Normalization of venous pH, pCO2, and bicarbonate levels after blockade of panic attacks.

Recent evidence suggests that hyperventilation may be associated with spontaneous panic attacks in patients with panic disorder. This is reflected in abnormal patterns of blood gas and blood pH levels in these patients. In this study, absolute levels and variances of pH, pCO2, and bicarbonate were compared between controlled patients before and after successful pharmacological treatment. The results indicate that successful treatment of panic disorder results in a normalization of pH, pCO2, and bicarbonate levels.