Treating Specific Phobia With Drugs

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A phobia involves an intense and irrational fear of an object or situation. While cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often the first-line treatment for these conditions, phobia medication is sometimes used in addition to therapy.

Medication is more common for treating social phobia and agoraphobia than for specific phobia.

  • People with social phobia, or social anxiety disorder, feel intensely self-conscious and tend to avoid social interaction.
  • People with agoraphobia fear places or situations that make them feel trapped, alone, and helpless.
  • Specific phobia is a fear of a specific object or situation (for example, a fear of dogs or thunder).

All phobias are a form of anxiety disorder, so most medications address that issue. This article discusses the types of phobia medication that may be prescribed to treat these conditions.

No medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat specific phobias. While medications are generally not prescribed to treat specific phobias, they may be used to treat co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety or depression.

Antidepressants (SSRIs) for Social Phobia

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are a group of antidepressants effective for treating anxiety, social phobia, and agoraphobia. They work by changing the level of serotonin in the brain, which plays a role in regulating mood.

Examples of some of the SSRIs a physician may prescribe for social anxiety disorder include:

Possible side effects of SSRIs include:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Sleep problems

MAOIs for Social Phobia

Physicians may prescribe monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), often considered a second tier treatment for social phobia. They inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which breaks down certain neurotransmitters in the brain.

Commonly prescribed MAOIs include:

  • Nardil (phenelzine)
  • Manerix (moclobemide)
  • Parnate (tranylcypromine)

Possible side effects of MAOIs include:

  • Agitation
  • Dizziness
  • Stomach problems

Do not take an MAOI within 14 days of taking another antidepressant, such as SSRIs, SNRIs, or tricyclics. Combining these medications can lead to serotonin syndrome.

Benzodiazepines for Social Phobia

Benzodiazepines are mild tranquilizers that can be effective against phobias by reducing associated anxiety. Physicians prescribe this social phobia medication short-term at the lowest dosage possible.

Commonly prescribed benzodiazepines include:

  • Valium (diazepam)
  • Xanax (alprazolam)
  • Klonopin (clonazepam)
  • Ativan (lorazepam)

Side effects of low doses include:

  • Impaired memory
  • Depression
  • Drowsiness
  • Feeling hungover the next day

Benzodiazepines can cause physical dependence. This risk is higher if these medications are taken at high doses for long periods.

People can also experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking these medications suddenly, which can be potentially dangerous. Never stop taking benzodiazepines without talking to your doctor first. Slowly tapering your dose can minimize the risk of withdrawal complications.

Beta-Blockers for Short-term Relief

Beta-blockers work by suppressing the effects of epinephrine, or adrenaline, in the body. They also block associated physical effects of high adrenaline, such as sweating and heart palpitations. A beta-blocker your physician may prescribe is Inderal (propranolol).

Some beta-blockers provide short-term phobia relief because they slow your heart rate and decrease your blood pressure. They might be useful if you suffer from social phobia but must give a speech.

Possible side effects of beta-blockers include:

  • Cold fingers
  • Sleep problems and feeling tired
  • Stomach problems

Beta-blockers also lower heart rate and blood pressure. You should not take these medications if you have certain types of heart arrhythmias, low blood pressure, slow heart rate, hypoglycemia, or moderate to severe asthma.

Other Phobia Medications

Other medications that have been studied for the treatment of social phobia include:

  • Antiepileptic drugs: gabapentin, Lyrica (pregabalin), Keppra (levetiracetam)
  • Tricyclic antidepressants: Tofranil (imipramine) and Anafranil (clomipramine)

Discontinuing Phobia Medication

You must seek the advice of your physician if you want to decrease your dosage or stop taking your phobia medication. Drugs for social anxiety disorder can have unexpected emotional and physical side effects if you don't go off them gradually.

There are various reasons why people might choose to stop taking medication. Phobia medications, like other medications, can be expensive. In addition, some people do not like how certain drugs make them feel.

The risks of discontinuation vary by the type of medications you are on, but it is never a good idea to stop taking any medications without consulting your doctor.

Interactions and Warnings

To maintain your health and safety let your physician know of any other prescription or over-the-counter medications that you take, as well as any health supplements. If you have multiple doctors, keep each one up to date.

Some phobia medications may interact with other medicines, supplements, or substances you are taking. This can sometimes contribute to unpleasant or potentially dangerous side effects. It can also impact how well your medications work.

Be sure to read all medication inserts and always contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

3 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. National Institute of Mental Health. Specific phobia.

  2. Glue P. Optimal treatment of social phobia: systematic review and meta-analysisNDT. May 2012:203. doi:10.2147/NDT.S23317

  3. Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al. Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: Current and emerging treatment optionsFront Psychiatry. 2020;11:595584. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584

By Lisa Fritscher
Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics.