title: The management of panic disorder.
abstract: The evidence for benzodiazepines in panic disorder is compelling; along with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), they are a standard treatment for panic and other anxiety disorders. However, extended-release formulations of these agents may prove to be as effective as the immediate-release formulations, and extended-release agents have clinical benefits that may make them more attractive treatments than the currently available, shorter-acting benzodiazepines. Because of their longer duration of action, extended-release benzodiazepines can protect against breakthrough anxiety and need to be taken only once or twice a day, which may improve compliance in some patients. Because the other standard treatments of panic disorder, the SSRIs, have a slow onset of action, adding an extended-release benzodiazepine to the treatment regimen for the initial 6 to 8 weeks could serve as an effective bridge until the desired SSRI effect is realized.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida Institute for Research in Psychiatry, Tampa 33613, USA. dsheehan@hsc.usf.edu
authors.forename: David V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Sheehan
mesh_terms: D000525:Alprazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010624:Phenelzine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000525:Alprazolam; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D010624:Phenelzine; D010919:Placebos; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors