Prazosin for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder User Reviews

• Seren...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2016

"I am very thankful that my psychiatrist decided to prescribe this great medicine to me. My nightmares and sleep paralysis rarely rear its ugly head now. I have social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, dissociative disorder, PTSD, chronic depression, and ADHD. I realize that what I am about to say can be a controversial subject, but I simply wish to help. Many people who are diagnosed with so many psychological disorders are what is called an Empath. We are evolving faster now than ever before in the history of mankind. It's basically a spiritual awakening of the human race. There are positive aspects, such as high intuition amongst other gifts. Basically, it's not medical, but spiritual. Get educated and stay medicated if need be."

• Gabriel
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 17, 2020

"This medication is a life saver. I realized that I absolutely cannot go off it because it’s like night & day. I currently take 5 mg at night. I had to slowly increase it 1 mg at a time until I got up to where I am now. That’s the only thing about it, if you go more than two days without it, you have to titrate back up again. I’ve noticed a tremendous difference on this medication. I’m more relaxed during the day, I don’t clench my teeth all the time, I’m less jumpy, the intrusive thoughts have decreased considerably, I sleep better, the paranoia is decreased as are the crazy thought patterns I got myself into from the constant hypervigilance. The feeling of constant threat is reduced; every little thing doesn’t feel like it could kill me anymore. I can actually function. This is the best medicine I’ve ever been on."

• PTSD
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 22, 2016

"I've suffered for over 20 years with PTSD in addition to ADD, so my adrenal system is shot. My fight or flight is 0-100 with anger at times so severe I've received felony charges. I witnessed a horrific murder, was raped and held at gunpoint with my baby daughter for over a week. My trauma was so severe I had and still have memory loss. I believed I was dead for over 5 years and had a memory of me being shot. What I want to say about this medication is it saved my life, I've been on it for about 6 months and it works. I am going to see about taking it during the day as well...I wish you all the best of luck and pray you remain strong through your battle with PTSD."

• jwq
• May 6, 2014

"I started by getting sick after eating, then nightmares, sleeplessness, panic attacks, agoraphobia, high anxiety, and being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. I was put on different medicines by different doctors and nothing worked. The different meds made me gain 40 lbs, gave me diabetes, dyskinesia, and SSRI's have horrible withdrawal symptoms when you run out of medicines. A new VA doctor recently prescribed Prazosin. After three days, I no longer felt like I was constantly shaking inside me. I don't feel like a speaker reverberating through me when I hear a loud or sudden noise. I went from sleeping 4-5 hours per night to double that. I don't have nightmares anymore, and I stopped getting sick from anxiety. Prazosin is a miracle to me."

• RETVET
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 1, 2017

"First, I wish to thank those with PTSD who shared their experience with Prazosin. I am treated by VA for PTSD w/moral injury, for prolonged nightly night terrors, night screams, kicking/running legs in deep sleep. (Vietnam Era Combat Vet) I was placed on Prazosin nightly by my psychiatrist about 4 years ago, at 1mg, and graduating to 6mg by 2016. I take Sertraline in the morning, along with two cups of strong coffee to get me into a relatively normal routine. Sertraline helps with sudden noise anxiety and social conflict management. Prazosin causes me to crave sleep within an hour. I fall into deep sleep within minutes of lying down. The terrors and screams are very rare now. My dog is trained to awaken me on the alarm. I am grateful."

• Angela...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 1, 2017

"This pill has literally saved my life. I use to have dreams that would cause me to relive my traumas and I won't even describe my experience from there but it was as bad as if was happening again. Now I sleep in peace. I have taken this miracle pill for over 10 years now and it has worked. I also sometimes take a pill to actually help me fall asleep but that is a different problem and one that I have dealt with my entire life. Good luck to all of us who suffer with PTSD. The best advice I have is, stay away from alcohol, it does not help, it just appears to. It is really just the devil in disguise."

• Tian
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2020

"Took first 1mg prazosin dose last night, noticed dizziness within 30 minutes, did not help with nightmares. Upon waking up, my heart began to pound so badly that I also felt it in my head which caused a migraine that I still have writing this. I was sweating profusely, could hardly see anything due to almost passing out and had extremely loud ringing in my ears. I had to lay down this morning for about two hours because if I tried to stand, those symptoms listed would immediately start up again. Called my doc and was told to not take it again due to it dangerously lowering my blood pressure. I would not recommend this medication for PTSD treatment based on my horrible experience."

