Frequently Asked Questions

  • No, the medication will help reduce re-experiencing even if you are not talking about trauma or receiving trauma-focused psychotherapy. We highly encourage you to seek out a qualified trauma therapist when you feel ready to do so.

  • Although it is not known exactly how they work, studies show that they reach parts of the brain that are responsible for the fight, flight or freeze response.

    It is possible that these medications protect this area from over-stimulation, lessening the associated symptoms and allowing the brain to process the trauma.

  • Prazosin was the original medication for the treatment of nightmares and flashbacks due to trauma. Its efficacy was established in the early 2000's. See first case report article here.

    Doxazosin is a very similar medication which we have found also treats nightmares and flashbacks due to trauma as well as prazosin.

    The main difference is that doxazosin lasts longer and therefore can provide day and night symptoms control with a single dose.

    We will select the most appropriate medication based on your situation and preferences.

  • It is possible that symptoms may return if you stop the medication. The medication is safe for long-term use. Some patients have been able to stop medication without symptoms returning.

  • If what you experienced is causing you to have re-experiencing nightmares or flashbacks, then it was a trauma, no matter the details of the event(s).

    If you are not re-experiencing what happened, it may still have been a trauma and could lead to other symptoms of PTSD but we may not be able to help with your symptoms with these particular medications.

  • No, we will select the most appropriate medication based on your situation and preferences.

  • We send the prescription electronically to your preferred pharmacy. We do not distribute the medication.

  • Both prazosin and doxazosin are class C risk. which means there are no adequate and well controlled studies which establish the safety of these medications in pregnant women.

    These medications should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the mother and fetus.

    Both medications have been shown to be excreted in small amounts in human milk. Caution should be exercised if you are nursing while taking one of these medications.

    Please notify your prescriber if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you are considering it.

  • No, we specialize in treating the re-experiencing of trauma with one of two medications.

  • No, you can ask your PCP or psychiatrist to prescribe the medication at any time.

  • If you are having a problem with the medication we are prescribing, please contact us and consider stopping it until you are advised on how to proceed. Neither medication causes a withdrawal reaction and can be stopped at any time.

  • The most common side effects are mild, including: are dizziness 10.3%, headache 7.8%, drowsiness 7.6%, lack of energy 6.9%, weakness 6.5%, palpitations 5.3%, and nausea 4.9%.

    It is possible that these medications will cause your blood pressure to become too low. This could cause you to pass out and fall.

    We recommend that you monitor your blood pressure when starting one of these medications. You can buy an inexpensive home monitoring unit.

    If you experience more severe side effects, please stop the medication immediately and contact us via the patient portal.

  • It is possible that these medications will not give you substantial or complete relief from nightmares and flashbacks. In that case we would taper you off the medication and referred to start or continue trauma focused psychotherapy.

  • No, we specialize in treating the re-experiencing of trauma with prazosin or doxazosin only.

  • Currently we have one psychiatrist doing assessments and prescribing. He has more than 15 years of experience in psychiatry and more than 10 years of prescribing prazosin for nightmares and flashbacks due to trauma.

  • At this time we only accept out-of-pocket or Medicare. We are exploring other options but cannot accept payment from insurances at this time. Please check back as this may change. We set our fee to be as affordable as possible to as many people as possible.

  • Yes, although we are not military or in any way connected to the Department of Defense (DOD) or Veteran’s Administration (VA), we have experience successfully treating active duty personnel as well as veterans. Of course, we also treat non-military trauma.