Ptsd Treatment: Alpha-Blockers Or Beta-Blockers

[Batik]

Talk to me of beta-blockers and alpha-blockers, people. I need something for PTSD, the nightmares and anxiety in particular. I hear that prazosin, an alpha-blocker, is fantastic for PTSD nightmares.

I'm currently on ivabradine and my HR and BP have been pretty stable as a result. Recently I started wearing a Fitbit Charge HR, so I am now monitoring my HR more closely. It goes up and down more than I expected, especially after showers, so no wonder those wipe me out. I also have severe ME/CFS, fibro and a mast cell disorder. I'm on four meds for the mast cell disorder, which also help with the POTS. My POTS isn't too bad, I was never getting the really high tachycardia, although it was enough to be pretty disruptive before I started on treatment. ME is far and away the worst thing I have. I don't know if you can combine ivabradine with alpha blockers or beta blockers, does anyone know that? Because adding a med which would be a bit crap for my blood pressure is one thing if it's on top of meds which stabilise my blood pressure, and another thing if it's instead of them.

[artluvr09]

I don't know what Alpha Blockers are but my beta blocker helps my physical symptoms of anxiety like rapid heart rate, shakiness and panic attacks. For nightmares maybe try alternating your diet before bed. I have noticed if I have chips or greasy or junk food before bed I get nightmares. I have the same snack every night before bed now. which is a chewy peanut bar and a small glass of milk. The only down side about the beta blocker is that my blood pressure runs lower now. It used to be 120s/70s and when I started the atenolol in October 2013 my blood pressure now runs 90s/60s sometimes the lower number in the 50s. and Im more tired now but it has helped the physical symptoms of anxiety and lessened m y palpitations and stuff. I hope you find something that works for you .

[gjensen]

Beta blockers, generally speaking, are not a good idea for those with Mast Cell problems. It would seam that it would not be a good idea to combine with Ivabradine, since both lower the heart rate. Alpha blockers do help some with anxiety, and PTSD. Some beta blockers are more help with anxiety than others. Particularly those that are non selective. Both Alpha and Beta blockers can make OI worse.

You do not want to take nitro while on some alpha blockers, unless directed by a doctor.

Trazadone has actions against a1 and a2 receptors. It does help with anxiety, and is sometimes used off label as a sleep aid. I do not know how it interacts with other drugs etc.

Of course this should be discussed with a doctor. I only wanted to share the conclusions I came to.

[Katybug]

Yes, gjensen is correct. Beta blockers are contraindicated for those with mcas. A bb causes mast cell degranulation. I'm not sure about alpha blockers.

[Psalm 23]

Like you I am on a large number of medications for MCAD which improves my PoTS symptoms as well as other issues. I am also on Clonidine (0.05mg bid ) which is an alpha blocker. At one time Ivrabradine was under consideration as an add on medication by my PoTS neuro so I guess he was okay with combining an alpha blocker and Ivrabradine. Of course the risk with an alpha blocker is a lowering of your blood pressure. In my case I have a very labile blood pressure but was prescribed Clonidine because of a very hyperadrenergic component to my neuropathic PoTS. I see that both clonidine and prazosin can potentially help with PTSD nightmares but like everything else have side effect risks to be considered. As was already pointed out beta blockers are generally contraindicated for mast cell issue patients. I experienced severe chest pain when tried on a beta blocker. I hope you find something that helps.

Janet

[Batik]

Artluvr09 - It's not my food, I eat a healthy diet and very rarely eat fried food. It's because I've experienced trauma, have PTSD, and had trauma-related dreams several (if not most) nights a week. Interesting to hear you get nightmares from food though, are they bad?

The GP is off researching prazosin and beta-blockers, as I didn't know to tell her that beta-blockers clash with the mast cell disorder. I doubt she'll find that out, no one seems to know a thing about mast cell disorders here and I'm not under the care of a specialist.

If my BP ends up lower, can I try licorice to bring it back up again? Right now it's at a nice healthy level due to the ivabradine. I've not tried licorice as a supplement yet, but I occasionally have it as a tea.

I hear prazosin is good for Raynaud's as well. No idea if that's what causes my icy hands and feet, but I'd love to have that under control.

[Batik]

Still waiting to hear back from the GP, and she's not in today. Meanwhile, I've just had a night of the worst nightmares of my life. My Fitbit recorded my sleep efficiency as 88%, which is around the worst I've had. I've been breathless and tight-chested and generally feeling crap for hours now. Is there anything I can do to help this? I've got an ice pack I'm holding to my chest, I think that may be taking the edge off, and I've been drinking the caffeinated Nuun as a bit of caffeine is a bronchodilator. Also I had 2mg diazepam when I woke earlier this morning, on the principle that I must have had a lot of adrenaline rushing around last night. I have some licorice capsules I've not tried yet, are they likely to help?