[HALLIEBETH87]

http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/21/memory_drug

this is seriosuly worth reading!

[(JD)]

propranolol.
That's been around for a long time.

Not all PTSD has memory lapses involved, but I think it's interesting to say the least. More importantly it's good to know they are working on PTSD and that means eventually they'll have something to help.

(Of course immediate debriefing does wonders, and early therapy makes healing faster and easier, though no cure yet.)

Halliebeth, would you use that drug to remember, if you needed it and it worked?

It's for weakening the memory, I think, now that I follow more clips... soften the effect of the trauma? Yes, interesting.

[HALLIEBETH87]

i do not have PTSD, but wanted to share this article. yes, I would.

[chalmette70043]

Thanks for posting this Hallie. I'm going to talk to my doc about it.

[Perna]

It would only work to stop formation of a memory, not later on when it is already formed. So, wouldn't help with anyone who has PTSD today but those who are "getting" it (car crash victims, soldiers, rapes, etc.).

http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/neur..._drugs_sd.html

I take it for PTSD to control the adrenaline rush that sends my heart into overdrive. To me, it works like an anti-anxiety pill for the body. It hasn't taken any memories away, it just helps control my body's response to them.

*Unlike the creepy device that erases undesirable recalls just like files on a computer in the recent film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, propranolol won't cause PTSD sufferers to forget their ghastly memories, "but it can take out the sting," says professor of psychiatry Roger K. Pitman.

There are a few more posts about this in the Drug Forum. READ MORE HERE

*http://www.harvardmagazine.com/on-line/070467.html

[(JD)]

That is what debriefing does, in reality. It lessens the impact of the trauma.
It's a very interesting study (to me) how the brain reacts (chemicals that imprint memory) when there is trauma. The sooner you can process the trauma, the easier it becomes for the brain to file it away like a normal memory.

I think taking it even after you have PTSD, for any additional upset or trauma might prevent being retraumatized or adding to the old memory problem? IDK Haven't read up on this area (medication) yet.

[Kiya]

I dunno - I am not too fond of the idea of weakening my memory. I mean, yeah i suffer from the lot; ptsd, panic attacks, flashbacks, etc... but it is processing those things that have kept me safe from re-entering situations that would further harm me. And what if it messes with people who have experienced some sort of *non-accident trauma* (trying not to use certain words here so i don't trigger myself or anyone else)...like from offenders... i would think that the drug could be potientially harmful. Or perps could get a hold of it and administer it after they've ******* and really mess with someone's ability to figure out what happened.
I don't know a whole lot on this, but it was on the new the other night and I felt outraged about it.
Like -wouldn't that just be a lovely cover up - make everyone whose suffering pain just go away - and those people not get treatment to actually change the thought patterns or heal their lives... like entering a pain-free limbo.
I'll stop ranting now. *breathing*
No i have one more thing - so I have just figured out why i have been getitng flashbacks and panic for over a decade - like I'm now going to take a pill to forget it when it took me sooo long to figure out what happened?! That (to me) would be like losing half my F******** life!
Ooooooooooo breathing... in ... out.... in..... out...

[Zorah]

scary scary thread, but you say it might help us adult PTSDs ?

Petunia love, do you take it on a constant basis ? or only when you are having flashbacks ?

we have hypertension, so perhaps our meds could be changed, if this would work better for us ?

adviced anyone ?

I started out taking as needed but that wasn't really working out because, well because by the time I realized I needed one my heart was already trying to get out.

Now I take it daily with the rest of my meds.

Is it a cure all or memory reducer? NO!

It's a Beta blocker that blocks the adrenaline/fight or flight alarm system. So my heart doesn't flip out.

So when they talk about the lessening of memories, they are talking about your reaction to them, not them "disappearing."

Zorah, if you watch the clips #3 "The Study" and then watch "The Debate" it might make more sense then any of my ramblings.

http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/21/memory_drug

[Kiya]

oh ok - had me freaked out. i don't want ppl to mess with my mind- it's messed up enough as it is.

[allthegirls6]

Ive been prescribed this for anxiety attacks. My heart feels like it will explode, I shake and feel like im going to faint or cry. When I take this it all goes away

[Zorah]

really {{{{{atg6}}}}}} ??? we have tried a few different meds for those kinda panic/anxiety attacks, but none of them have ever helped, in fact one of them made us completely scarily manic.

we are going to ask our Doc about this drug, does it leave you feeling crook afterwards ?

[Zorah]

anything that would keep our blood pressure down, when we freak out, would be very useful

we fear having a stroke, our BP has been up to 210/165 during recent episodes & our crappy messed up kidneys just cannot cope.