Prazosin: Experience, Pros/cons Etc.

[Luke]

A member mentioned this medication in another thread here (thank you for that). After doing some rudimentary research, I believe this may be applicable to me. I have been taking trazadone (before bed) for over a decade to improve the continuity of my sleep. Unfortunately, I am now so addicted to it, I can't sleep without it. I have neurological ailments stemming from an encephal illness that left me with a couple white matter lesions, so I have to take neurontin as well. I would love to be able to dump the trazadone. I take 150mg each night.

Still, even with the trazadone & neurontin, my sleep is extremely, & increasingly, disrupted. Every thump & bump in the night spurs my startle response... & I'm like a somnolent Bruce Lee (gratefully, without the nunchucks) with the under the covers kung-fu. Then the nightmares, sweating, etc. It's been getting worse & worse. I'm dangerously exhausted at this point, & that's not hyperbole. I'm having little blackouts & such as a result of this exhaustion. I don't really have this level of hyper vigilance during the day, just when sleeping. Or trying to (unsuccessfully) anyway.

Any advice, insight, or experience with this drug would be appreciated. Maybe I'm a bit paranoid, but I am a tad apprehensive about being prescribed a medication specifically for PTSD, as I don't really want it in my records. However, it is primarily a blood pressure medication so... (I have a litigious situation with an injury sustained at work, & I feel like they'd use anything against me, especially as it seems I am moving towards settlement. It has not been pleasant.) Again, I'd like to hear your opinions &/or experiences with this medication. Thank you.

 

[Lost Pup]

I cannot remember the dose I took but, for several months it was extremely helpful with nightmares. I stopped taking it because I thought I was having very slight neurological symptoms (that, in fairness were probably in my head) and because my general stress level had diminished. It was not useful for waking stress/anxiety but extremely good for nightmares and, for a time, dramatically improved my sleep.

 

[Luke]

Thanks for the input. I need to do/try something.

 

[Candleflames]

Hi Luke

I take 2 mg of Prazosin at bed time. I Have to bring a glass of water to bed with me and take it sitting in bed because it becomes effective so fast. I started with 1 mg and built my way up to three but had some uncomfortable flushing that woke me up. I also wake up feeling a little dehydrated and "salty" if I don't get enough fluids the day before. Those are the only negative side effects I have experienced.

At 2 mg it makes me feel relaxed and a little woozy till I drift off. It's main effects is on my nightmares. They have become parodies of what they once were. The subject matter hasn't changed. What has it the delivery and affect. Instead of experiencing horrible things happen to my children I might watch them struggle with mild but overly dramatized issues that is a little closer to reality but also has a lesson I need to learn. So I am still processing what I need to in my sleep but the intensity has changed.

I'm sticking with the lower dose because I am not the best person at taking meds. Missing a few days and then taking a higher dose can cause a dangerous drop in pressure. I hope that helps even though it's been a few weeks.

 

[nimkekaa]

I take prazosin and it has been very helpful with getting a better night sleep. There are 2 other threads about prazosin that you might want to check out. The first is more recent then the second one.


[DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/has-the-prazosin-study-been-mentioned-yet.22858/page-2#post-535408[/DLMURL]
[DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/ptsd-and-prazosin.12525/[/DLMURL]

 

[Okiemavis]

I take Prazosin one dose during the day and a higher dose at night to help me sleep. The #1 thing I noticed about this medication was my startle response got much better within days. Also, I used to take trazadone for sleep and since my doctor raised my PM dose of prazosin I've been able to stop taking the trazadone.
Good luck!

 

[MarineVet]

Just an FYI on the side effects, I had a priapism (raging boner lasting over 4 hours) twice in 3 days on that, so I can't take it anymore.

 

[SR72]

Luke I would get a sleep study done to see what your sleep patterns consist of and get some help ruling out sleep issues. Just a suggestion it can't hurt.

 

[kimba]

Hi Luke,
I have been taking Prazosin for a while for nightmares. I had to increase the dose due to aniversary issues during certain times of the year making them worse. I am happy to say it helps alot. I am up to 7 mgs at bedtime. I have tried a couple of other drugs before and after a while they stopped working. One drug gave me rapid heartbeats. My nightmares have become less often where before they were every night then 4-5 nights out of 7, now I have weird dreams that I can't remember which is fine with me. I don't fall asleep immediately but in half hour to hour.

 

[Jenfa]

Yes for Prazosin. It's used for blood pressure, but it blocks some of the adrenaline that we over-produce in ptsd nightmares. If you have a nightmare that is basically the same every night, this med can potentially break the cycle of the nightmare. Personally, I love it. It doesn't put me to sleep because I'm also bipolar, and only a sedative the size of King Kong can do that, but it puts me in a great place when I do fall asleep. Even knowing that the nightmare won't be there tonight is the best sedative

 

[devildoc130]

I've used this medication before as well. Using it off label for PTSD Nightmares. It worked very well. It basiclly makes it so you don't experience the flight or fight response when a nightmare does occure. And I also didn't really remember my dreams. I am off all medications now, except for a small dosage of Zoloft. It's been 4 months since I took Prazosin. I hope it works well for you.

 

[Nin]

Tried it once and I wish my body could handle it so I could have seen if it gave me any benefit. Unfortunately I have low blood pressure and Prozosin can lower it further. The result was a very sick and weak Nin. Lost a day of work to the attempt. I hope it was able to benefit some of you though. Just talk to your doctor if blood pressure is a concern of yours.