PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder that may develop after being exposed to events which result in psychological trauma. This syndrome is the result of events which may include violent assault, kidnapping, sexual assault, torture, being a hostage, being victimized as a prisoner, experiencing a disaster, violent automobile accidents, or getting diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
This syndrome involves nightmares and flashbacks of events. The patient suffers from difficulty falling asleep or even staying asleep, anger, and hyper vigilance. If the symptoms last for a long period of time, they may result in social, occupational, and other important functional area impairments. The drugs used for treating this disorder are:
- Citalopram: It is an antidepressant drug belonging to the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It is approved by the FDA to treat major depression and anxiety disorders. The side effects of this drug may include drowsiness, insomnia, nausea, weight changes, frequent urination, decreased sex drive, anorgasmia, dry mouth, increased sweating, trembling, diarrhea, excessive yawning, and fatigue.
- Escitalopram: It is an antidepressant drug and belongs to the SSRI class. It is approved by the FDA to treat major depressive disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, social anxiety disorders, and panic disorders. The side effects of this drug include insomnia, diarrhea, dry mouth, somnolence, dizziness, sweating, constipation, fatigue, and indigestion.
- Fluvoxamine: It is an antidepressant drug, belongs to the SSRI class, and is marketed under the brand name Luvox. It is used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder, major depression and anxiety disorders, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Paroxetine: It belongs to the same class as mentioned above. It is available under the brand names Aropax and Paxil. It is used to treat depression, panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and social phobia/social anxiety disorder.
- Fluoxetine: It is an antidepressant and belongs to the SSRI class; it is marketed under the brand names Prozac and Sarafem. It is used for the treatment of major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It is a popular drug despite the availability of newer drugs in this class.
© Newsmax. All rights reserved.