Pharmacologic effect of toloxatone on reactivity to the 35% carbon dioxide challenge: a single-blind, random, placebo-controlled study.
The effect of a short treatment (7 days) with the reversible monoamine oxidase type A inhibitor toloxatone on the reactivity to the inhalation of 35% CO2 was evaluated in 18 panic patients who responded to 35% CO2 inhalation with panic before treatment. A single-blind, placebo-controlled design was applied. Panic patients were randomly assigned to the toloxatone (N = 10) or placebo (N = 8) groups and were given the 35% CO2 challenge on days 1 (before starting the treatment), 3, and 7. Patients on placebo did not report any significant changes in their reactivity to 35% CO2 during the three sessions, whereas patients on toloxatone reported a significant attenuation of the reactivity on day 7. These results indicate that (1) anxiety provoked by the inhalation of 35% CO2 is reproducible; (2) placebo has a negligible effect on 35% CO2 reactivity; and (3) reactivity to 35% CO2 is significantly attenuated by short treatment with toloxatone, possibly related to its antipanic activity.
Perna
G
G
Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, University of Milan, San Raffaele Hospital, Italy.
Cocchi
S
S
Bertani
A
A
Arancio
C
C
Bellodi
L
L
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010080:Oxazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D010200:Panic / Q000187:drug effects; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010080:Oxazoles; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C010798:toloxatone