This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

I. The Effect of Long-term Alprazolam Treatment

Dennis S. Charney, MD; George R. Heninger, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1985;42(5):458-467.

Abstract
• There Is preclinical and clinical evidence suggesting that one neural mechanism responsible for antipanic efficacy is a reduction in brain noradrenergic function. Alprazolam, a triazolobenzodiazepine, has been demonstrated to have antipanic properties; however, to our knowledge, its effects on noradrenergic function have not been established. To assess whether alprazolam alters noradrenergic function, the effects of alprazolam on baseline plasma free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (MHPG), and yohimbine-induced increases In plasma MHPG level, anxiety-nervousness, blood pressure, and somatic symptoms were studied in 14 patients with agoraphobia and panic disorder. Long-term alprazolam treatment significantly reduced plasma MHPG baseline and blunted the yohimbine-induced increases in plasma MHPG, anxiety-nervousness, and sitting systolic blood pressure. These observations suggest that the antipanic mechanism of action of alprazolam may be due in part to an interaction between benzodiazepine-sensitive and noradrenergic neural systems.

Author Affiliations
From the Clinical Research Unit, Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Oct 5, 1984.

Reprint requests to Connecticut Mental Health Center, 34 Park St, New Haven, CT 06508 (Dr Charney).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Binding, Partial Agonism, and Potentiation of alpha 1-Adrenergic Receptor Function by Benzodiazepines: A Potential Site of Allosteric Modulation
Waugh et al.
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 1999;291:1164-1171.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Invited commentary: complexities in evaluating neurobiological models for stress resistance
Krystal
J Psychopharmacol 1992;6:12-14.
ABSTRACT  

Clinical and Medication Outcome After Short-term Alprazolam and Behavorial Group Treatment in Panic Disorder: 2.5-Year Naturalistic Follow-up Study
Nagy et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1989;46:993-999.
ABSTRACT  

Panic Attacks Facilitating Recall and Mastery: Implications for Psychoanalytic Technique
Silber
J Am Psychoanal Assoc 1989;37:337-364.
ABSTRACT  

Dysphoric Mania: Clinical and Biological Correlates
Post et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1989;46:353-358.
ABSTRACT  

Alprazolam Augmentation of the Antipsychotic Effects of Fluphenazine in Schizophrenic Patients: Preliminary Results
Wolkowitz et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1988;45:664-671.
ABSTRACT  

Alprazolam in Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia: Results From a Multicenter Trial: I. Efficacy in Short-term Treatment
Ballenger et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1988;45:413-422.
ABSTRACT  

Behavioral Inhibition in Children of Parents With Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia: A Controlled Study
Rosenbaum et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1988;45:463-470.
ABSTRACT  

Abnormal Regulation of Noradrenergic Function in Panic Disorders: Effects of Clonidine in Healthy Subjects and Patients With Agoraphobia and Panic Disorder
Charney and Heninger
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1986;43:1042-1054.
ABSTRACT  

Serotonin Function in Panic Disorders: The Effect of Intravenous Tryptophan in Healthy Subjects and Patients With Panic Disorder Before and During Alprazolam Treatment
Charney and Heninger
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1986;43:1059-1065.
ABSTRACT  

Carbon Dioxide Sensitivity in Panic Anxiety: Ventilatory and Anxiogenic Response to Carbon Dioxide in Healthy Subjects and Patients With Panic Anxiety Before and After Alprazolam Treatment
Woods et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1986;43:900-909.
ABSTRACT