Comments on: A Pill To Forget?

Can A Medication Suppress Traumatic Memories?

[mominpain]

People who haven't been through a traumatic experience that leaves them in pain or unable to cope with daily activities shouldn't judge others who have. As far as the person who was struck while riding a bicycle, each person's experience and perception is different, but trauma is trauma and pain is pain. If this medication could help make me function better for my family and job, I will happily try it in a study or otherwise (legally)

[nacohen1]

I am for this drug under controlled release. One thing they forget to mention. What about the people who experience a horrible event and use the trauma to change thier life and help others. For instance, the person that that is raped and then becomes an advocate for those who suffer sexual assault. Or those that see the death of a child and then begin foundations to help provide child safety. These people could potentially just take this pill, go on with their life, and never begin actions that could help many other people.

[heartstone22]

This seems like a good I deal for people that have something horrible happen to them one but how about a on going bad experience that has happen more then once and for years?

[heartstone22]

This seems like a good I deal for people that have something horrible happen to them one but how about a on going bad experience that has happen more then once and for years?

[heartstone22]

This seems like a good I deal for people that have something horrible happen to them one but how about a on going bad experience that has happen more then once and for years

[mominpain]

My son, 27 years old died suddenly in a tragic accident 7 months ago. My grief manifests itself as chest pain. There is no physiological reason, and it is exhausting. I am afraid to keep taking Xanax because it is said to be so addictive, but without it, the pain is too great. I hope the FDA will approve this ASAP because as a nurse of 30+ years, I believe Propanolol (Inderal) which is a beta blocker, could offer relief from this PTSD.

[phileemom]

I was rear-ended by an impaired motorist in 1988, and a day hasn't passed since that I haven't palpably relived the horror of sitting helplessly behind the wheel of my car stopped in traffic, nowhere to go in any direction, and seeing this car hurtling at me from behind in my rearview mirror. Never mind the physical remnants of this catastrophy, the physical pain I still live with and always will, but the sheer terror that is always going to be a part of me til the day I die, of being on the receiving end of something that I couldn't possibly prevent happening. All that fear, all that terror, has been a part of my daily life, and I'm sure has subtracted, via stress and the flood of cortisol that's been through my system all these years because of it, years and years from my life. My quality of life has been unmentionably lowered.
If there exists a drug that could remove this fear from me, this pain to my being, it would be worth any risk. From what I've been reading here so far, it doesn't seem as though there is much risk involved, either.

[shell12675]

I have taken this medication over the past 5 years to offset migranes. Also I have PTSD from being raped when I was 15. I stopped taking the prozac because of the way it makes me feel. I was wondering why I was still ableto deal with everything and not have the dreams as bad. Also I did not know that this medication also dealt with all my actions that go on from day to day. Thanks for the report.

[csod64]

As someone who has suffered from not only "early-onset PTSD", but was abused as a wife, then later on be raped, I could really benefit from this drug. I'm virtually an "emotional cripple"--I've had flashbacks and strong emotions when I remember the multiple traumas I have suffered from. I can't see how hanging on these memories--or the trauma suffered from these events--could benefit me (according to the government it's a "good thing"--I'd like to see that government official suffer through what I've had to deal with and see how long it will take him to cry "uncle" and beg for the drug). Therapy only gets me "so far". I would love to ditch the "drama" associated with my trauma and live a normal life--whatever that is.

[poovambur323]

We have used propranalol in stressful situation.College kids who have performance anxiety, propranalol has helped them a whole lot Thus it is not new and not surprising that the medication helps in PTSD

[jewelcat1]

chelceimac, First of all there is no need for you to tell me "all mental illness is not caused by bad memories", I am well aware of that, I don't need you explain it to me. But ptsd amoung other mental illnesses are directly related to bad memories. I am a sufferer of SEVERE ptsd, so I look on the internet for a cure daily. I have tried medications, psychologists, psychiatrists, hypnotism, emdr, etc. and none can help me. My condition as well as others who suffer as I do is debilitating to me as well as my family. I have even attempted suicide because it is so bad., so don't tell me that "everyone does not want to erase their memories. Perhaps your experiences were not as bad as mine, so you should shut up. Why do you think such things as electro-shock exist? Do you think people enjoy getting their brains fried? I resent the researchers calling this a memory pill, because it has no effect on memory, and I resent being mislead and having false hopes. Also, it appears many people on this board do in fact beleive that it erases memory, perhaps you cannot read, so I suggest you re-read some of these posts. Some fear this medication. This is just another ploy by the researchers to overexagerate their research on this drug, which is useless. My guess is the people they gave this drug to would have faded their trauma with or without. I have in fact tried propronal for my memories of three years and it did nothing.

