Sodium lactate and hypertonic sodium chloride induce equivalent panic incidence, panic symptoms, and hypernatremia in panic disorder.
BACKGROUND
Although experimental induction of panic by infusion of 0.5 mol/L sodium lactate in persons with panic disorder was described three decades ago, the mechanism underlying this observation remains unclear. Here we asked if the rapid administration of the large sodium load contained in the 0.5-mol/L sodium lactate infusion might be involved in panic induction.


METHODS
We compared in panic disorder and healthy subjects behavioral, electrolyte, endocrine, and acid-base responses to three double-blind randomly ordered equal volume 20-min infusions: 0.5 mol/L sodium lactate, hypertonic saline (3% sodium chloride), and normal saline placebo.


RESULTS
Sodium lactate (0.5 mol/L) and hypertonic saline produced the same high incidence of panic and equivalent increases in panic symptoms, serum sodium, and plasma vasopressin in the panic disorder subjects. Neither hypertonic infusion increased cortisol or adrenocorticotropin. No normal subject experienced panic in any condition. The 0.5-mol/L sodium lactate infusion induced alkalosis, whereas hypertonic saline and normal saline induced a mild acidosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertonic sodium solution containing either chloride or lactate anion induces panic in panic disorder. The large sodium loads delivered by hypertonic saline and 0.5 mol/L sodium lactate may be involved in the mechanism of panic induction.
Peskind
E R
ER
Mental Health Service, Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA.
Jensen
C F
CF
Pascualy
M
M
Tsuang
D
D
Cowley
D
D
Martin
D C
DC
Wilkinson
C W
CW
Raskind
M A
MA
D000138:Acidosis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000471:Alkalosis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006955:Hypernatremia / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010200:Panic / Q000187:drug effects*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance / Q000187:drug effects
D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D019344:Lactic Acid; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone