A DOUBLE-BLIND COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF BROFAROMINE AND FLUVOXAMINE IN OUTPATIENTS WITH PANIC DISORDER

Previous studies have shown that both selective serotonin reuptake inh ibitors (SSRIs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are effective in the treatment of panic disorder (PD). In this study, the SSRI fluv oxamine (Fluv) was compared with the MAO-A-I brofaromine (Brof). Thirt y patients with the diagnosis of PD with or without agoraphobia were t reated with either Fluv or Brof (150 mg daily) in a double-blind desig n. After 12 weeks of treatment, 93% of the Brof group and 87% of the F luv group considered themselves much or very much improved. Taking a r eduction in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety score of 50% or more , 33% of the Fluv patients and 47% of the Brof patients were responder s to treatment. After an increase in anxiety in the 1st week, which wa s more severe in Fluv-treated patients than for Brof, a clinically rel evant decrease in anxiety symptoms and reduction in panic attacks and avoidance behavior was observed. There was no significant difference b etween the treatment groups. The most prominent side effects were midd le-sleep disturbance (Brof), tiredness (Fluv), and nausea after taking the medication (Brof and Fluv). During a double-blind follow-up perio d of another 12 weeks, a further improvement was found in both treatme nt groups without significant differences between the two groups. The selective and reversible MAO-A-I brofaromine and the SSRI fluvoxamine are equally effective in the treatment of PD. Both compounds lead to a reduction in the number of panic attacks and a subsequent reduction i n agoraphobic avoidance.