The Most-Popular Treatments, Medications, and Therapies for PTSD

The basics

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can occur after a traumatic event such as a serious accident, military combat, a natural disaster, sexual assault, or abuse. PTSD can also occur after witnessing someone else’s trauma, such as by being a healthcare worker or first responder.

People with PTSD may experience symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, insomnia, or anxiety. In the U.S., about 3.5% percent of adults will be affected by PTSD each year. Though PTSD can cause significant distress, there are several available treatment options that help many people recover.

Here’s a guide to the best treatments for PTSD, including therapies and medications. It’s important to talk with your healthcare provider about the right treatment for you.

Do you have PTSD?

PTSD can cause a variety of symptoms that may include:

• Flashbacks, nightmares, or distressing memories of a traumatic event

• Avoidance of specific people or places that may be reminders of a traumatic event

• Feelings of guilt, self-blame, or depression

• Anger, rage, anxiety, or paranoia

• Withdrawal or isolation

Young children may have different symptoms from PTSD such as regressing in verbal skills or potty training. Another example is being excessively attached to a caregiver. Older children or teens may show aggressive behaviors or other behavioral issues.

Regardless of your age, some PTSD symptoms may be clearly recognizable — such as angry outbursts or awakening with nightmares. But many symptoms of PTSD can be invisible to others. You may notice someone with PTSD is not enjoying what they used to or is withdrawing from normal activities.

A diagnosis of PTSD requires a psychological evaluation by a licensed healthcare professional. Symptoms need to be ongoing for over 1 month and, to make a diagnosis, they must affect relationships or work.

Diagnosis is based on the official criteria for PTSD and includes the following:

1. Exposure to a traumatic event (this can be direct or indirect trauma)

2. At least one symptom of intrusion such as distressing memories, dreams, or flashbacks

3. Avoidance of triggers, such as avoiding people, places, or situations, that may be reminders of the event

4. At least two symptoms of arousal and reactivity such as irritability or angry outbursts, hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, or trouble sleeping

5. At least two changes in mood or cognition related to the traumatic event such as having memory loss around the trauma, experiencing emotions such as guilt or fear, or detaching from others

Most effective types of therapy for PTSD

Often the best way to treat PTSD includes a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy is a key component of treatment for PTSD. There are different forms of therapy and the right one for you will depend on your particular situation.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a broad category of psychotherapy that can help people with coping skills and patterns of thinking. It can be helpful for PTSD as well as depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, and stress management.

Within CBT, there are two trauma-specific therapies that are effective for people with PTSD. These are:

• Cognitive processing therapy (CPT): CPT helps you understand and reframe how you feel about yourself and the world around you after surviving trauma. With a therapist, you reprocess your thoughts about the experience so that it no longer causes you so much distress.

• Exposure therapy: This therapy includes intentional exposure to memories or reminders of the traumatic event in order to overcome the fear and anxiety associated with it. Some therapists will use virtual reality technology to do this.

Another type of therapy that’s effective for PTSD is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. During EMDR therapy, you work with a therapist to remember the traumatic event in vivid detail while also doing back-and-forth eye movements or other bilateral stimulation — like back-and-forth eye movements or side-to-side tapping. The goal of EMDR is to reprocess traumatic memories so they don't cause PTSD symptoms.

Group therapy is sometimes a good option for PTSD treatment. There may also be other types of therapy that work well for some people, such as art or music therapy.

What works best for each person will be personalized and depend on multiple factors including the type of trauma experienced. Talk with your healthcare team about what the best options might be for you.

It’s also important to find the right therapist to build a healing therapeutic relationship. You can learn more in this guide to finding a therapist.

Common medications for PTSD

In addition to psychotherapy, many people with PTSD may benefit from medication. The right medication for you will depend on many factors. The benefits and side effects of any medication should be discussed with your healthcare provider.

Some of the most commonly prescribed medications for PTSD include antidepressants. Antidepressants may help with anxiety, mood, and sleep disturbances as well as other symptoms related to PTSD.

These are typically SSRI or SNRI medications such as:

• Fluoxetine (Prozac)

• Sertraline (Zoloft)

• Paroxetine (Paxil)

• Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Your healthcare provider may consider other medications that could help with symptoms associated with PTSD. These medications can include:

• Prazosin: This medication is usually used to treat high blood pressure. It may also be used “off-label” to help with sleep issues related to PTSD nightmares.

