Increased cholesterol levels after paroxetine treatment in patients with panic disorder

Panic disorder (PD) is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. We examined serum cholesterol and plasma catecholamine levels in PD before and after paroxetine treatment. The serum cholesterol and plasma catecholamine levels were not different between the PD patients and control subjects before the treatment. However, the levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly increased in the 28 PD patients after 3 months of paroxetine treatment, whereas the body mass index and plasma catecholamine levels were unchanged. Paroxetine should be used cautiously for PD patients who have overt or covert cardiovascular disorders.