INCREASED ANTIPANIC EFFICACY IN COMBINED TREATMENT WITH CLOMIPRAMINE AND DIXYRAZINE

A double-blind 12 week trial was undertaken to compare the effects of clomipramine + dixyrazine with clomipramine + placebo in the treatment of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. Of 45 patients include d (21 dixyrazine, 24 placebo), 16 dropped out (6 dixyrazine, 10 placeb o). The number of panic attacks and the scores on the panic disorder s ubscale of the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale were significantly reduce d in response to both treatment regimens, but the reduction was signif icantly greater in the dixyrazine group. The patients' daily functioni ng was significantly more improved with the dixyrazine combination. Th e serum concentration of desmethylclomipramine monotherapy was signifi cantly higher and the side effects significantly lower in the combined treatment with dixyrazine than with clomipramine monotherapy. Clomipr amine combined with dixyrazine seems superior to clomipramine in the t reatment of panic disorder.