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Venlafaxine ER in Teens With Panic Disorder Appears Safe, But Caution Still Advised: Presented at ADAA

By Fran Lowry

MIAMI, F.L. -- March 29, 2006 -- There is no evidence of increased risk of adverse events, suicides, or other indicators of suicidality among adolescent outpatients with panic disorder who were treated with venlafaxine extended release (ER), according to a 10-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study reported here.

Ann Marie Albano, MD, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States, discussed the findings on March 25^th at the 26^th Annual Conference of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA).

Her team of researchers evaluated the safety and efficacy of venlafaxine ER in 48 subjects aged 12 to 17 years who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for panic disorder with and without agoraphobia.

The most common adverse events seen in the 10-week study period among the 21 patients treated with venlafaxine ER were anorexia, asthenia, diarrhea, dry mouth, fever, flu syndrome, hostility, increased appetite, lung disorder, nervousness, somnolence, and weight gain.

No venlafaxine ER-treated subject withdrew from treatment. No serious adverse events were reported, Dr. Albano said.

Although venlafaxine ER was generally well tolerated, vigilance in this young population is still required, she added. "While there was no evidence of an increased risk of adverse events, physicians should be alert to signs of suicidal ideation in pediatric patients taking venlafaxine ER."


[Presentation title: Venlafaxine ER in Adolescents With Panic Disorder. Abstract 374]

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