Oral contraceptives and panic disorder.
BACKGROUND
There are no published reports of an association between triphasic oral contraceptives and the development of panic disorder.


METHODS
The authors describe two cases in which the use of triphasic oral contraceptives in women appear to have precipitated panic disorder. Treatment with the triphasic oral contraceptives was stopped and the patients were followed for 2 years.


RESULTS
Both subjects had rapid and total resolution of their panic disorder symptoms following cessation of triphasic oral contraceptive medications.


CONCLUSIONS
Triphasic oral contraceptives in some predisposed women may lead to precipitation of panic disorder.
Deci
P A
PA
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425.
Lydiard
R B
RB
Santos
A B
AB
Arana
G W
GW
D000328:Adult; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects; D019304:Ethinyl Estradiol-Norgestrel Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008656:Mestranol / Q000009:adverse effects; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000009:adverse effects; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000009:adverse effects; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology
D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003280:Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; C014715:Norinyl; D019304:Ethinyl Estradiol-Norgestrel Combination; D008656:Mestranol; D009640:Norethindrone