The authors studied the response to sodium lactate infusion of 12
alcoholics with a history of panic attacks, 10 alcoholics without a history
of panic attacks, and 16 nonalcoholic patients with panic disorder. The
rate of lactate-induced panic was significantly higher in alcoholics with
panic attacks than in alcoholics without panic attacks. Alcoholics with
panic attacks were similar to nonalcoholic patients with panic disorder in
their response to lactate. These findings support the specificity of
lactate-induced panic for panic states and suggest that panic attacks in
alcoholics resemble those in nonalcoholics. Lactate infusion may prove
useful in the diagnosis of panic disorder in alcoholics.Abstract Teaser