Valium is a longer acting drug and prevents the 4 - 6 hour withdrawal. Your wife MUST NOT stop taking these drugs. This can be very dangerous. She will need to speak with her doctor and slowly withdraw the drug under medical supervision. This also applies to any transfer and withdrawal from valium.
Many people seem to be able to tolerate the older style anti depressants.
Your wife may wish to talk to her psychiatrist about trying one of these. As we said earlier though there are a number of people who are sensitive to every drug and cannot take any at all. The reaction your wife had to Sudafed again is a very common reaction. She must never take them when she is taking anti depressants as they are contra indicated. If your wife has Panic Disorder she would have many symptoms, and she would also have many different fears.