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 .
Sertraline in the treatment of panic disorder: a flexible-dose multicenter trial.
BACKGROUND The serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors are increasingly being used for the treatment of panic disorder . We examined the efficacy and safety of the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor sertraline hydrochloride in patients with panic disorder . METHODS One hundred seventy-six nondepressed out patients with panic disorder , with or without agoraphobia , from 10 sites followed identical protocol s that used a flexible-dose design . After 2 weeks of single-blind placebo , patients were r and omly assigned to 10 weeks of double-blind , flexible-dose treatment with either sertraline hydrochloride ( 50 - 200 mg/d ) or placebo . RESULTS Sertraline-treated patients exhibited significantly greater improvement ( P=.01 ) at end point than did patients treated with placebo for the primary outcome variable , panic attack frequency . Significant differences between groups were also evident for clinician and patient assessment s of improvement as measured by the Clinical Global Impression Improvement ( P=.01 ) and Severity ( P=.009 ) Scales , Panic Disorder Severity Scale ratings ( P=.03 ) , high end-state function assessment ( P=.03 ) , Patient Global Evaluation rating ( P=.01 ) , and quality of life scores ( P=.003 ) . Adverse events , generally characterized as either mild or moderate , were not significantly different in overall incidence between the sertraline and placebo groups . CONCLUSION Results support the safety and efficacy of sertraline for the short-term treatment of patients with panic disorder
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 .