New PTSD Drug Shows Promise for Israeli Veterans

A drug that helped Vietnam combat veterans overcome severe PTSD in just two to three weeks is now being considered as a lifeline for Israeli soldiers battling trauma from recent conflicts.

Dr. Hillel Glover, a US psychiatrist licensed to practice in Israel, discovered that nalmefene (marketed as Selincro) successfully treated all symptoms of PTSD in a pilot study with eight Vietnam veterans and one World War II veteran. The medication worked faster and more completely than he ever anticipated.

The timing couldn't be more critical. Over 80 Israeli soldiers have taken their own lives since October 7, 2023, highlighting an urgent mental health crisis among veterans. Many soldiers, like Major Micha Katz from Efrat, have been demonstrating outside the Knesset, calling for better PTSD recognition and treatment resources.

Katz, who runs a pet shop with his wife Nava and has three children, served in combat zones including Jenin and Tulkarem. He's lived with PTSD since 2000 but only began receiving treatment in 2024. His story reflects thousands of others who've struggled to get adequate care.

Glover's breakthrough came from understanding that emotional numbness is a major barrier in treating PTSD. He hypothesized that nalmefene, an opioid blocker, could reverse this deadness that trauma survivors experience.

The results amazed him. Veterans taking the highest dose reported that nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, emotional numbness, feelings of detachment, and hyperarousal all significantly improved or disappeared entirely. The 23-month study was published in the Israel Journal of Psychiatry in 1993.

Why This Inspires

This discovery represents more than preventing suicide. It's about giving veterans back the lives they hoped to lead, including loving relationships with spouses and children. Glover has since patented the use of nalmefene for PTSD treatment in the United States, Israel, and the European Union.

The medication is already approved in Europe and Israel under the brand name Selincro, which could speed up access for those desperately needing help. Glover founded PTSD Global, LLC to expand awareness and treatment options for this often misunderstood condition.

For soldiers like Katz and countless others who've given so much in service, this research offers something precious: the possibility of healing and reclaiming joy after trauma.

Real solutions for invisible wounds are finally within reach.