Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a panic exit device for doors having in their active side vertically operating bolts extending from the top and bottom of the door and a mechanism for retracting the bolts. Usually, the retracting mechanism may be activated by using a key in an exterior door lock or by depressing a panic bar on the interior of the door. The improved panic exit device of this invention provides a device for actuating the bolt retraction mechanism which is mounted on the interior of the door and is non-handed so as to allow reversible installation of the retracting device on a right-handed or left-handed opening door. The panic exit device of the invention also provides an improved mechanism for latching the bolts in the retracted position as well as an improved dogging mechanism to lock the actuator device in the actuated position, while simultaneously preventing excessive play in the panic bar.