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Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) and Paroxetine Effective for Short-Term Treatment of Panic Disorder: Presented at CPA

By Steve Pridgeon

VANCOUVER, CANADA -- November 10, 2005 -- Venlafaxine (Effexor XR) and paroxetine are effective in the short-term treatment of panic disorder (PD), according to research presented here at the 55^th annual conference of the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA).

Panic disorder is a chronic disease characterized by panic attacks, anticipatory anxiety and panic-related phobias. It is often associated with comorbid psychiatric conditions, such as depression. Treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as paroxetine and sertraline is effective for this disorder.

Venlafaxine XR, an extended release serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, has been shown to be effective in anxiety and depressive conditions, as well as in panic disorder.

A research team led by Mark Pollack MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, and Director, Anxiety Disorders Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, investigated the efficacy of two different doses of Effexor XR compared to placebo and to paroxetine in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind study.

The researchers enrolled 624 patients with panic disorder and randomized them into four groups: venlafaxine XR 75 mg (n = 156), venlafaxine XR 225 mg (n = 160), paroxetine (n = 151) and placebo (n = 157). The primary outcome measure was the percentage of patients who were free of full-symptom panic attacks at the end of the 12 weeks.

Results show the three treatments were significantly superior to placebo (P < .05) for full-symptom panic attack frequency, remission rates and Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) scores.

Venlafaxine XR 225 mg showed a more rapid response over time than paroxetine as measured by a Clinical Global Impression – Improvement (CGI-I) score of 1 or 2.

The venlafaxine XR 225 mg group had a significantly higher percentage of panic-free patients (P < .05) and a greater PDSS score improvement (P < .05) than paroxetine at 12 weeks.

Adverse events were comparable between all groups, Dr. Pollack said.

The researchers concluded that venlafaxine XR and paroxetine are safe and efficacious short-term treatments for PD.


[Presentation title: Short-Term Treatment of Panic Disorder: Venlafaxine XR vs. Paroxetine or Placebo. Abstract P-23]

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