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Veterans with PTSD Decrease Usage of Anti-Anxiety Drugs

The most traditional type of therapy the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employs for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is mental health counseling coupled with the use of a wide variety of prescription drugs, such as Klonopin, Valium, and Xanax; however, for many veterans, this is not the most effective method of treatment.

Benzodiazepines, which are anti-anxiety drugs used to treat insomnia and anxiety, are one of the more widely-prescribed classes of drugs given to veterans with PTSD, but their use has fallen severely over the last 10 years, according to an article in Reuters. Current VA guidelines advise against the use of benzodiazepines to treat PTSD symptoms, due to the complexity of getting patients off of benzodiazepines.

Between 1999 and 2009, the amount of these drugs prescribed to veterans to treat their PTSD symptoms dropped about 6% overall. For those veterans who were given the drugs, the number using them long-term dropped about 5%, while the number of veterans taking them every day dropped almost 15%.

Those patients diagnosed with PTSD also have an increased likelihood of substance abuse, which is a dangerous combination, with these drugs. Some research has also shown benzodiazepines may actually interfere with veterans undergoing prolonged exposure therapy. New VA and Department of Defense guidelines recommend not using such drugs in this manner and instead use psychotherapy.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veteran’s disability rights firm today – 1-888-234-5758.