Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Question: I HAVE HAD A 14-YEAR STRUGGLE WITH PTSD TO THE DAY. I SPENT 13-MONTHS IN VIET NAM, IN ACTIVE COMBAT AS A MACHINE XXXXXXX WHAT I SAW AND DID THERE
WAS JUST AWFUL FOR A 20-YR OLD FROM IOWA, BUT I CAN CAN SAY I ENJOYED &TODAY ENJOY WHAT I DID.BUT I HAVE ACTIVE MOVEMENT WITH VERBAL YELLING NIGHTMARES VIRTUALLY EVERY NIGHT AND HAVE FOR ALMOST ALL OF THE 14 YRS.NOW THOUGH I'M HAVING 5-10 NIGHTMARES A NIGHT.
By active combat, I mean I was in daily sometimes 2 or 3 engagements a Day and the nightmAres still show me the faces or other body parts of f every one I killed As well as every XXXXXXX Marine that was Burt or killed in every engagement.
WAS JUST AWFUL FOR A 20-YR OLD FROM IOWA, BUT I CAN CAN SAY I ENJOYED &TODAY ENJOY WHAT I DID.BUT I HAVE ACTIVE MOVEMENT WITH VERBAL YELLING NIGHTMARES VIRTUALLY EVERY NIGHT AND HAVE FOR ALMOST ALL OF THE 14 YRS.NOW THOUGH I'M HAVING 5-10 NIGHTMARES A NIGHT.
By active combat, I mean I was in daily sometimes 2 or 3 engagements a Day and the nightmAres still show me the faces or other body parts of f every one I killed As well as every XXXXXXX Marine that was Burt or killed in every engagement.
Brief Answer:
Please provide more details about your problem
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. It is very common to see development of PTSD in war soldiers after a serious war. A lot of Vietnam war soldiers develop the PTSD and this ruined their life. You have persistent PTSD and still nightmares are there. Though most of commonly used antidepressants help to reduce nightmare but some are known to increase.
So please provide me details of the medicines you are currently taking so that I can comment with confidence.
Also provide me the details of PTSD. What are your main symptoms apart from nightmares?
Any response to medicines and any aggravation during drug therapy?
Thanks, Take care
Please provide more details about your problem
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries
I can understand your concern. It is very common to see development of PTSD in war soldiers after a serious war. A lot of Vietnam war soldiers develop the PTSD and this ruined their life. You have persistent PTSD and still nightmares are there. Though most of commonly used antidepressants help to reduce nightmare but some are known to increase.
So please provide me details of the medicines you are currently taking so that I can comment with confidence.
Also provide me the details of PTSD. What are your main symptoms apart from nightmares?
Any response to medicines and any aggravation during drug therapy?
Thanks, Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I gave you med list and dosages. There are no
Anti-depressants or mood elevators on it. I quit taking all but the list I've provided 3 years ago and ALSO I HAVE LOST 60 lbs since 1/1/15 by doing nothing special and almost no exercise. I forgot to include
DOLOXETINE 60 mg 1X/day for nerve pain in Freeman NO I AM NOT DIABETIC, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE I HAVE TO B E A LITTLE MORE VIGILANT ON SNACKS NOW.
THE PTSD STARTED 9/11/01-World Trade Center bombing. I had
PTSD FOR 4 years after coming back to Home. I went back to college, got my degree in economics and then my MBA IN 1974. I was married and divorced between 1968 & 1970.We had a son and she hated me not going to work with her father at GE or not going to law school. I think a lot like a lawyer and a cop all my life. III WAS DOING UNDERCOVER NARCOTICS BUYING, CARRYING A COUPLE OF GUNS, WORKING 18 hrs/day with almost no time off when the nightmares came back but only 2 or so a night. She came to me on a Thursday said she was going to visit her parents at their seaside home in Oregon in November,2000 and I haven't seen her since!
5 years later I married again & we just had our 40th anniversary Yea for us.
I've been in execute positions with 4 companies in those 40 yrs and I was and am faithful to both wives throughout the marriages.
Now because of hackers, info about some of my special trips to Europe etc. is dribbling out in form of heretofore classified pictures and I have had a difficult time
with the questions from my family as well as 150 classmates from high school who are making the pictures available and asking questions. Many of them served in the
US Intelligence agencies or in combat very close to me at the time. I d I dn't know that until this year when so much of their and my wartime activity was declassified.
That is a s complete as I can get. Just know that for about 10+years anyway, I have had between 5&10 nightmares a night and I don't want to start anti-depressants etc
again !
Hope I helped fill in the blanks.
I found one question I didn't answer:
I now carry a handgun most places because of a price on my head and my wife's as well. I hate that but always rationalize my way into having one handy 24/7.
I am always on the alert for new or strange sounds 24/7. I hardly leave the house unless it's well planned in advance. When I drive I'm hypertext to other cars and trucks around me. The past 6 months I have had XXXXXXX drive most of the time because the way I drive now "annoys her to no ends ."
Last thing: I am forbidden to see our grandchildren if I carry even a very well-hidden
gun.I have 3 here in N Cal and 2 in S Cal.
Also have an identical twin brother who is a just retiring Green Beret gov't contractor. He lives in XXXXXXX Tx We talk via phone just about every week.
Anti-depressants or mood elevators on it. I quit taking all but the list I've provided 3 years ago and ALSO I HAVE LOST 60 lbs since 1/1/15 by doing nothing special and almost no exercise. I forgot to include
DOLOXETINE 60 mg 1X/day for nerve pain in Freeman NO I AM NOT DIABETIC, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE I HAVE TO B E A LITTLE MORE VIGILANT ON SNACKS NOW.
THE PTSD STARTED 9/11/01-World Trade Center bombing. I had
PTSD FOR 4 years after coming back to Home. I went back to college, got my degree in economics and then my MBA IN 1974. I was married and divorced between 1968 & 1970.We had a son and she hated me not going to work with her father at GE or not going to law school. I think a lot like a lawyer and a cop all my life. III WAS DOING UNDERCOVER NARCOTICS BUYING, CARRYING A COUPLE OF GUNS, WORKING 18 hrs/day with almost no time off when the nightmares came back but only 2 or so a night. She came to me on a Thursday said she was going to visit her parents at their seaside home in Oregon in November,2000 and I haven't seen her since!
5 years later I married again & we just had our 40th anniversary Yea for us.
I've been in execute positions with 4 companies in those 40 yrs and I was and am faithful to both wives throughout the marriages.
Now because of hackers, info about some of my special trips to Europe etc. is dribbling out in form of heretofore classified pictures and I have had a difficult time
with the questions from my family as well as 150 classmates from high school who are making the pictures available and asking questions. Many of them served in the
US Intelligence agencies or in combat very close to me at the time. I d I dn't know that until this year when so much of their and my wartime activity was declassified.
That is a s complete as I can get. Just know that for about 10+years anyway, I have had between 5&10 nightmares a night and I don't want to start anti-depressants etc
again !
Hope I helped fill in the blanks.
I found one question I didn't answer:
I now carry a handgun most places because of a price on my head and my wife's as well. I hate that but always rationalize my way into having one handy 24/7.
I am always on the alert for new or strange sounds 24/7. I hardly leave the house unless it's well planned in advance. When I drive I'm hypertext to other cars and trucks around me. The past 6 months I have had XXXXXXX drive most of the time because the way I drive now "annoys her to no ends ."
Last thing: I am forbidden to see our grandchildren if I carry even a very well-hidden
gun.I have 3 here in N Cal and 2 in S Cal.
Also have an identical twin brother who is a just retiring Green Beret gov't contractor. He lives in XXXXXXX Tx We talk via phone just about every week.
Brief Answer:
Anxiety is the reason behind these symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for providing details and asking a follow up question
I have read the details and from the history its almost clear that the symptoms are occurring due to underlying anxiety. This is also aggravating the PTSD symptoms. Current stressful situations have resulted in the increase in the anxiety and and nightmares. But you are functioning normally with good family life so the symptoms will be controlled easily.
You don't want to take anti-depressants. But antidepressants especially SSRIs are known to reduce the REM sleep and thus reduce the nightmares. In my opinion these drugs can help you. Still if you don't want to take these drugs then other drugs like Ramelteon can be used. Ramelteon is a melatonin agonist drug that is known to improve the altered sleep architecture and thus is found to be very useful in nightmares. The drug is a safe drug and is free of serious side effects. You can consider taking this drug and will reduce the nightmares. Continue to take your other medicines as per your prescription.
Thanks, Hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts.
Anxiety is the reason behind these symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for providing details and asking a follow up question
I have read the details and from the history its almost clear that the symptoms are occurring due to underlying anxiety. This is also aggravating the PTSD symptoms. Current stressful situations have resulted in the increase in the anxiety and and nightmares. But you are functioning normally with good family life so the symptoms will be controlled easily.
You don't want to take anti-depressants. But antidepressants especially SSRIs are known to reduce the REM sleep and thus reduce the nightmares. In my opinion these drugs can help you. Still if you don't want to take these drugs then other drugs like Ramelteon can be used. Ramelteon is a melatonin agonist drug that is known to improve the altered sleep architecture and thus is found to be very useful in nightmares. The drug is a safe drug and is free of serious side effects. You can consider taking this drug and will reduce the nightmares. Continue to take your other medicines as per your prescription.
Thanks, Hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
