Related Experiment Videos
Pharmacologic effect of toloxatone on reactivity to the 35% carbon dioxide challenge: a single-blind, random,
1Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, University of Milan, San Raffaele Hospital, Italy.
Abstract:
The effect of a short treatment (7 days) with the reversible monoamine oxidase type A inhibitor toloxatone on the reactivity to the inhalation of 35% CO2 was evaluated in 18 panic patients who responded to 35% CO2 inhalation with panic before treatment. A single-blind, placebo-controlled design was applied. Panic patients were randomly assigned to the toloxatone (N = 10) or placebo (N = 8) groups and were given the 35% CO2 challenge on days 1 (before starting the treatment), 3, and 7. Patients on placebo did not report any significant changes in their reactivity to 35% CO2 during the three sessions, whereas patients on toloxatone reported a significant attenuation of the reactivity on day 7. These results indicate that (1) anxiety provoked by the inhalation of 35% CO2 is reproducible; (2) placebo has a negligible effect on 35% CO2 reactivity; and (3) reactivity to 35% CO2 is significantly attenuated by short treatment with toloxatone, possibly related to its antipanic activity.
Insights
Short-term use of toloxatone, a reversible monoamine oxidase type A inhibitor, significantly reduced panic responses to carbon dioxide (CO2) inhalation in patients with panic disorder. This suggests potential antipanic activity for toloxatone.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Panic disorder is characterized by sudden, intense fear.
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) inhalation is a known trigger for panic attacks.
- Monoamine oxidase type A (MAO-A) inhibitors are used in treating mood disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of toloxatone on CO2-induced panic.
- To assess the antipanic activity of a reversible MAO-A inhibitor.
Main Methods:
- Single-blind, placebo-controlled study.
- 18 patients with panic disorder underwent 35% CO2 inhalation challenges.
- Patients received either toloxatone or placebo for 7 days.
Main Results:
- Placebo group showed no significant change in CO2 reactivity.
- Toloxatone group exhibited significantly reduced reactivity to CO2 on day 7.
- Anxiety provoked by CO2 inhalation was reproducible.
Conclusions:
- Short-term toloxatone treatment attenuates reactivity to CO2 inhalation.
- Toloxatone demonstrates potential antipanic effects.
- CO2 challenge is a reproducible method for assessing panic responses.