PTSD Drug More Effective in People with High Blood Pressure

Prazosin, a blood pressure drug that can also reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTSD), may be more effective in people with high blood pressure, according to a study published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

Anyone who experiences a serious trauma, particularly one that feels life-threatening, can develop PTSD. The condition is most often associated with veterans, but civilians who survive non-combat traumas are also especially vulnerable. A 2016 study found 30-80% of sexual assault survivors develop PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks and nightmares. About 30-40% of people who survive disasters and 25-33% of car accident survivors experience PTSD.

Does Blood Pressure Affect PTSD Treatment?

The new study looked at biological markers that might predict drug response in soldiers with PTSD. Though many people have good results with prazosin, about a third experience no change in their symptoms.

To explore why this might be, researchers looked at PTSD symptoms and blood pressure in 67 Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans. Over 15 weeks, 32 of the veterans took prazosin and 35 took a placebo.

Prazosin works by blocking receptors that can reduce the effects of the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline, which the body releases during times of stress. These receptor levels cannot be directly measured, but because noradrenaline stimulation increases blood pressure, blood pressure readings could indicate activity in the relevant receptors.

Soldiers who had higher systolic blood pressure prior to treatment were more likely to experience symptom relief. Systolic blood pressure, the top number in a blood pressure reading, indicates the pressure in the arteries while the heart is beating. The study’s authors suggest blood pressure might be a useful biomarker for personalized PTSD treatment.

The Connection Between PTSD and Blood Pressure

People with PTSD may also be more vulnerable to high blood pressure. A 2011 study published in The Open Cardiovascular Medicine Journal points to research showing people with PTSD experience blood pressure spikes in response to loud sounds and reminders of trauma. Some studies have also linked combat-related PTSD to elevations in blood pressure and heart rate.

References:

1. Blood pressure may open door to personalized medicine for PTSD. (2016, November 3). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161103091008.htm
2. Coughlin, S. S. (2011). Post-traumatic stress disorder and cardiovascular disease. The Open Cardiovascular Medicine Journal, 5(1), 164-170. doi:10.2174/1874192401105010164
3. What the New York Times gets wrong about PTSD. (2016, May 19). Retrieved from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-05/du-wtn051916.php

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