These drugs were better tolerated than tricyclics and benzodiazepines as they had a low risk of dependence and overdosing complications .
The serotonergic , noradrenergic and GABAergic pathways play a major role in the fear network and in the physiopathology of PD .
INTRODUCTION Panic disorder ( PD ) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder characterized by unexpected and recurrent panic attacks .
PD patients present significant psychosocial impairment and a high risk of psychiatric comorbidities and suicide .
PD should be treated effectively as soon as the symptoms emerge because the longer these patients remain without treatment , the worse the prognosis will be .
SSRIs and SNRIs are the first-line compounds in the treatment of PD .
The 35% CO 2 Hyperreactivity and Clinical Symptomatology in Patients With Panic Disorder After 1 Week of Treatment With Citalopram: An Open Study
The effect of a short treatment ( 7 days ) with citalopram on the reactivity to inhalations of 35 % CO 2 and 65 % oxygen and on clinical symptomatology was investigated in 15 patients with panic disorder who had a positive response to 35 % CO 2 inhalation . An open study design was applied . On day 0 , before starting drug treatment , and after 1 week of treatment , each patient underwent the 35 % CO 2 challenge , and clinical symptomatology was evaluated with psychometric scales . The results showed a significant reduction of CO 2 reactivity and of scores on the anticipatory anxiety subscale of Panic Associated Symptoms Scale . These results confirm that the serotonergic system plays an important role in the modulation of CO 2 hyperreactivity and suggest an early anxiolytic effect of citalopram in patients who have panic disorder and are hyperreactive to CO 2
These drugs were better tolerated than tricyclics and benzodiazepines as they had a low risk of dependence and overdosing complications .
The serotonergic , noradrenergic and GABAergic pathways play a major role in the fear network and in the physiopathology of PD .
INTRODUCTION Panic disorder ( PD ) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder characterized by unexpected and recurrent panic attacks .
PD patients present significant psychosocial impairment and a high risk of psychiatric comorbidities and suicide .
PD should be treated effectively as soon as the symptoms emerge because the longer these patients remain without treatment , the worse the prognosis will be .
SSRIs and SNRIs are the first-line compounds in the treatment of PD .