Spotlight on paroxetine in psychiatric disorders in adults

Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), with antidepressant and anxiolytic activity. In 6- to 24-week well designed trials, oral paroxetine 10 to 50 mg/day was significantly more effective than placebo, at least as effective as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and as effective as other SSRIs and other antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Relapse or recurrence over 1 year after the initial response was significantly lower with paroxetine 10 to 50 mg/day than with placebo and similar to that with imipramine 50 to 275 mg/day. The efficacy of paroxetine 10 to 40 mg/day was similar to that of TCAs and fluoxetine 20 to 60 mg/day in 6- to 12-week trials in patients aged > or = 60 years with major depression. Paroxetine 10 to 40 mg/day improved depressive symptoms to an extent similar to that of TCAs in patients with comorbid illness, and was more effective than placebo in the treatment of dysthymia and minor depression. Paroxetine 20 to 60 mg/day was more effective than placebo after 8 to 12 weeks' treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Improvement was maintained or relapse was prevented for 24 weeks to 1 year in patients with OCD, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder or GAD. The efficacy of paroxetine was similar to that of other SSRIs in patients with OCD and panic disorder and similar to that of imipramine but greater than that of 2'chlordesmethyldiazepam in patients with GAD. Paroxetine is generally well tolerated in adults, elderly individuals and patients with comorbid illness, with a tolerability profile similar to that of other SSRIs. The most common adverse events with paroxetine were nausea, sexual dysfunction, somnolence, asthenia, headache, constipation, dizziness, sweating, tremor and decreased appetite. In conclusion, paroxetine, in common with other SSRIs, is generally better tolerated than TCAs and is a first-line treatment option for major depressive disorder, dysthymia or minor depression. Like other SSRIs, paroxetine is also an appropriate first-line therapy for OCD, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, GAD and PTSD. Notably, paroxetine is the only SSRI currently approved for the treatment of social anxiety disorder and GAD, which makes it the only drug of its class indicated for all five anxiety disorders in addition to major depressive disorder. Thus, given the high degree of psychiatric comorbidity of depression and anxiety, paroxetine is an important first-line option for the treatment of major depressive disorder, OCD, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, GAD and PTSD.     

Escitalopram: a review of its use in the management of anxiety disorders

Escitalopram (Cipralex, Lexapro, Seroplex, Sipralexa), the therapeutically active S-enantiomer of racemic citalopram (RS-citalopram), is a potent and highly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It is effective and generally well tolerated in the treatment of moderate to severe generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder (SAD), panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Moreover, escitalopram is at least as effective as paroxetine for the treatment of GAD, SAD or OCD and appears to achieve a more rapid response than racemic citalopram in the management of panic disorder. Generally, it has a more favourable tolerability profile than paroxetine in terms of fewer discontinuation symptoms. In addition, a favourable pharmacokinetic profile permits once-daily administration of the drug. Additional comparative studies are required to definitively position escitalopram with respect to other SSRIs and venlafaxine. Nevertheless, available clinical data indicate that escitalopram is an effective first-line treatment option for the management of GAD, SAD, panic disorder and OCD.     

Paroxetine controlled release

A controlled-release (CR) formulation of the SSRI paroxetine has been developed. This CR formulation delays the release of paroxetine until the tablet has passed through the stomach; the drug is then released over 4-5 hours. In well designed placebo-controlled trials in patients with major depressive disorder (including a study in the elderly), social anxiety disorder or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), paroxetine CR was consistently superior to placebo with regards to primary endpoints (i.e. mean Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression total score [major depressive disorder], Liebowitz social anxiety scale total score and Clinical Global Impressions-Global Improvement score [social anxiety disorder] and Visual Analogue Scale-Mood score [PMDD]). The duration of treatment was 12 weeks or, in PMDD, over three menstrual cycles (intermittent or continuous administration). Paroxetine CR also demonstrated efficacy in three well designed studies in patients with panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. Paroxetine CR was generally well tolerated in clinical trials, with an adverse-event profile typical of SSRIs, although recipients of paroxetine CR experienced significantly less nausea than recipients of immediate-release paroxetine in the first week of treatment.     

Serotonergic drugs in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders

Serotonergic dysfunction has been implicated in the aetiology of several psychiatric conditions, including depressive and anxiety disorders. Much of the evidence for the role of serotonin (5-HT) in these disorders comes from treatment studies with serotonergic drugs, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), 5-HT(1A) agonists and 5-HT antagonists. This review considers the place of these drugs in the treatment of panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Among these agents, the SSRIs stand out with proven efficacy in the treatment of a spectrum of disorders, such as depression, panic disorder, OCD and social phobia. They may also be a suitable treatment for GAD. 5-HT(1A) agonists have been used extensively for the treatment of depression and GAD but evidence of their efficacy in other anxiety disorders is equivocal. 5-HT antagonists are the least well studied of these agents: while they may have activity in depression, their efficacy has not been fully investigated in anxiety disorders. However, preliminary reports suggest that they may be useful as adjuvants to SSRIs in treatment-refractory OCD. The high incidence of comorbidity amongst psychiatric disorders means that pharmacotherapy that is effective against a range of disorders, such as the SSRIs, is of considerable use to clinicians. Future research into the biological mechanisms underlying such disorders is likely to further enhance pharmacotherapy. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Paroxetine: safety and tolerability issues

Paroxetine is a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) available in immediate release and controlled release (CR) formulations. Paroxetine is the most potent inhibitor of serotonin re-uptake among the now available SSRIs. Paroxetine has been approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive–compulsive disorder, panic disorder (PD), generalised anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD) in adults, whereas paroxetine CR is approved for the treatment of MDD, SAD, PD and premenstrual dysphoric disorder in adults. The overall efficacy of paroxetine seems to be comparable to other SSRIs in the treatment of approved indications, although paroxetine treatment induces more sedation, constipation, sexual dysfunction, discontinuation syndrome and weight gain than other SSRIs. Recent data suggest that paroxetine treatment leads to increased rates of congenital malformations, although this evidence is not conclusive. Paroxetine and paroxetine CR are not indicated for use in the paediatric population and are categorised as Pregnancy Class D. In conclusion, whether the tolerability profile of paroxetine differs substantially from other new antidepressants (including other SSRIs) needs to be determined in adequately powered well-designed randomised controlled comparative clinical trials.     

Paroxetine: safety and tolerability issues

Paroxetine is a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) available in immediate release and controlled release (CR) formulations. Paroxetine is the most potent inhibitor of serotonin re-uptake among the now available SSRIs. Paroxetine has been approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder (PD), generalised anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD) in adults, whereas paroxetine CR is approved for the treatment of MDD, SAD, PD and premenstrual dysphoric disorder in adults. The overall efficacy of paroxetine seems to be comparable to other SSRIs in the treatment of approved indications, although paroxetine treatment induces more sedation, constipation, sexual dysfunction, discontinuation syndrome and weight gain than other SSRIs. Recent data suggest that paroxetine treatment leads to increased rates of congenital malformations, although this evidence is not conclusive. Paroxetine and paroxetine CR are not indicated for use in the paediatric population and are categorised as Pregnancy Class D. In conclusion, whether the tolerability profile of paroxetine differs substantially from other new antidepressants (including other SSRIs) needs to be determined in adequately powered well-designed randomised controlled comparative clinical trials.     

