There are four medications currently recommended as first-choice options to treat PTSD. Zoloft (sertraline) and Paxil (paroxetine) are FDA approved to treat PTSD. But Prozac (fluoxetine) and Effexor XR (venlafaxine) are also good first-choice options, even though they're not officially approved for PTSD.
Trauma-focused psychotherapy as preferred treatment — For most adults diagnosed with PTSD, we suggest first-line treatment with a trauma-focused psychotherapy that includes exposure rather than other types of therapy, or medication (eg, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI] or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake ...
The only FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of PTSD are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) sertraline (Zoloft, Pfizer) and paroxetine HCl (Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline).
Psychotherapy. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of psychotherapy that has consistently been found to be the most effective treatment of PTSD both in the short term and the long term. CBT for PTSD is trauma-focused, meaning the trauma event(s) are the center of the treatment.
Exposure therapy has been thoroughly studied and referred to as the gold standard for PTSD patients, helping them process emotions and overcome their fears. The goal of exposure therapy is to actively confront the things that a person fears.
Medication can help provide relief from symptoms, such as anxiety or depression, associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Psychiatrists at NYU Langone may prescribe antidepressants, mood stabilizers, antianxiety medications, and alpha-1 blockers for the treatment of PTSD.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
The activity of this neurotransmitter in both the peripheral and central nervous systems can be modulated by SSRIs. The SSRIs sertraline and paroxetine are the only medications approved by the FDA for PTSD.
There is no cure for PTSD, but some people will see a complete resolution of symptoms with proper treatment. Even those who do not, generally see significant improvements and a much better quality of life.
The main treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are talking therapies and medicine. Traumatic events can be very difficult to come to terms with, but confronting your feelings and getting professional help is often the only way of effectively treating PTSD.
Lithium is used for the long-term treatment of mania. It can reduce how often you get an episode and how severe they are. It has been found to reduce the risk of suicide. NICE guidance for bipolar disorder recommends lithium as a first choice, long-term treatment to treat episodes of mania.
PTSD assessment may begin using a self-screen. However, a more in-depth assessment is required to diagnose PTSD. That assessment will involve an interview with a provider and may also include self-report questionnaires that you complete. You can always ask questions so that you know what to expect.
Treatment can reduce the symptoms of PTSD and help those suffering manage their emotions and reduce avoidance behaviors. Nothing can change the fact that a traumatic event happened, but treatment for PTSD can help you live a full and happy life outside the grip of trauma.
Talk therapy treatment for PTSD usually lasts 6 to 12 weeks, but it can last longer. Research shows that support from family and friends can be an important part of recovery. Many types of psychotherapy can help people with PTSD.
PTSD is hard to treat
Instead of feeling like a normal memory, trauma memories feel like they are still happening, right now in the present. At the same time, the brain stays in fight or flight mode, constantly feeling threatened even when the person is safe.
PTSD symptoms usually appear soon after trauma. For most people, these symptoms go away on their own within the first few weeks and months after the trauma. For some, the symptoms can last for many years, especially if they go untreated.
But one of the most pervasive symptoms of PTSD is not directly related to emotions at all: individuals suffering from a stress-related disorder experience cognitive difficulties ranging from memory loss to an impaired ability to learn new things.
Someone with PTSD often relives the traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks, and may experience feelings of isolation, irritability and guilt. They may also have problems sleeping, such as insomnia, and find concentrating difficult.
Your brain is equipped with an alarm system that normally helps ensure your survival. With PTSD, this system becomes overly sensitive and triggers easily. In turn, the parts of your brain responsible for thinking and memory stop functioning properly.
People with PTSD may also experience physical symptoms, such as increased blood pressure and heart rate, fatigue, muscle tension, nausea, joint pain, headaches, back pain or other types of pain. The person in pain may not realize the connection between their pain and a traumatic event.