I've said for about 4 months now that I think my meds are making it worse because my night terrors have increased in intensity. 2-4 every night. Recently I have started reaching for Mischa when they happen and holdiing on to him while I shake and cry, I don't realize that I am doing this, but he says it helps me after about 10 to 15 minutes to go back to sleep. I'm tired, there's more to say but right now I honestly have no energy to type it. :-(

 

[piratelady]

I have to say, that would make me nervous to know my doctor didn't know about PTSD and that you were learning together. I hope they can figure your meds out. I know it can take a bit of trial and error.

 

[matthios]

Piratelady, I'd initially be in agreement with you about a doctor not knowing... BUT- the fact that the doctor ADMITS it rather than does the standard doctor "I know everything, you know nothing" routine is promising. It may just mean the doctor bothers learning what's actually NEW in treatment (read: last decade) rather than insiting "oh, I already know" and going with a course of treatment laid out a billion years ago relying on drugs that've largely been taken off the market. (Because, yup, that happens!)

 

[Moonkindredlass]

I have to say, that would make me nervous to know my doctor didn't know about PTSD and that you were learning together. I hope they can figure your meds out. I know it can take a bit of trial and error.

I live in Germany and I used to work on the Air Base where I was diagnosed, I've stopped working on the air base since it only increased my anxiety and I have an off base phys who prescribes my meds, my therapist though knows about PTSD and she helps me, however bringing out the many, many things I have to deal with it would be nice if my phys had a clue. I just talked to Mischa again last night about it and I'm thinking about changing my doctor. He doesn't charge us anything though and we're tight on money since I'm not working.

 

[Moonkindredlass]

Piratelady, I'd initially be in agreement with you about a doctor not knowing... BUT- the fact that the doctor ADMITS it rather than does the standard doctor "I know everything, you know nothing" routine is promising. It may just mean the doctor bothers learning what's actually NEW in treatment (read: last decade) rather than insiting "oh, I already know" and going with a course of treatment laid out a billion years ago relying on drugs that've largely been taken off the market. (Because, yup, that happens!)

You're right about that, he's looking and doing research, it's just frustrating.

 

[InHell11]

I am taking Mitrazapine and first couple nights it helped me sleep, but then I was having worse dreams just not waking up so much in between. Lately I've mostly been sleeping between like 5am and 11am to 12pm it seems easier to get restful sleep if I sleep between those times....I still take the mirtrazapine rather late each night since it says before bed time....but not sure if I should instead take it very early in the morning before sleeping. But then of course I try to get sleep at night since its hard to keep myself busy at night when people are sleeping but it doesn't seem to work out.

 

[therapybankrupt]

My doctor really has no clue about PTSD, he's informed me about this and we're both learning together.

I am concerned that your Doctor is learning. From experience I wasted years in therapy where Doctors were learning. My suggestion would be to seek out a qualified Doctor. You need someone you can trust and know how help you to take care of you and your symptoms. Best of luck with your journey to well being!

 

[Moonkindredlass]

Thank you, I'm thinking that's the path I'm going to have to take regardless of the money it costs.