What to do when SSRIs fail: eight strategies for optimizing treatment of panic disorder. (Practical Therapeutics).(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

From: American Family Physician | Date: October 15, 2002| Author: Albucher, Ronald C.; Zamorski, Mark A. | Copyright information

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the drug of choice for treatment of patients with panic disorder. Most patients have a favorable response to SSRI therapy; however, 30 percent will not be able to tolerate these drugs or will have an unfavorable or incomplete response. Strategies to improve management of such patients include optimizing SSRI dosing (starting at a low dose and slowly increasing the dose to reach the target dose) and ensuring an adequate trial before switchi...

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