• Antipsychotics: Atypical antipsychotics — such as quetiapine (Seroquel) or risperidone (Risperdal) — are sometimes used to supplement other medications for PTSD. These are usually only added if you don’t get enough relief from antidepressants alone.

There is a growing list of new PTSD treatments that are still in the exploratory phase and being researched, including:

• Medical cannabis

• Ketamine

• MDMA

• Psilocybin

While the evidence for these treatments is still evolving, medical cannabis and ketamine may be currently available for use in your area. If you are interested in these exploratory PTSD treatments, discuss them with your healthcare provider.

What about natural and at-home PTSD treatments?

In addition to therapy and medications, there are also some supportive and integrative treatments that may be helpful. Sometimes these help on their own, or sometimes they can be great additions to other PTSD treatments like therapy and medication.

Examples of natural and at-home remedies you can try include:

• Physical exercise

• Meditation and yoga

• Writing about your experience

• Acupuncture

Learning and practicing coping skills at home can play a really important role in managing PTSD symptoms and supporting treatment. This may include:

• Learning skills to manage stress reactions

• Practicing mindfulness

• Finding peer support groups

• Having a support animal

• Practicing general self-care like eating nutritious food and getting enough sleep

There are also a growing number of tools and apps to help people manage PTSD symptoms at home. Apps may help provide guidance and support for people living with PTSD including mindfulness exercises, health coaching, or sleep support.

How long does PTSD treatment take?

While there is no “cure” for PTSD, symptoms can be managed or even completely go away with the right treatment. How long symptoms of PTSD last depend on many factors, including:

• The type and severity of trauma

• How long the trauma went on

• Other physical and mental health factors

It’s important to note that everybody is different and will have varying responses to PTSD treatment. Many people have success with initial treatment and can see improvement within months. But at the same time, up to 50% of people may still have symptoms after treatment. This can be for many reasons, such as:

• Not finding the right provider

• Not having access to the right type of care

• Not being able to afford treatment

• Not seeking the care needed due to concerns about stigma or effects on employment

Other reasons for treatment not being effective include having additional mental health conditions, a lack of social support, or having other physical health problems.

If you don’t think your treatment is working, talk to your healthcare provider about other options and next steps. There are alternate therapy and medication options, as well as other ways to get help. Some examples of other treatment options include:

• Intensive outpatient programs, where you commute to a treatment program for several hours each day

• Inpatient hospitalization programs, where you live at a facility — such as a hospital or residential center — for the length of your treatment program

PTSD can be treated, and it’s worth the time and effort it may take. When PTSD goes untreated, it can lead to decreased quality of life as well as other long-term problems such as depression, substance misuse, or work and relationship challenges.

Finding PTSD treatment

In order to be treated for PTSD, it’s necessary to have a mental health evaluation from a licensed healthcare professional. Often, people benefit from having both a therapist and a psychiatrist. You can often see your healthcare provider either in-person or online (such as through GoodRx Care).

You can start your search for a mental health professional using the following websites:

• Psychology Today

• Good Therapy

• EMDRIA Therapist Directory

• Gaylesta (LGBTQ therapists)

• InnoPsych (BIPOC therapists)

• Open Path Psychotherapy Collective (low-cost therapy)

It’s also a good idea to learn about your insurance coverage for PTSD treatment and self-pay options if you are uninsured.

Keep in mind

PTSD is a serious mental health condition that often requires a combination of therapy and medication. Even with treatment, many people with PTSD may continue to experience symptoms. There are many types of traumas that can trigger PTSD, and it’s important to recognize that people experiencing trauma second-hand, such as healthcare workers or firefighters, are also at risk. While there are a wide range of PTSD symptoms, some people may show no symptoms except withdrawal and isolation. Keep an eye out for more research on innovative treatments such as ketamine or psilocybin.

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Written by:

Christina Palmer, MD

Christina Palmer, MD, is a board-certified family physician with a focus on chronic care management, women’s health, and mental health. She’s the co-author of “Open Heart: When Open-Heart Surgery Becomes Your Best Option.”.

Edited by:

Renée Fabian, MA

Renée Fabian is the senior pet health editor at GoodRx. She’s worked for nearly 10 years as a journalist and editor across a wide range of health and well-being topics.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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