A Pill To Forget?

Can A Medication Suppress Traumatic Memories?

(CBS)  Pitman figured he could block that cycle by giving trauma victims propranolol right away ... before adrenaline could make the memories too strong. He started recruiting patients for a small pilot study. One of the first was Kathleen Logue, a paralegal who had been knocked down in the middle of a busy Boston street by a bicyclist.

"He just hit the whole left side of my body. And it seemed like forever that I was laying in the middle of State Street, downtown Boston," Logue remembers.

She says she was terrified that she was just going to get run over.

As part of the study, Logue took propranolol four times a day for 10 days. Like the others who got the drug, three months later she showed no physiological signs of PTSD, while several subjects who got a placebo did. Those results got Pitman funding for a larger study by the National Institutes of Health.

But then the President’s Council on Bioethics condemned the study in a report that said our memories make us who we are and that "re-writing" memories pharmacologically … risks "undermining our true identity."

"This is a quote. 'It risks making shameful acts seem less shameful or terrible acts less terrible than they really are,'" Stahl reads to Logue.

"A terrible act," she replies. "Why should you have to live with it every day of your life? It doesn't erase the fact that it happened. It doesn't erase your memory of it. It makes it easier to remember and function."

David Magnus, director of Stanford University’s Center for Biomedical Ethics, says he worries that it won't be just trauma victims trying to dull painful memories.

"From the point of view of a pharmaceutical industry, they're going to have every interest in having as many people as possible diagnosed with this condition and have it used as broadly as possible. That's the reality of how drugs get introduced and utilized," Magnus argues.

He’s concerned it will be used for trivial reasons. "If I embarrass myself at a party Friday night and instead of feeling bad about it I could take a pill then I'm going to avoid – not have to avoid making a fool of myself at parties," Magnus says.

"So you think that that embarrassment and all of that is teaching us?" Stahl asks.

"Absolutely," Magnus says. "Our breakups, our relationships, as painful as they are, we learn from some of those painful experiences. They make us better people."

But while the ethicists debate the issue, the science is moving forward. Researchers have shown in rat studies that propranolol can also blunt old memories.

Pitman wondered: Could it work in humans? He teamed up with Canadian colleague Alain Brunet, who searched for people with long-standing PTSD, like Rita Magil. She had suffered for three years from nightmares after a life-threatening car accident.

Another study subject is Louise O'Donnell-Jasmin, who was raped by a doctor at the age of 12. "He raped me on his desk, on a chair, and on the floor. It, for me, it was like I was dying inside," she remembers. "The world had ended."

O'Donnell-Jasmin was haunted by the rape for more than 30 years. She never felt comfortable undressing in front of her husband and suffered from recurrent flashbacks and nightmares.

The study was simple: Subjects came in and were asked to think about and write down every detail they could remember about their trauma; in Magil's case, her car accident, reactivating the memory in her brain. She was then given propranolol.

Rita says she suffered no side effects.

A week later, electrodes measured her body’s stress response as she listened to a retelling of her trauma. Asked what happened, Magil says, "No reaction."

And she says she had no more nightmares.

The patient who made the most dramatic recovery turned out to be O'Donnell-Jasmin, but there's a catch, because she was in a control group and therefore wasn’t supposed to improve at all.

[mstonie-2009]

I RECENTLY VIEWED THE EPISODE ON THE MEMORY FORGETING PILL Propranolol AND I WISH I HAD SOME TO TAKE REGARDLESS IF IT IS FDA APPROVED OR NOT..I HAVE LIVED WITH THE HORRIFIC MEMORIES OF MY CHILDREN DEATHS AND IT'S BEEN 17 YEARS AND I HAVE TRIED EVERY THING THERE IS TO TAKE AND HAVE YET TO GET ANYTHING THAT KEEPS ME FROM BEING STUCK. BEING ALIVE DOES NOT MAKE IT EASIER TO FUNCTION DAILY AND UNLESS YOU HAVE LIVED THROUGH A TRAGEDY THEN YOU NEVER KNOW THE EXPERIENCE IT IS TO LIVE IN A STUCK STATE OF MIND.

[carly710]

The problem with propranolol is that one of the main side effects is depression. Part of PTSD is problems with depression. Therefore, in many of the cases, in order to take propranolol, one would have to take an antidepressant to counteract the side effect of the original drug. Surely, a researche can develop something better!

[renmak]

So if the drug works by blocking adrenaline, thus diffusing a memory, why not study the use of adrenaline to treat memory impairment such as Alzheimer's???? I have seen Alzheimer's patients improve for several seconds after having what they perceived as a frightening experience. Apparently the fear produced a surge of adrenaline and their cognition was improved momentarily.

[ladyrainbo]

I have suffered from PTSD since childhood but wasn't diagnosed until my 40's. No one who hasn't suffered from this could possibly understand how debilitating it is.

I have worked in the mental health field and have observed how none psychiatric doctors prescribe psychotropics inappropriately.

I think all psychotropics should be the domain of the psychiatrists who understand the actions of the drugs better then a general practitioner. I've seen way too many elderly over medicated with psychotropics.

