A Medline search of research on pharmacotherapy was undertaken , and a previous systematic review on the evidence -based pharmacotherapy of panic disorder was up date d. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors remain a first-line pharmacotherapy of panic disorder , with the serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine also an acceptable early option .
Temporary co-administration of benzodiazepines can be considered .
For patients not responding to first-line agents several pharmacotherapy options are available , but there is a notable paucity of data on the optimal choice
The evidence -based pharmacotherapy of panic disorder continues to evolve .
This paper review s data on first-line pharmacotherapy , evidence for maintenance treatment , and management options for treatment-refractory patients .
The efficacy of milnacipran in panic disorder: an open trial
The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of milnacipran in the acute treatment of patients with panic disorder . Thirty-one patients who met Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-IV criteria for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia were included in the study . Patients were initially treated with milnacipran 25 mg twice daily and then 50 mg twice daily until the 10th week . The treatment outcome and panic disorder severity were determined by the Panic Disorder Severity Scale , Panic Inventory , Clinical Global Impression and Hamilton Anxiety Scale , all of which were applied during every evaluation interview . Quality of life ( WHOQOL-bref ) was evaluated at baseline and at the end of the study . Missing data were h and led by using the last observation carried forward for all participants who had taken at least one dose of study medication . Intention-to-treat was used in the analyses . Pharmacological treatment result ed in a clinical ly and statistically significant mean reduction in all severity measures . Remission ( Clinical Global Impression≤2 ) was obtained in 58.1 % of the sample . Regarding WHOQOL , we found a significant improvement ( P<0.05 ) across treatment in all the domains studied . Although results may be influenced by the open design of this pilot study and by the small sample size , our findings suggest that milnacipran may be effective for the treatment of panic disorder and justify further research
A Medline search of research on pharmacotherapy was undertaken , and a previous systematic review on the evidence -based pharmacotherapy of panic disorder was up date d. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors remain a first-line pharmacotherapy of panic disorder , with the serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine also an acceptable early option .
Temporary co-administration of benzodiazepines can be considered .
For patients not responding to first-line agents several pharmacotherapy options are available , but there is a notable paucity of data on the optimal choice
The evidence -based pharmacotherapy of panic disorder continues to evolve .
This paper review s data on first-line pharmacotherapy , evidence for maintenance treatment , and management options for treatment-refractory patients .