Prazosin and Insomnia: What Users Say

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

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I was put on 1 mg Prazosin for nightmares and insomnia. Results: Night 1: increased frequency of 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. I'm also noticing increased edema with it. Currently finalizing the acquisition of a PTSD service dog. I think the dog will be more helpful than the meds."

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

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "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."

• Bla...
• March 31, 2016

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "A combination of PTSD... also suspect too many years standing watch in the Navy. It has all resulted in YEARS of a nightmare surrounding sleep. It featured high anxiety, which began about 5 PM... inability to go to sleep once I got into bed, and waking up during the night and early AM awakening... I was lucky to get 4 hours... sometimes so wired no sleep at all during the night. Prazosin shuts off my mind, so I can not only go to sleep but stay asleep... and the result of my days are better... less focus on negativity. I am unable to verbalize how much it has helped... so entirely thankful to my physician who listened and Rxd... He works with other vets too who apparently have also remarkable stories of success."

• Pea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "My nephrologist prescribed this to me, 1 mg at bedtime. Tonight is the first time trying it, and within 2 hours, I started having a severe panic attack, with blood pressure 135/100 and a 130 heartbeat. Needless to say, this isn't fun. I suffer from failing kidneys, anxiety and stress, nightmares when I do get to sleep, and insomnia due to not wanting nightmares, probably... as well as a lifetime of PTSD (non-combat). What's worse is it is recommended not to take Ativan with this medicine, which is the anxiety med I have that WORKS. I wish my doctor told me more about the medication other than it gives people funky dreams. He did not tell me that this medicine interacts poorly with half of my medications. Oh, and suicidal ideation became a lot stronger."

• the...
• August 27, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I was having horrible nightmares due to a traumatic experience. I would wake up screaming to see this person's face. These occurred every night throughout the night. I was prescribed prazosin, and they stopped. I was also put on Effexor. I ran out of Effexor and have no insurance. My nightmares came back so fast. Even with prazosin, I was having the worst nightmares. I figured the two drugs needed to work together. After a long week of waking up from nightmares of my life being taken, I was so afraid to fall asleep. Got my Effexor back, and they stopped again. They don't make me tired enough to sleep. I have horrible insomnia from long-term childhood trauma and then attacked in my adult life. Nothing really works for sleep except Ambien. But I found out that's worse for PTSD. I have tried every medication. They will work for one week, and it's over, they will not work. Prazosin is great to stop nightmares, but I seriously need to be knocked out to sleep."

• AJA...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 20, 2022

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Great for non-combat PTSD and nightmares, but developing side effects over time. I developed terrible insomnia and was getting low-quality sleep of an hour or two a night if I was lucky. A daily 1 mg dose solved that problem quickly. I love that I sleep a solid 7 to 9 hours a night. Rarely do I have a nightmare anymore, weird dreams, yes, but no nightmares. An added bonus is that I also have low blood pressure now, which is so welcome from the previous usual state of stress and frustration. It helped with me letting things go and relaxing a lot more. Because of the negative consequences of consuming the drug with alcohol, I chose to give up alcohol because I was so desperate for sleep, I don’t regret it. I love the feeling of knowing exactly when I’m going to fall asleep and waking up well-rested. It may be in my head, but I feel like the prazosin made this a little easier too. Side effects 2 years in: tiredness, low energy, and slight depression, but still would choose to take it."

• cas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2023

For Nightmares "I started taking 2 mg a night for my PTSD nightmares. I thought that they weren’t really doing anything, as I was still having nightmares. The doctor upped my dose to 5 mg and boy was I wrong about it not doing anything. I had the worst string of horror-induced sleepless nights of my life. I’d sleep in 3-hour intervals, always ending with me being jerked awake by some new terror. Some nights I’d sleep just the 3 hours. Some nights I’d have multiple nightmares in one night. Needless to say, those pills were going down the toilet. I really gave it a try because it apparently works for other people and I really could use some dreamless sleep, but uh lol sadly, no. Guess me and my nightmares will have to go it alone."

• Tor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 29, 2020

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Minipress gave me severe nightmares and insomnia. It also made me urinate myself many times."

• NYC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2019

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Prazosin and me were not a good match. Worsened insomnia, tension headache, mouth pain (?!?!), metallic taste in mouth, and more."

• Svt...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2022

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Makes my heart race, which feels terrible, as I already have a racing heart. Kept me up all night, even on the lowest dose."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 6, 2022

For Nightmares "Although it is beneficial for PTSD, the insomnia and nightmares can be problematic."