The efficacy of azapirones is uncertain due to the lack of meta-analysable data for the primary outcome and low- quality evidence for secondary efficacy outcomes .
A small amount of moderate- quality evidence suggested that the acceptability of azapirones for panic disorder was lower than for placebo .
If further research is to be conducted , studies with larger sample sizes , with different azapirones and with less risk of bias are necessary to draw firm conclusions regarding azapirones for panic disorder
BACKGROUND Panic disorder is common in the general population .
It is often associated with other psychiatric disorders , such as drug dependence , major depression , bipolar disorder , social phobia , specific phobia and generalised anxiety disorder .
Azapirones are a class of drugs used as anxiolytics .
They are associated with less drowsiness , psychomotor impairment , alcohol potentiation and potential for addiction or abuse than benzodiazepines .
However , azapirones are not widely used in the treatment of panic disorder and evidence for their efficacy is unclear .
It is important to find out if azapirones are effective and acceptable in the treatment of panic disorder .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of azapirones on panic disorder in adults , specifically:1 .
to determine the efficacy of azapirones in alleviating symptoms of panic disorder , with or without agoraphobia , in comparison with placebo;2 .
to review the acceptability of azapirones in panic disorder , with or without agoraphobia , in comparison with placebo ; and 3 .
to investigate adverse effects of azapirones in panic disorder with or without agoraphobia , including general prevalence of adverse effects , compared with placebo .
Ipsapirone: evidence for efficacy in depression.
Sixty-five in patients of a psychosomatic hospital in the Federal Republic of Germany with the diagnosis of anxiety neurosis ( n = 31 ) or neurotic depression ( n = 34 ) as defined by the International Classification of Disease ( ICD-9 ) , were r and omized to a 4-week course of  ipsapirone at 7.5 mg t.i.d . or placebo in a prospect i ve , double-blind clinical trial to assess safety , tolerability , and efficacy . This article reports the efficacy results for those patients with the diagnosis of neurotic depression . The primary efficacy variable for patients with neurotic depression was the change from baseline in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HAM-D ) at 4 weeks of treatment . Considering all of the r and omized patients with neurotic depression ( n = 34 , the intent-to-treat population ) , the mean change from baseline in the HAM-D at Week 4 ( observed cases ) was -13.13 + /- 6.06 ( n = 16 ) for the ipsapirone group , and -3.19 + /- 5.99 ( n = 16 ) for the placebo group ( p less than .001 ) . A parallel analysis of the change from baseline in the Core Depression score of the HAM-D ( defined as the sum of items 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 , and 8) also showed a significant treatment difference ( p less than .01 ) . Results were similar for the intent-to-treat population , last observation carried forward . Safety and tolerability were evaluated for all study patients independent of diagnosis . Treatment-emergent events ( n = 65 ) were reported by 76 percent of patients treated with ipsapirone ( n = 33 ) and by 38 percent of patients treated with placebo ( n = 32 ) . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
The efficacy of azapirones is uncertain due to the lack of meta-analysable data for the primary outcome and low- quality evidence for secondary efficacy outcomes .
A small amount of moderate- quality evidence suggested that the acceptability of azapirones for panic disorder was lower than for placebo .
If further research is to be conducted , studies with larger sample sizes , with different azapirones and with less risk of bias are necessary to draw firm conclusions regarding azapirones for panic disorder
BACKGROUND Panic disorder is common in the general population .
It is often associated with other psychiatric disorders , such as drug dependence , major depression , bipolar disorder , social phobia , specific phobia and generalised anxiety disorder .
Azapirones are a class of drugs used as anxiolytics .
They are associated with less drowsiness , psychomotor impairment , alcohol potentiation and potential for addiction or abuse than benzodiazepines .
However , azapirones are not widely used in the treatment of panic disorder and evidence for their efficacy is unclear .
It is important to find out if azapirones are effective and acceptable in the treatment of panic disorder .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of azapirones on panic disorder in adults , specifically:1 .
to determine the efficacy of azapirones in alleviating symptoms of panic disorder , with or without agoraphobia , in comparison with placebo;2 .
to review the acceptability of azapirones in panic disorder , with or without agoraphobia , in comparison with placebo ; and 3 .
to investigate adverse effects of azapirones in panic disorder with or without agoraphobia , including general prevalence of adverse effects , compared with placebo .