Common Antibiotic Shows Promise for Panic Attacks

A common antibiotic may offer a new way to treat panic attacks, according to a study from Brazilian researchers.

The study tested minocycline on mice and 49 human patients with panic disorder. Participants inhaled carbon dioxide to trigger panic symptoms, a standard experimental method.

After 14 days of treatment with either minocycline or the standard medication clonazepam, both groups showed reduced panic attack intensity. Minocycline's effect appears linked to calming microglia, the brain's immune cells, and reducing inflammation.

Because minocycline is already FDA-approved as an antibiotic, repurposing it could accelerate the path to a new panic disorder therapy. The low doses used also minimize risks of bacterial resistance.

Larger clinical trials are needed, but researchers say the findings could lead to more precise treatments for the millions affected by panic disorder globally.