Sodium lactate infusion in late luteal phase dysphoric disorder

The effects of sodium lactate infusion were compared in 13 women who sought treatment for marked premenstrual dysphoric changes that met criteria for late luteal phase dysphoric disorder and 7 control women. No subject had a lifetime history of panic disorder. The rate of blindly rated panic to sodium lactate was 7 (58%) in patients and 0% in controls. Nonpanicking patients also had higher Modified Acute Panic Inventory scores than control subjects. The differences cannot be fully explained on the basis of a history of panic attacks. Further study is warranted.