Panic had strange drawback (8)
I believe the answer is:
handicap
'drawback' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'panic had strange' is the wordplay.
'strange' is an anagram indicator.
'panic'+'had'='panichad'
'panichad' anagrammed gives 'HANDICAP'.
(Other definitions for handicap that I've seen before include "Put at a disadvantage" , "It makes progress difficult" , "Limit" , "It impedes or hinders" , "Disadvantage to offset an advantage in golf" .)