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Medications for Social Anxiety

Social anxiety is normal and occurs when a person is thrust into a new environment with people he may or may not know. However, when social anxiety becomes chronic and unbearable, it becomes social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia. People who believe they may have social anxiety disorder should visit their doctor or a mental health care professional who will be able to determine if medication is appropriate.

  1. Identification

    • People with social anxiety disorder have such a deep fear of social situations that, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health, it interferes with their lives and may manifest itself in uncomfortable physical responses. According to the NIMH, about 15 million Americans are affected with this disorder.

    Antidepressants

    • A doctor may prescribe an SSRI to help ease the symptoms of severe social anxiety. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, typical SSRIs that are prescribed for social phobia are Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Lexapro (escitalopram), Paxil (paroxetine) and Celexa (citalopram). MAOIs are an older generation of antidepressants and are generally not prescribed except as a last resort.

    Benzodiazepines

    • There are dozens of benzodiazepines that are used to treat anxiety disorders. However, the National Institute of Mental Health only identifies one that is used primarily for social anxiety: Klonopin (clonazepam). People should talk to their doctor about their specific symptoms to see if there is a different benzodiazepine that might be right for the type of anxiety they are experiencing.

    Beta-Blockers

    • The National Institute of Mental Health notes that beta-blockers may be effective at preventing the physical symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Physical symptoms may include shaking, feeling nauseated, having an increased heart rate, sweating and flushing. Beta-blockers like Inderal (propranolol) may prevent this response to social anxiety.

    Considerations

    • Every medication has certain side effects that may occur. It's important for people to talk to their doctors about possible side effects as well as any interactions that may occur with other medications. The NIMH reports that cognitive-behavioral therapy is useful and may be recommended in addition to drug therapy.

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