Fluvoxamine attenuates panic induced by 35% CO2 challenge.
BACKGROUND
The authors investigated whether 6 weeks of treatment with fluvoxamine would decrease the anxiogenic response to the 35% CO2 challenge in 11 patients with DSM-III-R panic disorder with agoraphobia.


METHODS
The patients underwent a 35% CO2 challenge at baseline and again after 6 weeks of fluvoxamine treatment.


RESULTS
The anxiogenic effect of CO2 was significantly (p < .05) reduced during fluvoxamine treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest a relationship between the anxiogenic effect of CO2 and the therapeutic effect of fluvoxamine.
Pols
H J
HJ
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, State University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Hauzer
R C
RC
Meijer
J A
JA
Verburg
K
K
Griez
E J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D012701:Serotonin; D016666:Fluvoxamine