That being said, I think this drug should also be available with the condition that if it is prescribed by a non psychiatrist, it MUST be for a documented medical condition.

For the purposes of easing traumatic memory, let's the the prescriptions to the head shrinkers.

[ladyrainbo]

I have suffered from PTSD since childhood but wasn't diagnosed until my 40's. No one who hasn't suffered from this could possibly understand how debilitating it is.

I have worked in the mental health field and have observed how none psychiatric doctors prescribe psychotropics inappropriately.

I think all psychotropics should be the domain of the psychiatrists who understand the actions of the drugs better then a general practitioner. I've seen way too many elderly over medicated with psychotropics.

That being said, I think this drug should also be available with the condition that if it is prescribed by a non psychiatrist, it MUST be for a documented medical condition.

For the purposes of easing traumatic memory, let's the the prescriptions to the head shrinkers.

[donnie900]

Women are lucky. They give birth and forget. And men live their whole lives in pain, and can't forget.

[patricia64-2009]

This story should be balanced by a look at the non-pill solutions available for the treatment of PTSD. There are non-talking therapies, such as EMDR, acupuncture, homeopathy, yoga, imagery that relieve nervous system trauma without side effects. Drugs ALWAYS have side effects, be it little, be it later. Why do we have such paltry education and press on alternatives?

[earnshaw8]

I was horrified by your segment 'A Pill To Forget?' on the abuse potential of Propranolol which is easily availabe by prescription for other medical uses.

On the other hand could the drug be used as a treatment for pedophilia? Perhaps human sexual urges are reinforced by the strong memories formed by adrenalin production during sexual encounters.

Just wondering.

[junkmale4]

For the past three or four years, I have been taking propanolol (20mg 3x/day) for migraines, to reduce my blood pressure. I also take Zoloft (100mg 2x/day) and Welbutrin (150mg 1x or 2x/day) to moderate the drops in serotonin and dopamine levels which cause incapacitating depression.

I have not found that propanolol helps me forget traumatic events of 30+ years ago that destroyed my life. But the raw-edged rage has become a more low-key black gloom and hopeless despair. I guess despair is less sociopathic than rage, so that is a plus for the Zoloft.

[junkmale4]

For the past three or four years, I have been taking propanolol (20mg 3x/day) for migraines, to reduce my blood pressure. I also take Zoloft (100mg 2x/day) and Welbutrin (150mg 1x or 2x/day) to moderate the drops in serotonin and dopamine levels which cause incapacitating depression.

I have not found that propanolol helps me forget traumatic events of 30+ years ago that destroyed my life. But the raw-edged rage has become a more low-key black gloom and hopeless despair. I guess despair is less sociopathic than rage, so that is a plus for the Zoloft.

[mrdavidson1]

As a nurse who spent 20+ years working with emotionally disturbed children I believe the unethical thing would be to not continue the studies related to the use of propranolol for PTSD. Many children who have been abused, and especially those who have been sexually abused are unable to move beyond that point, they have emotional and behavioral disturbances for the rest of their lives. They are unable to learn, and if you can't learn to begin with, I think that the issue of blunting old memories is mute. And if your life has consisted of nothing but horrible abuse, again, the blunting is a mute point. These are the kids who drop out of school, get in trouble with the law, and end up in prison, or abusers themselves.
Remember when our society felt it was unethical to keep people in long-term mental health facilities? These people are now our homeless population or in prison. What is ethical about that?
This is a drug that has already been used in children to control blood pressure, so we already have some data related to its use. I'm afraid with the military funding the research, that it's use in children, where it may really help them lead normal lives, may be held up for years, and what a tragedy this would be! mary

[nelsonml2]

The story was a chilling reminder of "A Clockwork Orange" and "The Manchurian Candidate" where reprogramming and deprogramming were experiments conducted by the government. Use of propanalol is nothing short of a chemical lobotomy, which may or may not do permanent damage.

[bergevb]

Emotional Freedom Technique has been helping people suffering from PTSD for many years. For more information and details go to www.emofree.com

[mrdavidson1]

As a nurse who spent 20+ years working with emotionally disturbed children I believe the unethical thing would be to not continue the studies related to the use of propranolol for PTSD. Many children who have been abused, and especially those who have been sexually abused are unable to move beyond that point, they have emotional and behavioral disturbances for the rest of their lives. They are unable to learn, and if you can't learn to begin with, I think that the issue of blunting old memories is mute. And if your life has consisted of nothing but horrible abuse, again, the blunting is a mute point. These are the kids who drop out of school, get in trouble with the law, and end up in prison, or abusers themselves.
Remember when our society felt it was unethical to keep people in long-term mental health facilities? These people are now our homeless population or in prison. What is ethical about that?
This is a drug that has already been used in children to control blood pressure, so we already have some data related to its use. I'm afraid with the military funding the research, that it's use in children, where it may really help them lead normal lives, may be held up for years, and what a tragedy this would be! mary

[jesmith777]

Re: FleaBuster's comments
I'm so sorry to hear about the abuse you have suffered. There IS light at the end of the tunnel. Both Louise and I (and I'm sure others)can vouch for that!

I want to clarify a couple of things. First, I was not a part of the study. I contacted Dr. Mark Barad at UCLA because he had done work with people suffering from PTSD. We utilized the same protocol that was used in Dr. Pitman and Dr. Brunet's study, however I was NOT a part of any study. Second, Dr. Barad told me in his many years of working with people with PTSD, once it is healed, it is healed PERMANENTLY!!! The memories are still there, however the anxiety associated with them, and the subsequent reactivity to other things is GONE!!

I encourage you to contact a doctor in your area who works with PTSD patients. The combination of utilizing propranolol and the additional writing assignments I was given (see earlier posting) absolutly worked for me. The light at the end of the tunnel WILL open into a glorius new day.

[mrdavidson1]

As a nurse who spent 20+ years working with emotionally disturbed children I believe the unethical thing would be to not continue the studies related to the use of propranolol for PTSD. Many children who have been abused, and especially those who have been sexually abused are unable to move beyond that point, they have emotional and behavioral disturbances for the rest of their lives. They are unable to learn, and if you can't learn to begin with, I think that the issue of blunting old memories is mute. And if your life has consisted of nothing but horrible abuse, again, the blunting is a mute point. These are the kids who drop out of school, get in trouble with the law, and end up in prison, or abusers themselves.
Remember when our society felt it was unethical to keep people in long-term mental health facilities? These people are now our homeless population or in prison. What is ethical about that?
This is a drug that has already been used in children to control blood pressure, so we already have some data related to its use. I'm afraid with the military funding the research, that it's use in children, where it may really help them lead normal lives, may be held up for years, and what a tragedy this would be! mary

[mrdavidson1]

As a nurse who spent 20+ years working with emotionally disturbed children I believe the unethical thing would be to not continue the studies related to the use of propranolol for PTSD. Many children who have been abused, and especially those who have been sexually abused are unable to move beyond that point, they have emotional and behavioral disturbances for the rest of their lives. They are unable to learn, and if you can't learn to begin with, I think that the issue of blunting old memories is mute. And if your life has consisted of nothing but horrible abuse, again, the blunting is a mute point. These are the kids who drop out of school, get in trouble with the law, and end up in prison, or abusers themselves.
Remember when our society felt it was unethical to keep people in long-term mental health facilities? These people are now our homeless population or in prison. What is ethical about that?
This is a drug that has already been used in children to control blood pressure, so we already have some data related to its use. I'm afraid with the military funding the research, that it's use in children, where it may really help them lead normal lives, may be held up for years, and what a tragedy this would be! mary

[fleabuster]

re: jesmith777's post,
I wish to congradulate you both on your success in beating the thing that had been beating you for years! and secondly on actually making all the right connections to be able to participate in the program.

i am recently out of a 9 year relationship where i experienced intermittant acute rage accompanied by physical violence ranging from nail's to knive's and everything inbeetween,
i would say one in five of theese episodes would have tell tail signs that the fury was about to be unleashed (and complete CHAOS was to follow)

this hase all been fairly recent and there have been a few other incidents in my life in many years past, but with the most recent came the most personal psycologicle damage and even though i have been clear of this woman for three years it seems impossible to RE-Engage in life, I know what type of person i used to be but not only cant i find that person again i cant even imagine what it would be like anymore and after reading the quote below, i can see a ray of hope! a lite at the end of the tunnel and i want to fing out how i can get closer to the end of that tunnel.

The studies are still in their early stages, so O'Donnell-Jasmin's apparent positive result isn't conclusive, though to her, it's absolutely real.

Asked if there is any sense that she has lost any of her identity, O'Donnell-Jasmin says, "I have regained my identity. What was broken when I was 12 was fixed. They have given me back myself."

[dzfromsc]

"Our breakups, our relationships, as painful as they are, we learn from some of those painful experiences. They make us better people."

I am definately NOT a better person for the pain I live with because of the end of a relationship. NOBODY who knows me would say that what I learned was worth the trauma. If I could erase it, I'd take anything.
The bottom line is that it should be a personal choice. Yes, all drugs have side effects. Every perscription I get has material with it that says "Your doctor has determined that the benefits to you are greater than the chance of side effects."
I can live with side effects; I can't live with the pain.

[consciousnes]

What happens later?
Isn't it always what comes back to fester later that really causes the damage?
People who don't deal with something now have the tendency to react or commit some action later on which is just as damaging to others as well as themselves.
Vietnam vets are still committing suicide after all these years because they cannot deal with what they saw back in the 60's & 70's.
We may weaken our consious memory of something, but it never goes away, whether you know it or not, your mind carries all the memories of what ever you have ever seen, tasted, touched, heard, or smelled.
That is why when you smell a certin perfum or oder, you remember your mother or father's cigar or pipe. The taste of what ever treat you mother use to make for you when you were young, etc.
Drugs can be good, but we should use our minds to control our actions and memories, not temporary drugs.
Face up to what has happened and move on.