The influence of ethanol infusion on the effects of 35% CO2 challenge. A study in panic disorder patients and healthy volunteers

Eur Psychiatry. 2005 May;20(3):299-303. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2004.06.009.

Abstract

Alcohol and panic disorders co-occur at a rate that exceeds chance significantly. Early experimental work suggests that alcoholic subjects, compared to non-alcoholics, are less sensitive to sodium lactate and that alcohol intake reduces the response to a 35% CO(2) challenge in Panic Disorder patients. The present study documents the direct pharmacological effect of ethanol infusion on CO(2) induced panic.

Methods: According to a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, cross-over design 10 drug free panic disorder patients and 16 healthy volunteers underwent a 35% CO(2) challenge after intravenous infusion of a moderate dose of ethanol on one test day and of placebo on another test day.

Results: Compared to the placebo condition, the effect of the CO(2) challenge was significantly smaller after ethanol infusion (P = 0.041).

Discussion: A moderate dose of ethanol decreased the response to a 35% CO(2) without inducing pre challenge sedation.

Conclusion: The results comfort earlier findings of a direct pharmacological effect of ethanol on panic.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carbon Dioxide / administration & dosage
  • Carbon Dioxide / adverse effects*
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Ethanol / administration & dosage
  • Ethanol / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Panic Disorder / chemically induced*
  • Panic Disorder / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Ethanol