Date of Presentation
5-2-2024 12:00 AM
College
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Poster Abstract
Nightmares and flashbacks are common debilitating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can disrupt daily functioning in patients. Prazosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist, has been commonly used off-label for the treatment of PTSD intrusion symptoms, although its short half-life is limiting. Doxazosin, another alpha-1 antagonist, is starting to be investigated in the treatment of PTSD-related nightmares due to its smaller side effect profile and longer half-life. In our case report, we present a case of a patient with PTSD-related nightmares who was successfully treated with doxazosin following relapse of symptoms after discontinuation of prazosin. The success of doxazosin immediate release for PTSD-related nightmares warrants further studies into its efficacy and use as an alternative treatment to prazosin.
Keywords
PTSD, prazosin, doxazosin, intrusion, nightmares, arousal, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, treatment outcome, efficacy
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms | Pharmaceutical Preparations | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychiatry | Psychological Phenomena and Processes | Therapeutics
Document Type
Poster
Included in
Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Commons, Pharmaceutical Preparations Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychiatry Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons, Therapeutics Commons
Doxazosin Immediate Release as Alternative Treatment for Nightmares in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report
Nightmares and flashbacks are common debilitating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can disrupt daily functioning in patients. Prazosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist, has been commonly used off-label for the treatment of PTSD intrusion symptoms, although its short half-life is limiting. Doxazosin, another alpha-1 antagonist, is starting to be investigated in the treatment of PTSD-related nightmares due to its smaller side effect profile and longer half-life. In our case report, we present a case of a patient with PTSD-related nightmares who was successfully treated with doxazosin following relapse of symptoms after discontinuation of prazosin. The success of doxazosin immediate release for PTSD-related nightmares warrants further studies into its efficacy and use as an alternative treatment to prazosin.