Survey study, 2021
Does fluoxetine reduce panic-like behavior during the premenstrual phase?
In female rats, low-dose fluoxetine prevented an increase in panic-like behavior during late diestrus (the phase equivalent to the human premenstrual phase). A higher dose of fluoxetine did not have this effect.
What they did
Researchers exposed male and female Sprague Dawley rats to low oxygen to trigger panic-like escape behavior. Female rats were tested at different points in their cycle and also after receiving fluoxetine at two different doses.
What they found
Female rats responded more to low oxygen than males, and this response was strongest during late diestrus. Female rats in late diestrus also showed more activity in specific brain regions involved in panic. When given low-dose fluoxetine during late diestrus, the increase in panic-like response was prevented. The higher dose of fluoxetine did not prevent this increase.
What it means for you
This suggests that low-dose fluoxetine given during the premenstrual phase might help prevent panic attacks in women. However, this is an animal study in rats, so the findings may not directly apply to people. More research in humans is needed.
1.75 mg/kg
Low-dose fluoxetine that prevented panic-like response increase
10 mg/kg
Higher-dose fluoxetine that did not prevent response increase
About the study
- Original title
- Enhanced responsiveness to hypoxic panicogenic challenge in female rats in late diestrus is suppressed by short-term, low-dose fluoxetine: Involvement of the dorsal raphe nucleus and the dorsal periaqueductal gray
- Authors
- Batistela MF, Vilela-Costa HH, Frias AT et al.
- Journal
- Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
- Year
- 2021
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- Fluoxetine at two different doses
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1177/02698811211058986
Topics
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