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


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


METHODS
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.
Michelson
D
D
Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, USA.
Allgulander
C
C
Dantendorfer
K
K
Knezevic
A
A
Maierhofer
D
D
Micev
V
V
Paunovic
V R
VR
Timotijevic
I
I
Sarkar
N
N
Skoglund
L
L
Pemberton
S C
SC
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors