Summary of Commonly Used Blood Pressure Drug Could Help Treat PTSD:
Clonidine is a medication that has been used to treat high blood pressure, ADHD, and menopausal hot flashes for over 50 years. Recently, scientists have discovered evidence that suggests clonidine could potentially be used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The drug acts on adrenergic receptors in the brain which are thought to be activated in PTSD and have a role in consolidating a traumatic memory. Studies in mice and neurons from human stem cells suggest that clonidine interferes with a key protein called cofilin, which is important for memory formation. The results of these studies indicate that large-scale clinical trials of clonidine in PTSD are warranted and that new therapies could be identified by looking at the impact on the activation of cofilin by existing drugs.
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