[sal567]

This is a wonderful breakthrough in helping those who truly need it, but like any new discovery,I hope it is regulated in such a way that it is not abused by charlatans and those money-hungry manipulators.

[chelceimac-2009]

Jewelcat1, by the way, mental illness is not always caused by bad experiences and bad memories, just to clear that up for you.

[chelceimac-2009]

Jewelcat1, we are well aware that this drug does not 'erase' memories. I believe what we all are looking for is a way to reduce the continuing emotional battles that occur each and every day. I, for one, don't want to erase the memories, because they do much to remind me of how twisted some people are, and how I can help others work through their own traumas. It allows me to empathize, and because I remember I can actually relate to what a person is saying as opposed to trying to imagine.

[pattipace7]

After hearing for decades the war stories of how many of our veterans were being very over-medicated , you%u2019re giving them a new drug to off- label test. First take away five of their most prescribed drugs that are already proven to stop individuals from thinking. Can anyone in the medical field answer this question; why aren%u2019t you working part time at a VA hospital? Our future veterans (our children who are now fighting overseas so your $200 dollar an hour office in the U.S. will never be bombed) need your help now. Let every profession support our troops. How about offering your office and expertise a few hours a month, to our young veterans? The VA medical centers could not meet the needs of all the veterans from past wars.
Since WWI the medical profession and drug companies have benefitted from the many research projects done involving our veterans. It%u2019s time to return the favor and it will cost much less in the end if every veteran gets the chance to resume a comfortable life as a productive member of the society for which they offered to give up their own life to serve and protect. There are enough veterans from past wars that ended up only just a number in a research project .

[loverofox]

RE: What are meridian services?
Meridian therapies are based on accupressure- the client taps various accupressure points while thinking about the truama. These are evidence based practices that have been published in peer reveiwed journals and have been around since the 1970's. Check out emofree.com for information on Emotional Freedom Techniques.

[chaxc]

I find that this may cause more problems that it solves in the long run. It's my experience that our memories and emotional responses are necessary for our growth and for us to take responsibility for our actions.
I believe that if we don't deal with our memories, and the emotional issues that occur because of them, properly, that we can cause disease within our bodies. That the suppressed emotional energies are trapped and cause physical problems. I also believe that going through the emotional traumas caused by the memory of traumatic events, and expressing them fully is the only way to heal the psychological trauma caused by the actual event.
I've seen it work, and I've experienced it myself.

[deedlb]

Thank you CBS!

[deedlb]

The Brain, The New Frontier~
I have learned much regarding what affects my brain and it's function so that I could maximize what energy I have each day and how to use it. I do know that my mood and receptiveness to the world around me, the electrical and chemical balance our brain is working from is extremely important to keeping a balance with my world. Would you believe our brain uses 85% of the fuel our body creates from the fuel we put in our body? In the same breath, just as with other drugs used for the betterment of the well being of one to have quality to our life, these drugs must be carefully monitored, carefully used!!!
Take a look into Acquired Brain Injury to assist, we current surviors and those of who will be PTSD and Brain Injury survivors in the future as well as the medical community will be better for it.

[deedlb]

Welcome, the newest medical frontier...the brain! My teachers, instructors, my doctors have said these very words.

As an ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) survivor 6 years post you piece really struck an unforgetable cord for me regarding memory / blocking memory/ies so much so I just had to respond with great exuberance and excitement! Finally someone hears the thoughts of so many ABI survivors. This discovery/study of how the brain works to builds/sets memories into place, might I suggest these doctors take a good look at ABI survivors. We are living proof, a testament as to how our memory/ies are built and work within our brains.Right on the money, memories are comprised of at least two intities, an emotional side and an actual/factual/physical side. What I, as many other ABI survivors, have experienced is that at the time of a brain injury most of us have a total loss of memory of who we are, who those around us are in relationship to us and an emotional disconnection between the emotional side of an actual physical event. An amnesia of sorts?! It is only after time, new experiences in our lives do we find our way to possibly making a connection to our past/memories, our long term memory, as well as to teach our mind to build new memories.