Fluvoxamine. An updated review of its use in the management of adults with anxiety disorders

Fluvoxamine is a potent and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that has little or no effect on other monoamine reuptake mechanisms. Relative to other SSRIs, fluvoxamine is a weak inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6, a moderate inhibitor of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 and a potent inhibitor of CYP1A2. In randomised, double-blind trials. fluvoxamine 100 to 300 mg/day for 6 to 10 weeks significantly reduced symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) compared with placebo. Response rates of 38 to 52% have been reported with fluvoxamine, compared with response rates of 0 to 18% with placebo. In patients with OCD, fluvoxamine had similar efficacy to that of clomipramine and, in smaller trials, the SSRIs paroxetine and citalopram and was significantly more effective than desipramine. Maintenance therapy with fluvoxamine may reduce the likelihood of relapses in up to 67% of patients with OCD. Fluvoxamine < or = 300 mg/day for 6 to 8 weeks was as effective as imipramine in patients with panic disorder, and significantly more effective than placebo. In addition, treatment with fluvoxamine < or = 300 mg/day for > or = 8 weeks improved symptoms of social phobia (social anxiety disorder), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pathological gambling, compulsive buying, trichotillomania, kleptomania, body dysmorphic disorder, eating disorders and autistic disorder. Large trials comparing the efficacy of fluvoxamine and other SSRIs in patients with anxiety disorders are warranted. Fluvoxamine is generally well tolerated; in postmarketing studies, nausea was the only adverse event occurring in >10% of patients with less commonly reported events including somnolence, asthenia, headache, dry mouth and insomnia. Fluvoxamine is associated with a low risk of suicidal behaviour, sexual dysfunction and withdrawal syndrome. Fewer anticholinergic or cardiovascular events are associated with fluvoxamine than tricyclic antidepressants. Although comparative data are lacking, the tolerability profile of fluvoxamine appears to be broadly similar to those of other SSRIs. CONCLUSION: Fluvoxamine has demonstrated short term efficacy in the treatment of OCD, panic disorder, social phobia, PTSD and in a range of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. The drug is as effective as clomipramine in patients with OCD but appears to have a better tolerability profile. On the basis of current treatment guidelines, fluvoxamine, like other SSRIs, is recommended as first-line treatment for a number of anxiety disorders. It appears to offer some pharmacokinetic advantages and a different drug interaction profile to the other SSRIs with a broadly similar spectrum of adverse events. However, direct comparisons are required to assess the relative efficacy and tolerability of the different agents of this drug class.     

Clinical experience with paroxetine in social anxiety disorder

Paroxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) with proven efficacy in the treatment of depression, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Evidence that paroxetine may be effective in social anxiety disorder (social phobia) first arose from open-label studies. More recently, three multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled trials have been performed, each lasting 12 weeks, to assess the efficacy and tolerability of paroxetine in the treatment of social anxiety disorder, and these studies are reviewed here. The data from all three studies consistently demonstrated that paroxetine was effective in reducing both the symptoms of anxiety and the disability and impairment of social anxiety disorder. Paroxetine performed significantly better than placebo on all primary (Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Clinical Global Impression) and secondary (Social Avoidance and Distress Scale, Sheehan Disability Scale) outcome measures. Adverse events were restricted to those already known to be associated with SSRIs, no serious adverse events associated with medication were experienced, and the numbers withdrawing from the studies were not significantly different in the paroxetine and control groups. Taken together, these studies confirm that paroxetine is an effective and well tolerated treatment for patients with social anxiety disorder.     

Spotlight on fluvoxamine in anxiety disorders in children and adolescents

Fluvoxamine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) which may be used for the management of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Absorption of fluvoxamine was similar in adolescents to that in adults, which suggests that the maximum dosage of the drug for patients aged between 12 and 17 years can be as high as 300 mg/day. However, steady-state plasma fluvoxamine concentrations were 2 to 3 times higher in children (aged between 6 and 11 years) than in adolescents; thus, the maximum fluvoxamine dosage recommended for children is 200 mg/day. Fluvoxamine (50 to 300 mg/day) for 8 to 16 weeks significantly reduced symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) [measured across multiple assessment scales] compared with placebo in a well controlled trial in paediatric patients (n = 120) or from baseline in noncomparative trials in adolescent (n = 20) or paediatric (n = 16) patients. Improvements with fluvoxamine (up to 200 mg/day) were observed for up to 1 year in 98 patients with OCD in a noncomparative trial. The drug (up to 250 or 300 mg/day) also improved symptoms of anxiety compared with placebo in an 8-week well controlled trial in 128 paediatric patients with social phobia, separation anxiety disorder or generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). Fluvoxamine (50 to 300 mg/day) appears to be well tolerated in paediatric patients, with most adverse events with the drug (except abdominal discomfort, which occurred more often in patients receiving fluvoxamine) occurring with a similar incidence to those with placebo. The most common adverse events involved the CNS or gastrointestinal system. Most adverse events reported by paediatric patients with OCD were similar to those reported by adults. In conclusion, fluvoxamine is generally well tolerated and has demonstrated short-term efficacy compared with placebo in the treatment of OCD, and social phobia, separation anxiety disorder or GAD in well controlled trials in paediatric patients. Reductions in symptoms of anxiety with fluvoxamine have been observed for up to 1 year in children and adolescents with OCD. However, there are currently no comparative trials of fluvoxamine with other pharmacological agents. In the absence of such trials, current consensus opinion recommends that when pharmacotherapy is indicated, fluvoxamine, like other SSRIs, can be used as first-line treatment for anxiety disorders, particularly OCD, in paediatric patients. However, direct comparisons are required to assess the relative efficacy and tolerability of pharmacological agents in order to make firm recommendations for the treatment of anxiety disorders in this patient group.     

Paroxetine: a review of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and utility in the treatment of a variety of psychiatric disorders

Paroxetine is a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI). In vitro studies show that it is able to produce a concentration-dependent competitive inhibition of serotonin uptake into brain synaptosomes. This effect can also be demonstrated following in vivo administration of the compound to animals. Paroxetine is almost completely absorbed following oral administration. However, the drug undergoes extensive first pass metabolism. As a result, less than 50% of a single dose of paroxetine reaches the general circulation. Paroxetine is primarily metabolised by the cytochrome P4502D6 isoenzyme. The compound has also been shown to inhibit the activity of this enzyme. As a result, plasma levels of compounds metabolised by the cytochrome P4502D6 isoenzyme can be increased in patients given paroxetine. Paroxetine has been extensively evaluated in clinical studies in depressed patients. The compound shows efficacy superior to placebo, and similar to that obtained with standard tricyclic or tetracyclic agents. Paroxetine also appears to be as efficacious as other SSRIs. The efficacy seen in short-term studies with paroxetine in the treatment of depression is maintained when the drug is given chronically. More recently, paroxetine has been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Nausea, headache and somnolence are the most common adverse events reported by patients given paroxetine. As with other selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, a significant percentage of men under therapy with paroxetine report abnormal ejaculation. Paroxetine is well-tolerated by elderly patients, and appears to be associated with few serious adverse events.     

Paroxetine treatment of generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a prevalent and disabling anxiety disorder, conservatively believed to affect at least 5% of the general population. Cardinal symptoms of GAD include chronic and uncontrollable worry, anxiety, and tension, which result in difficulty fulfilling social, professional, and family roles. Treatment options include benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) venlafaxine XR. Because of the high comorbidity of GAD with other psychiatric disorders, pharmacologic therapy should possess both anxiolytic and antidepressive properties for best outcomes. The SSRIs are a good treatment option, and paroxetine is the best studied SSRI for GAD and the only SSRI to date approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for this indication. Results of randomized, controlled studies of paroxetine have demonstrated its efficacy in the short-term treatment of GAD, in achieving and sustaining full remission, and in preventing relapse. This article provides an overview of GAD and a discussion of studies of paroxetine treatment in this anxiety disorder.     

Treatment of depression with comorbid anxiety disorders: differential efficacy of paroxetine versus moclobemide

To compare the efficacy and tolerability of moclobemide versus paroxetine for the treatment of depression with comorbid anxiety disorders. Outpatients fulfilling DSM-III-R criteria for major depression or dysthymia and for a co-occurring comorbid anxiety disorder (panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder) after a 1-week run-in phase were randomly assigned to open-label moclobemide (300-600 mg/day) or paroxetine (20-40 mg/day) for 4 months. Primary criterion for response was a 50% score reduction from baseline on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores. Mean changes in Clinical Global Impressions Severity of Illness and Improvement Scales (CGI-I) were also used to evaluate treatment response. Of the 123 patients included in the study, 65 were randomly assigned to moclobemide and 58 to paroxetine. At study end, the two treatment groups did not differ significantly in terms of proportion of responders. Treatment group differences emerged when comorbid anxiety diagnoses were considered. In patients with comorbid panic disorder, paroxetine was superior to moclobemide in improving both anxiety and depression (five patients out of 18 in the moclobemide group and nine out of 14 in the paroxetine group were rated as responders according to CGI-I, P = 0.04). Neither medication was superior in treating comorbid generalized anxiety disorder. These findings indicate that both moclobemide and paroxetine are effective for treatment of depression with comorbid anxiety disorders. However, in the subgroup with comorbid panic disorder, paroxetine is more effective than moclobemide in reducing both depressive and anxiety symptoms.     

Safety of benzodiazepines in the geriatric population

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) significantly impacts upon quality of life and has a chronic and persistent nature. GAD requires pharmacological therapies that are well-tolerated, lessen the mitigating effects of common comorbidities and do not pose a high risk for dependency or abuse. Selective serotonin and serotonin–noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors have become more viable treatments for GAD than the traditionally used benzodiazepines due to greater efficacy and a more tolerable adverse event profile. Among these newer-generation antidepressants, only paroxetine and venlafaxine are currently FDA-approved for the treatment of GAD. Paroxetine was approved after three double-blind, placebo-controlled studies demonstrated its superior efficacy compared to placebo for short-term treatment of GAD. Venlafaxine was approved for both short- and long-term treatment of GAD after demonstrating efficacy in 8-week and 6-month double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. For both paroxetine and venlafaxine, the safety and tolerability profiles during treatment of GAD are consistent with those demonstrated during the short- and long-term treatment of patients with major depressive disorder.     

The safety of SSRIs in generalised anxiety disorder: any reason to be anxious?

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) significantly impacts upon quality of life and has a chronic and persistent nature. GAD requires pharmacological therapies that are well-tolerated, lessen the mitigating effects of common comorbidities and do not pose a high risk for dependency or abuse. Selective serotonin and serotonin-noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors have become more viable treatments for GAD than the traditionally used benzodiazepines due to greater efficacy and a more tolerable adverse event profile. Among these newer-generation antidepressants, only paroxetine and venlafaxine are currently FDA-approved for the treatment of GAD. Paroxetine was approved after three double-blind, placebo-controlled studies demonstrated its superior efficacy compared to placebo for short-term treatment of GAD. Venlafaxine was approved for both short- and long-term treatment of GAD after demonstrating efficacy in 8-week and 6-month double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. For both paroxetine and venlafaxine, the safety and tolerability profiles during treatment of GAD are consistent with those demonstrated during the short- and long-term treatment of patients with major depressive disorder.     

Treatment of generalized anxiety disorder with citalopram

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), such as venalafaxine and paroxetine, are used in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Patients with GAD frequently have comorbid psychiatric disorders, such as depression. SSRIs are effective in the treatment of a variety of anxiety disorders and depression. Citalopram, a newer SSRI used in the treatment of depression, has not been studied for GAD. This is the first report of the use of citalopram, the most selective SSRI, for the treatment of GAD in a retrospective case observation study. Thirteen patients diagnosed with GAD were treated with citalopram at an academic outpatient clinic. The main outcome measures were the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Clinical Global Impressions of Severity (CGI-S; at baseline) and Improvement (CGI-I). The mean age of the patients was 38 years. The mean dose of citalopram at endpoint was 33 mg/day (range 10-60 mg/day). After 12 weeks of treatment with citalopram, all 13 patients experienced full or partial improvement in GAD and depressive symptoms leading to meaningful improvement in social and occupational functioning. Mean baseline HAM-A scores (mean+/-SEM) decreased from 22.2+/-1.3 to 6.2+/-0.9 after citalopram treatment. The mean CGI-I score was 1.8+/-0.2 with 11 of the 13 patients responding (CGI-I of 1 or 2). These data suggest that citalopram may be an effective treatment for GAD. Several patients who had failed previous treatment with other SSRIs responded to citalopram, suggesting that a second SSRI, such as citalopram, may be beneficial in this population. A larger placebo-controlled study of citalopram is warranted in GAD.     