• Missu...
• January 3, 2020

"This medication Prazosin saved me . I have tried too many to count. I got a new psychiatrist who worked in a veterans hospital. I suffer from a couple forms of ptsd. Complex ptsd and ptsd associated with trauma. I have not a true night's rest since I was child. I work on auto pilot. I have been in therapy for 2 years and I just started prazosin a month ago. I notice so many differences. I am calmer. I am still hyper aware but at 40% vs 100%. It helped tone down my PTSD symptoms to the point where I am now facing my demons. I lost hope but this medication helped being it back."

• Gigi
• April 28, 2020

"I have been taking Prazosin for about four months. Initially, I was prescribed 1mg at bedtime for nightmares. During the first week, I noticed that my nightmares seemed much less severe. By the middle of my second week, the dreams were more like strangely vivid weird dreams. At the tail end of the first 30 days, I felt like my nightmares had stopped. Physically, I dealt with some dizziness, like for the first 15 minutes. Most of the next two months, I slept pretty good--or so I thought. One morning my husband confronted me about hitting and kicking him in my sleep. That increased over the course of a couple of weeks. My clinician is slowly increasing of Prazosin over the course of the next month--from 1mg to 4mg. I have been taking 2mg for the past three nights and feel amazing. My sleep is much closer to MY normal. For me, normal is 5 to 6 hours. I wake up feeling refreshed and well rested with no muscle pain or tension."

• Joshua...
• March 5, 2014

"Started yesterday. Not only am I calmer but it was first night without nightmares and flash backs from Iraq. No waking up in a puddle if sweat, was up only 1 time to pee and easily fell back asleep. It helps with my breathing and calmness during the day also. Hope it stays this way. Been too long since I had good sleep with out being haunted at night while sleeping."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2015

"So I have been taking prazosin for over two years now. I started off in hospitals with a big breakdown and my anxiety shot through the roof. I had three awful experiences in a three year time span not to mention things that were added on during childhood. After going through countless medicines and finally telling my doctor what happened to me I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. I started prazosin and went from having to re-live my experiences vividly and in a continuous loop all day, feeling everything that happened, constantly wanting to tear off my skin, couldn't talk to the opposite sex, depression, and anxiety attacks, in my nightmares to a nightmare every two weeks flashbacks on only days close to the events and rarely any anxiety. A miracle!"

• Survi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2019

"I was put on 1mg Prazosin for nightmares and insomnia. Results: Night 1: increased frequency in terrorizing nightmares and insomnia. Night 2: same as night 1. Night 3: went to bed at 9:00 p.m. Fell asleep for a few minutes, followed by 6+ hours of insomnia. Not great when you need to be somewhere the next morning. I'm worse off after taking this drug than I was before I started. Also noticing increased edema with it. Currently finalizing acquisition of a PTSD service dog. Thinking the dog will be more helpful than the meds."

• MMano
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 30, 2014

"I've been taking prazosin to help with Post traumatic stress disorder nightmares for over 5 years. When my doctor told me about it I was ready to try anything to get the nightmares to stop as they were the most intrusive continuous PTSD symptom of mine. I started at 1mg, worked my way to 2mg and found that it worked very well. For a couple of years now, I am only taking 0.5mg as a maintenance dose. The only side-effect I ever experienced was some dizziness upon standing after I took it at night but that disappeared quickly."

• Starb...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 16, 2020

"Prazosin 1mg-2mg helps with dreams, however can cause dizziness, it also helps in relaxation. Taken with acetaminophen, prazosin can greatly reduce aches associated with tremors common in PTSD. Hydration is important. Prazosin and a sleep aid similar to Tylenol pm can help with sleep, however a restless night here and there is not uncommon. I am thankful to have this medication, it is helpful"

• Anonymous
• August 20, 2011

Minipress (prazosin) "Very effective in stopping many decades of violent nightmares. There was a difference for me starting the first night on 1 mg. After several weeks I'm now taking 3mg nightly and have had good success with sleeping better throughout the night. The times I do wake up I'm calmer than in the past, and can go back to sleep far more easily."

• kiva
• August 19, 2010

"I just turned 61 today and have suffered from anxiety, panic, PTSD my entire adult life. Have taken every medication ever made. Have tried for years to convince MD's and shrinks that problem was physiological, e.g. something starts an adreneline rush, fight or flight kicks in and then it won't quit. Thus, I am in constant, 24/7 state of high anxiety. Finally my doctor told me about prazosin - said, try it, it can't hurt. First day, extreme sadness and depression. After that, startle response, adreneline and fight/flight and chronic panic-GONE- almost like magic. Too high a dose and they act like "happy pills"; not enough adreneline to motivate me to do basic chores, etc. Found the right amount--2 mg at bed each night, and I have a life. Wow."

