Other Ophthalmic Surgery Organ Transplantation Orthopaedics Other Osteoarthritis Osteoporosis Otitis Otorhino. New research suggests that the therapeutic 20 mg daily dose of fluoxetine hydrochloride prescribed for depression may be effective in reducing the severity and frequency of panic attacks as well as other symptoms of panic disorder. Panic disorder is a potentially debilitating illness that affects up to three million adults each year in the United States. Panic disorder includes recurrent and unexpected panic attacks and can include a significant change in behavior related to the attacks and excessive worry regarding the implication of those attacks. Additionally, the National Mental Health Association estimates that approximately 50 percent of people with panic disorder develop the condition prior to age 24.
Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from the disorder.
Consequently, many people who suffer panic attacks can become housebound from the fear of experiencing a public attack. Fluoxetine currently is indicated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and bulimia nervosa. Fluoxetine is contraindicated until at least two weeks have passed since discontinuing an MAO inhibitor, and an MAO inhibitor is contraindicated for at least five weeks after discontinuation with fluoxetine. Fluoxetine should be discontinued immediately if rash or other possibly allergic phenomena appear for which an alternative etiology cannot be identified. Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.