Things You'll Need:
- Psychiatrist, psychotherapist or other medical doctor licensed to prescribe anti-psychotic medicines
- Prescription for Effexor or other brand of venlafaxine
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Step 1
Report your post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms to your regular physician or psychiatrist. You may require a referral to a specialist in order to confirm a diagnosis.
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Step 2
Get a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis by meeting the diagnosis criteria set forth by the American Psychological Association. In essence, this requires you to exhibit a clear cause of post-traumatic stress disorder as well as persistent symptoms that lower your quality of life.
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Step 3
Talk through the various treatment options with your psychiatrist or psychotherapist. Effexor (which is the brand name for the drug venlafaxine) is one of many drugs widely used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Step 4
Make certain you understand all the risks and potential side effects that come with using Effexor to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Common side effects include a diminished sex drive and difficulty reaching orgasm. You should also tell your doctor if you have a history of hypertension, as Effexor can raise a patient's blood pressure readings when continually used at high doses.
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Step 5
Fill your Effexor prescription and make sure that you have a thorough understanding of the drug's proper usage before you begin to treat your post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms with it. Always follow the recommended dosage guidelines as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist.
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Step 6
Receive therapy while you manage your symptoms using Effexor. Remember that anti-psychotic drugs are not considered curative treatment, but they are used most effectively to manage psychological and emotional symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