• Anonymous
• November 22, 2011

"I have been on Abilify, Lamictal, and Clonazepam for a year and a half with marginal improvement in my psychotic symptoms. Upon doing research, I learned that norepinehrine might play a huge role in psychotic symptoms in fear-based mental illnesses. I suffered from nightmares in addition to my paranoid symptoms. I convinced my psychiatrist to put me on Prazosin because it was an alpha-1 adrenergic blocker which reduces the amount of norepinehrine in the body. My theory was that if I reduced the amount of norepinehrine being produced, that I would see a reduction in my paranoia. My theory has proven to be true as I have been on prazosin for 3 weeks now. A miracle indeed."

• sweet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 30, 2013

"I take 4mg at night and feel terrific in the morning! Some nausea at bedtime, but totally worth it to have a good night sleep. I also take Viibyrd. I have noticed a significant amount of weight loss too. I have lost over 48 pounds in four months time. I'm happy, very focused and feel well rested. My depression has faded as the weeks go by. I'm glad the DR. felt comfortable putting me on Minipress. I was taking so may pills that had me in a continuous circle. Now I'm on two medications and they are working wonderful together! It sure beats 7 different medications working against each other."

• Ally...
• December 15, 2014

"Prazosin is the best thing that has happened to me. I've gone from 3-4 nightmares a week to occasionally one every other week, but when I have them I have no reactions and I forget the content immediately upon awakening. I don't have any side-effects or problems with lowered blood pressure in the morning. Seriously, ask your prescribing doctor about this medicine if you're struggling with nightmares. It will change your life."

• Living...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2017

"I am 63 and have had CPTSD all my life. Prazosin has helped a lot. BUT it's been rocky. The first dose I took felt like a miracle. I was serene and amazed. But then my nervous system got confused. Used to the constant fight stimulus. I would get wired taking it before sleep. Took it during the day which helped. WHAT I experienced felt like when one's arm goes numb and then circulation returns. My whole body felt like it was coming alive again. It hurt but I knew it was good. My digestion worked better. (makes sense) I had insomnia about 3 nights a week. After 2 months I'm so so much better - hardly any hypervigilance, less nightmares. So decrease the dose if you need to and gradually build it up if you have the problems I had."

• Amber...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2019

"This prazosin has helped my PTSD more than any other pill any dr has thrown at me. I even see improvement during the day. I still get triggered into fight or flight response but not as easy and it doesn’t last as long now. Also my therapy has really progressed since I’ve started it about 6 months ago."

• Mike...
• May 30, 2016

"Suffer from ptsd and bipolar disorder. Reliving traumatic violence during nightmares, waking in pools of sweat, and physically defending myself for many years while attempting to sleep. In addition to 200 mg seroquel prescribed at bedtime for 5 years doctor added 3 mg prazosin 3 years ago. The results have been life changing. Very few night terrors. My wife feels safe sleeping beside me. I'm so appreciative to my psychiatrist for prescribing this medication. I can't recall any side effects. 30 years of living with this affliction have been all but been remidied. Thank you"

• Shana
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 30, 2020

"I have PTSD from childhood trauma. I have had nightmares for decades. Not every night, but often enough that I would put off going to sleep until I passed out from exhaustion. The sleep deprivation was taking its toll, and I could barely function. I don’t remember where or how I heard about prazosin, but I asked my doctor about it and she put me on 2mg. I still was in a total rut about staying up late because I was afraid to go to sleep, so she prescribed trazadone too. I noticed the first couple nights that the dreams weren’t as bad, but I was still having them so my dr bumped me up to 4mg. That worked very well for about a year. Now I’m at 5mg and doing well. Maybe one nightmare a month. No side effects at all. I can’t say what a change this has made in my life, to get quality sleep for the first time in so many years."

• ar_chie
• January 17, 2014

"Great meds...been taking zolpidem daily plus over the counter sleep meds every single night for a year...changed docs, gave me this for paranoia and nightmare, now I don't take zolpidem and otc sleep meds. My nightmare slowly changed to different dream, not to extreme anymore. I don't speed and beat red lights anymore when driving. This at night and bupropion in the morning will help you find peace. No negative impact on sexual performance. Still run 3k every day and work out."

• kPTSD
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 8, 2015

"I started having graphic, vivid nightmares and wasn't able to tell the difference between being awake and asleep. The doctor told me I had PTSD and gave me Prazosin. I was taking 1mg. I'm pretty drug sensitive so I could barely move or get up for hours after waking up the next day BUT it immediately stopped my nightmares. Now when I do have nightmares I don't react to them and I take .5mg as needed when I am feeling anxious. I get a little weak for a few hours but it's manageable. Side effects are totally worth it to not have to live through being terrorized every night not even knowing when I'm awake or alseep."