Would You Use a Drug to Lessen Painful Memories?
I just found an interesting article on the Psychology Today website which talks about using the drug propranolol, which was originally developed to treat high blood pressure, in the treatment of PTSD. Apparently this drug, which blocks adrenaline, can prevent PTSD if taken soon after a traumatic event or even reduce symptoms if taken years later.
The article presented two views, for and against its use. The professor who was against it stated that he favored a more "authentic" process, whereby people use painful experiences to grow and build character. Another professor countered his argument by pointing out that people generally did not wish to erase milder, character building events from their emotional memory. It was the larger, traumatic experiences that people desperately wished relief from. If a drug can weaken the formation of the type of memories associated with PTSD, he argues that it should be used alongside other treatments for PTSD.
While I do see the first professor's point - there is much to be learned from adversity - I can also see the benefits of treating those who have been through major events such as war and natural disasters. Why not lessen their suffering if we can?
What's your opinion? Would you want to take a drug to remove the sting of painful memories? Or would you prefer to grow and learn from your experiences without any assistance from a drug?
Comments
I would try this absolutely. I’ve been suffering from PTSD for years and recently been re-diagnosed with new onset PTSD which is now chronic.
Anything that would make me feel better (and maybe help my blood pressure) is worth looking into.
Yes. I’ve begged for something like that. Memories too painful can cripple your character, not just test it.
This drug sounds encouraging. It may even help people who are stuck in therapy, be able to move past this traumatic event, and continue. However, I question how this drug can know what traumatic event to help, and if it would have an effect on pleasant memories. In my experience, the side effects may override the purpose of the medications. I suffer from PTSD, but have had serveral crisis. I would like to see some studies.
Absol-friggin-lutely I would…LOL; Nothing else has helped. Might as well block it out of our memories altogether. However, realistically I do not see psychiatrists writing prescriptions for “bad memories” or even signs/symptoms of PTSD. I don’t think PTSD is widely subscribed to by the medical community at large, it is not understood by many clinicians, and it is not known what to do with people who “suffer” with it (look at what we did for the Vietnam Vets). I think most docs feel it is a “subjective disease”. Too many times PTSD is dealt with only through psychotherapy of some kind, when in fact I feel it is a biochemical change that has permanently taken place in our body.
I had been on propranolol 40mgX2/day for years when 60 Minutes did a segment on this drug a while back. It was quite a shock to me, because I didn’t know until then that this drug could cause a “dulling” effect on memories. I’ve had to take this medication for my blood pressure. Over the years I have been in therapy for depression several times and on various antidepressants as well. It’s true there were many memories that probably needed dulling. However, now I really believe that taking it has caused me to “forget” many precious memories that I wanted to cherish forever.
I would absotively try this drug. I have many painful memories from my childhood, and as an adult.
Because I am unable to work now, and I live alone, I seem to think of them more and more often, and I did have master programmers.
I was the ’stong’ one, the one who handled every prolem in my family - took care of my ill mother while I was working as a therapist at a community mental hell center as well as working as a substance abuse counselor at night at a local hospital.
My older sister didn’t lift a finger during all this. Do I have PTSD??? You’d better believe it.
Thanks for this info. Will discuss it with my shrink next time I see him.
I am surprised that propanol can do such a thing - it just keeps blood vessels dilated.
I did have PTSD - but hadn’t started on propanol back then - although frankly I can’t imagine that it would have done diddly squat for that event.
Maybe the ambulance and firetruck part might have been lessened - but nothing would have lessened the impact of that event.
Just my experience and obviously not the only one,
Denise
I can’t imagine that propanol would do a darned thing to make a difference.
I just can’t imagine how the med I use for migraine prevention that is not that great at that task either - would be able to have stopped PTSD from forming in me and my husband.
It might have lowered the sensitivity to ambulances - but that surreal event of walking out of our house into the cul de sac where we live and seeing all those emergency vehicles with lights going and reflecting off our neighbors houses in the silence of the late morning hours as we followed the paramedics out. Still - I don’t know how it could.
Besides we were able to overcome it. I even had a day with pale shadowings of that event and I still made it through.
Just my opinion - and I don’t know that I would change what I have dealt with.
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