Desipramine in agoraphobia with panic attacks: an open, fixed-dose study.

Fourteen patients who met DSM-III criteria for agoraphobia with panic attacks received 200 mg desipramine (DMI) per day for 12 to 16 weeks on an open basis. Seven of eight patients who responded had steady state plasma DMI levels greater than 125 ng/ml, while five of six nonresponders had DMI levels less than 125 ng/ml. Following increases in dosage sufficient to raise DMI levels to greater than 150 ng/ml, four nonresponders improved dramatically. Implications of these findings are discussed briefly.