Efficacy of usual antidepressant dosing regimens of fluoxetine in panic disorder: randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although serotonin reuptake inhibitors are effective in panic disorder, questions concerning whether doses associated with antidepressant efficacy are also effective for panic disorder remain.

AIMS:

To assess the efficacy of the usual antidepressant dose of fluoxetine in treating full panic attacks.

METHOD:

Patients with panic disorder were randomised to placebo or to fluoxetine initiated at 10 mg daily for 1 week and then increased to 20 mg daily. The trial lasted 12 weeks, but after 6 weeks patients who had failed to achieve a satisfactory response were eligible for dose escalation to a maximum of 60 mg of fluoxetine daily.

RESULTS:

Fluoxetine was associated with a statistically significantly greater proportion of panic-free patients compared with placebo after 6 weeks and at end-point.

CONCLUSIONS:

Fluoxetine at a dose of 20 mg daily is safe and efficacious in reducing symptoms of panic disorder. Patients who fail to obtain a satisfactory response at 20 mg daily may benefit from further dose increases.

• Authors: D Michelson, C Allgulander, K Dantendorfer, A Knezevic, D Maierhofer, V Micev, V R Paunovic, I Timotijevic, N Sarkar, L Skoglund, S C Pemberton
• Journal: The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science (Br J Psychiatry) Vol. 179 Pg. 514-8 (Dec 2001) ISSN: 0007-1250 [Print] England
• PMID: 11731354 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
• Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
• Fluoxetine

Topics

• Adult
• Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Fluoxetine (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Panic Disorder (drug therapy)
• Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Single-Blind Method
• Treatment Outcome