Benzodiazepine treatment of panic disorder: a comparison of alprazolam and lorazepam.

The antipanic efficacy of alprazolam and lorazepam was evaluated in 48 patients meeting DSM-III criteria for agoraphobia with panic attacks or panic disorder in a double-blind random assignment study. On the basis of rating scale scores, both drugs demonstrated similar efficacy in reducing panic attacks and phobic behavior compared with placebo baseline. The doses required to achieve response were approximately double those required for the treatment of generalized anxiety. These results suggest that most, if not all, benzodiazepines may be effective antipanic drugs at high doses. The implications of these findings for drug treatments of choice for recurrent panic attacks are discussed.