[HealersHeart]

I try to be an informed healthcare consumer and was recently prescribed prazosin for PTSD related nightmares (note the time of this post). It apparently does an amazing job at stopping them although they do return once you stop the medication (if you don't resolve the trauma itself).

My p-doc told me about a month ago that the dose was 1 mg a night but when I did a med search online and most of the articles said that the dose for nightmares due to PTSD were 10 to 13 mg. When I told her what I had read she didn't actually say anything for almost a month and I diligently took 1 mg each night until it ran out this past Friday. When I asked her about it again to get a refill she told me that I must have trust issues with other people because I questioned her about the medication dose.

She then said that it was different for women then for men? I have never heard of a medication having a different dose for men versus women (perhaps vary by weight but I doubt I would need 1/10 of what a man needs since its not like I only weigh 18 lbs or something) but I am hardly going to question that now.

I can't afford to switch providers and I want to maintain a good relationship with her so do I just assume she is right and take a dose that clearly isn't working for me or ask her for a source to her recommendation or something else? I did find the email for one of the researchers on some of the studies but I don't know if he would answer me or not.

[vrba44070]

Women are different from men. They have different hormones. Most med studies have been done on men. Does the medication work? That's all that should matter. I have PTSD too & I also have trust issues. You are not alone. Best of luck to you.
vrba

[skeksi]

I've heard of people starting at 1mg for several months, then being bumped up to 3 or 5, then higher as necessary.

But it seems to me that there are two issues you're facing: one is whether your dosage is appropriate, and one is whether you are comfortable continuing to see the provider in light of the way she addressed your concerns. I think it's curious that she felt the need to label your doubts. Of course you lack trust--most people with PTSD do. Does she generally respect your concerns, or is this a pattern of behavior? IMO, you should never feel like you can't ask questions or discuss your treatment with your provider.

[nightmaresurvey]

It depends on who you ask but optimal dosing appears to be in the 5mg-15mg range. I'm doing a study right now on the drug.

[o.kay]

This is my experience with this med:
I was on 1mg for two months. At this dosage it didn't help-- It actuallygave me bizarre dreams, that I could only remember for about 1 minute after waking up. My doc discontinued it.

My doc is very open to discussing meds. She would think that it was good that I was doing some research. She always tells me that we are partners in this and she values my feelings and input. She's great.