Social phobia, also termed social anxiety disorder, severely affects the patient's ability to function in social situations. A patient with this type of anxiety disorder experiences excessive self-consciousness, intense worry, twitching and rapid breathing when faced with social interactions. Although therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, takes care of the cause of social phobia, medication can lessen the severity of the symptoms and helps the patient interact with other people.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are safe and effective in treating the symptoms of social phobia, according to the Mayo Clinic. Examples include paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline and fluvoxamine. Another antidepressant option is venlafaxine, a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). These two types of antidepressants work by preventing norepinephrine and/or serotonin from being recycled, which leaves more to be used by the brain. HelpGuide adds that three specific antidepressants---venlafaxine, sertraline and paroxetine---are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of social phobias; other antidepressants are prescribed off-label. Although antidepressants are effective, they can take up to three months to take full effect.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers, another medication option for social phobias, are not meant for daily treatment of symptoms. These medications work by interfering in the effects of adrenaline, which controls the physical symptoms of social phobias, such as the trembling and rapid heart rate. A patient with a social phobia would take a beta blocker before a particular situation, such as meeting a new person or giving a public speech. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America states that propranolol, prazosin and atenolol are examples of beta blockers.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are fast-acting anti-anxiety medications that act on the GABA receptor, which is the same receptor for alcohol. As a result, benzodiazepines can be addictive and are not prescribed to a social phobia patient unless she does not have a history with addiction, does not respond to other medications and is using the medication only for a short-term basis. Examples of benzodiazepines are lorazepam, alprazolam, flurazepam, diazepam, clonazepam, clorazepate, triazolam, oxazepam, chlordiazepoxide and temazepam.
