Post-traumatic stress disorder, better known as PTSD, is, without a doubt, a highly complex mental health condition. In addition to developing once you have been a part or witnessed some traumatic events, such as violence, accidents and disasters, it can also develop if you’ve been abused or neglected, whether in your formative period as a child, or as an adult. The symptoms can vary from person to person, and they can be quite debilitating, from emotional numbness and avoidance to negative shifts in thinking, flashbacks, and more.
Now, there are various things that people can do to get help for this particular disorder, and a combination of medications and psychotherapy is often the best path towards getting better. When speaking of medications, SSRIs for PTSD stand out as the only approved treatment option for this particular disorder. So, if you’ve heard of them, either because your doctor prescribed them to you, or to someone else, there is no doubt that you’ll want to learn a bit more about how effective they can actually be for this condition.
In other words, you want to know whether they are effective in the first place. And then, you also want to know what to expect if and when you start taking them. Those are both, without a doubt, rather important questions right there, so what we are going to do right now is answer them for you, in an effort to help you figure out precisely what you need to know, and thus get prepared if your doctor said that you should start taking these medications.
Are SSRIs Effective for PTSD?
Before we can answer this question directly, we have to make sure that you understand what these medications actually are. So, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs, are a class of antidepressant drugs that work by, as the name says it, inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, which means that this neurotransmitter will remain more active in the brain. And, we all know by now that serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in various processes, from mood and emotional regulation to sleep and appetite.
Now, there are two specific SSRIs that are approved for PTSD, and that are, therefore, most commonly prescribed. Those are known as Sertraline and Paroxetine, sold under the brand names of Zoloft and Paxil. Apart from that, though, there are some other SSRIs that can often be used off-label for this disorder, and that doctors resort to when a person doesn’t respond to these two. Those include Prozac, Lexapro and similar.
Here’s more on PTSD in general: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-traumatic_stress_disorder
A lot of clinical trials have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of these particular medications for this disorder. And, what has been found out is that they can undeniably be effective for reducing some core PTSD symptoms. Such as, for example, intrusive thoughts, avoidance, hyperarousal, anxiety, as well as the depression that often co-occurs with this particular condition.
So, to put things simply, these medications can undeniably be effective for this particular disorder. What you should know, though, is that the drugs alone are not enough to help you kind of overcome the condition and thus improve your quality of life. This is why they are often of best help when used in combination with psychotherapy. Meaning that, if you’re suffering from PTSD, you can benefit from these medications, but you should also work with a psychotherapist to really get to the bottom of things and make some more permanent changes.
What to Expect If You Start Taking Them?
Okay, now that you get that these can be effective for PTSD, the next thing you want is to figure out what to actually expect if your doctor prescribes them and you start taking them. And, the first thing to understand is that the effects won’t be immediate. In other words, SSRIs work gradually, and you will often see first improvements after 3 to 6 weeks of taking them, which means that you should be patient. Go here to understand SSRIs better.
While the first positive effects can be expected around the 3rd week, the truth is that you may experience some physical side-effects even during the first week. And it is important for you to understand that this is normal, so that you don’t give up and stop taking the medications after experiencing it. Your sleep may temporarily worsen, and your anxiety may briefly increase, so don’t panic if this happens.
Speaking of side-effects, you probably want to understand precisely what to expect when it comes to those. And, well, while the side-effects are often mild, you should get informed about them before you start taking these medications, so that you are ready. Typically, they include symptoms like nausea, fatigue or insomnia, sweating headaches, restlessness, as well as emotional blunting sometimes. Both the effects and the side-effects will differ from one individual to another, which is why it is important for you to work with your doctor and keep them informed about your experience with SSRIs, so that they can adjust the treatment accordingly.
