Treating Phobias With Medications

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.

Keep reading to learn more about the different types of phobia medication that may be prescribed to treat these conditions.

Phobia Conditions That Can Be Treated With Medication

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. However, these medications may also be prescribed to address co-occurring symptoms of depression or other mental health conditions.

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:

• Celexa (citalopram)
• Zoloft (sertraline)
• Prozac (fluoxetine)
• Paxil (paroxetine)

Effexor, Zoloft, and Paxil have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the treatment of social anxiety disorder.

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

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. Benzodiazepines can help reduce symptoms of severe anxiety quickly so that people can then work toward long-term relief with psychotherapy.

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

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. This can be helpful if you need to face an anxiety-provoking situation when you have social phobia, such as needing to give a speech for work.

Possible side effects of beta-blockers include:

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

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.

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.

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