From the Guidelines
Medications are recommended for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Recommended Medications
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as paroxetine, sertraline, and fluoxetine, have been shown to be effective in treating PTSD 1.
- Venlafaxine is also recommended as a treatment option for PTSD 1.
Treatment Considerations
- The choice of treatment should be based on patient preference, treatment availability, and feasibility 1.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is also a recommended treatment for PTSD, and the choice between medication and CBT should be made on a case-by-case basis 1.
Important Considerations
- Benzodiazepines, cannabis, and cannabis-derived products are not recommended for the treatment of PTSD due to the lack of evidence supporting their effectiveness and potential risks 1.
- Medication should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications to optimize treatment outcomes.
From the Research
Medications for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Medications are recommended for the treatment of PTSD, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) being the most studied and effective drugs for the disorder 2, 3, 4, 5.
- SSRIs, such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline, have been found to be statistically superior to placebo in reducing PTSD symptoms, although the effect size is small 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Other medications, such as venlafaxine and quetiapine, have also been found to be effective in reducing PTSD symptoms 2, 3.
- Medications can be effective in reducing the severity of PTSD symptoms, including re-experiencing/intrusion, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal symptom clusters, as well as associated depression and disability 4.
- The use of medications for PTSD is supported by multiple studies, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses 2, 3, 4, 5.
Specific Medications for PTSD
- Fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline are commonly recommended as first-line treatments for PTSD 3, 4, 5.
- Venlafaxine and quetiapine may be considered as potential treatments for PTSD, although more research is needed to fully establish their efficacy 2, 3.
- Other medications, such as prazosin and risperidone, may be effective in reducing PTSD symptoms, particularly in cases where SSRIs are not effective or tolerated 2.
Novel and Emerging Treatments for PTSD
- Novel pharmacologic and other somatic treatment approaches, such as MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, ketamine, and transcranial magnetic stimulation, are being researched and may offer promising alternatives for the treatment of PTSD 6.
- However, the evidence supporting most novel pharmacological and somatic treatments for PTSD is preliminary and highly variable, and more research is needed to fully establish their efficacy 6.