Chicago—Patients with pre-existing panic disorder appear more likely to have side effects when on medications for depression, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. University of Illinois at Chicago–led researchers reviewed data from 808 patients with chronic depression who were given antidepressants as part of the Research Evaluating the Value of Augmenting Medication with Psychotherapy (REVAMP) trial, including 85 with panic disorder diagnoses. Patients with depression and panic disorder were more likely than those with only depression to self-report the following types of side effects: gastrointestinal: 47% vs. 32%; cardiovascular: 26t vs. 14%; neurologic: 59% vs. 33%, and genital/urinary: 24% vs. 8%.

Co-occurring panic disorder was not associated with eye or ear issues or dermatological, sleep, or sexual functioning side effects, however.

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