Fluvoxamine attenuates panic induced by 35% CO2 challenge.

BACKGROUND

The authors investigated whether 6 weeks of treatment with fluvoxamine would decrease the anxiogenic response to the 35% CO2 challenge in 11 patients with DSM-III-R panic disorder with agoraphobia.

METHOD: The patients underwent a 35% CO2 challenge at baseline and again after 6 weeks of fluvoxamine treatment.

RESULTS

The anxiogenic effect of CO2 was significantly (p < .05) reduced during fluvoxamine treatment.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest a relationship between the anxiogenic effect of CO2 and the therapeutic effect of fluvoxamine.