Discontinuation symptoms in depression and anxiety disorders

The present overview investigates whether different antidepressants have differing discontinuation symptoms upon treatment cessation, if these symptoms vary between depression and anxiety disorders, and with length of treatment. Data came from two comparative studies of escitalopram in major depressive disorder (MDD) (one vs. venlafaxine XR and one vs. paroxetine), two studies in social anxiety disorder (SAD) (one of which used paroxetine as the active reference), and one study in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), using paroxetine as an active reference [total number of patients: escitalopram (n=1051); paroxetine (n=336); venlafaxine XR (n=124); placebo (n=239)]. All studies included a defined discontinuation period and used the Discontinuation Emergent Signs and Symptoms (DESS) checklist to record the number of discontinuation symptoms. All three antidepressants showed more discontinuation symptoms compared with placebo (p<0.001). Patients reported significantly fewer discontinuation symptoms with escitalopram than with paroxetine and venlafaxine XR in MDD (p<0.05). Escitalopram showed significantly fewer discontinuation symptoms than paroxetine in SAD (p<0.05) and GAD (p<0.001). For each antidepressant, no differences in discontinuation symptoms were observed between the three indications and there was no evidence for increased symptom incidence with increased length of treatment. Thus, discontinuation profiles differ between antidepressants of the same class and are broadly similar in different disorders. No evidence was seen for a higher discontinuation burden with longer treatment.     

Panic Disorder—a Condition for Life? Treatment Issues

Panic disorder is a readily diagnosed, chronic condition which has received substantial attention since its recognition as a distinct condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-III (American Psychiatric Association, 1980). Effective anti-panic therapy should show efficacy in reducing the frequency of panic attacks and associated symptomology, and be well tolerated. Benzodiazepines have a rapid onset of action, but have disadvantages of dependence and withdrawal problems and are thus less suitable for long-term use. Since depression occurs as a comorbid condition in 60 per cent of patients with panic disorder, the use of antidepressants is a logical choice. The first-generation monoamine oxidase inhibitors are little used in panic disorder, since they present a major problem of a potential hypertensive crisis, particularly when ingested with tyramine. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such as imipramine and clomipramine, are widely used and are effective but they are not well tolerated. The TCAs appear to exert their anti-panic effect via the serotonin reuptake pathway. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) do not have anti-cholinergic effects or act on the noradrenergic system, thus there is a clear pharmacological rationale for believing that SSRIs should be as effective as TCAs in panic disorder and be better tolerated. Indeed, the SSRI paroxetine is as effective as clomipramine in panic disorder but has an improved tolerability profile; paroxetine is the only agent of its class licensed as a treatment for panic disorder. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

帕罗西汀的临床应用进展

帕罗西汀是一种选择性 5 羟色胺再摄取阻滞药 ,为抗抑郁新药 ,具有疗效好、不良反应少等特点 ,一些大型临床研究证实它还可用于治疗惊恐发作、广泛性焦虑症、社交焦虑症、强迫症、失眠症、经前期综合征、早泄等其他疾病     

Obsessive-compulsive disorder: implications of the efficacy of an SSRI, paroxetine

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that commonly presents comorbidly with other psychiatric disorders. The underlying neurobiology of OCD is associated with circuits involving the basal ganglia, thalamus, and the frontal cortex. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials indicate acute and long-term efficacy of potent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as paroxetine. There is suggestive evidence that higher doses of paroxetine than those used in major depression are needed for benefit in OCD. Because of their safety and beneficial adverse-event profile, the SSRIs have become the leading choice in the pharmacological management of OCD.