Table 1.

A summary of evidence-based outcome data from randomized controlled trials.

Medication class	Behavioral target	Medication	Efficacy demonstrated	Number of patients randomized or analyzed (placebo/ treatment)	Reference
SSRIs	PTSD	Paroxetine	Yes	186/365	[34]
				156/151	[37]
				27/25	[35]
		Sertraline	Yes	93/94	[30]
				108/100	[31]
		Fluoxetine	Yes	75/226	[36]
	Remission maintenance	Sertraline	Yes	50/46	[42]
		Fluoxetine	Yes	62/69	[45]
				32/30	[43]
SNRIs	PTSD	Venlafaxine	Yes	168/161	[46]
				179/179	[47]
Alternative second generation ADs	PTSD	Nefazodone	Yes	15/26	[48]
		Mirtazapine	No	9/17	[50]
		Bupropion SR	No	10/18	[51]
MAOIs	PTSD	Phenelzine	Yes	18/19	[55]
		Brofaromine	No	23/22	[59]
				58/56	[58]
TCAs	PTSD	Imipramine	Yes	18/23	[55]
		Amitriptyline	Yes	18/22	[56]
		Desipramine	No	18/18*	[57]
Anticonvulsants	PTSD	Lamotrigine	No	4/10	[61]
		Tiagabine	No	116/116	[64]
		Topiramate	No	19/19	[62]
	CAPS arousal subscale	Valproic acid	No	41/41	[25]
Benzodiazepines	PTSD	Alprazolam	No	10/10*	[65]
	PTSD prevention	Temazepam	No	11/11	[66]
NMDA modulators	PTSD	d-Cycloserine	No	11/11*	[67]
Atypical antipsychotics	PTSD	Olanzapine	No	5/10	[69]
			Yes	9/10	[70]
		Risperidone	No	9/12	[73]
			No	9/11	[68]
	Psychotic symptoms	Risperidone	Yes	18/19	[24]
Adrenergic antagonists	PTSD prevention	Propranolol	No	23/18	[29]
				17/17	[76]
	Insomnia and nightmares	Prazosin	Yes	10/10*	[77]
				17/17	[79]
		Guanfacine	No	34/29	[82]

^*Crossover design with the same patients receiving placebo and active medication. AD Antidepressant, CAPS Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, MAOI monoamine oxidase inhibitor, PTSD post-traumatic stress disorder, SNRI serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, TCA tricyclic antidepressant.