Propranolol, Other Drugs Eyed to Block PTSD : Idea is that blocking β-adrenergic receptors might tone down consolidation of emotional memories.

PTSD rates, as well as PTSD symptom scores, were higher in the patients who refused the drug (3 of 8) than in patients who took it (1 of 11), reported Guillaume Vaiva, M.D., of the University of Lille (France), and his associates (Biol. Psychiatry 2003;54:947-9).

“The French study showed a significant reduction of PTSD symptoms–we only found a significant trend,” Dr. Pitman said.

Patients in both studies had tachycardia.