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Social Anxiety disorder is a very common type of anxiety disorder. Around 12% of people in the U.S. will experience social anxiety at some point in their lives, and around half of them will never receive treatment.
Social anxiety disorder is more than just shyness. It is a crippling anxiety of being judged, embarrassed, or looked down upon negatively by your peers. As a result, people with social anxiety disorder will turn down promotions, avoid going out, and withdraw from friendships and other relationships.
Social anxiety disorder can severely limit a person’s daily functioning and their overall well-being. Although it can get better over time, most people need treatment. The two most common approaches are talk therapy and/or medication.
This article will cover 6 common types of social anxiety disorder medication, when you should use each one, and other treatment types.
Social anxiety disorder is a very treatable mental health disorder. Most people who receive treatment recover from it fully. Don’t wait to start your journey to recovery. Contact Lifebulb to be scheduled with a social anxiety disorder therapist or a psychiatrist who can prescribe social anxiety disorder medication.
6 Types of Social Anxiety Disorder Medication
The type of social anxiety disorder medication you are prescribed will depend on your individual needs, the severity of your symptoms, and what other medications you might be taking.
Here are the most common types of social anxiety disorder medication:
- Paroxetine (Paxil): Paxil is the first line of treatment for social anxiety disorder. It has proved to be effective in many different studies. A type of antidepressant, specifically an SSRI, Paxil works to balance the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects mood and fear, amongst other things.
- Sertraline (Zoloft) (SSRI): Zoloft is the other first-line treatment for social anxiety disorder. It is also an SSRI and works in the same way as Paxil. Whether Paxil or Zoloft is right for you depends on how your body reacts to the medication. Zoloft tends to be better tolerated and is a good option for people who tend to be more sensitive to medications.
- Venlafaxine (Effexor XR): Effexor XR is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It works by balancing the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain. This dual-effect means it is a helpful option for clients who did not see an improvement on Zoloft or Paxil. One downside is that the withdrawal period can be more intense than other medications, making it a difficult drug to come off of.
- Benzodiazepines: Benzodiazepines slow the central nervous system down and are effective at reducing panic, panic attacks, and severe anxiety. They are short-term and should not be taken regularly. Instead, they are used as needed. Two common types of benzos for social anxiety disorder are clonazepam (Klonopin) and lorazepam (Ativan).
- Propranolol: A beta-blocker that is used as needed. Often, it is prescribed to treat highly specific and rare social anxiety triggers, like public speaking. Similar to benzos, beta-blockers should not be used regularly.
Beta blockers and Benzodiazepines should be used as-needed, because they can be addictive. They are strong, powerful drugs that are not meant to be taken regularly like SSRIs or SNRIs.
Xanax is another example of a short-term anxiety relief drug that may be helpful at treating severe social anxiety, but should not be a first-line treatment and should be used only in conjunction with other types of therapy. It is not meant to be used regularly.
These types of short-term drugs are a good option if your social anxiety is highly specific. If it is more general and you fear most social interactions, then an SSRI or SNRI will be more helpful.
How Long Does It Take for Social Anxiety Medication to Work?
Usually, it will take a few weeks for social anxiety medication to work.
How long social anxiety disorder medication takes to work depends on the medication. SSRIs and SNRIs like Paxil, Zoloft, and Effexor XR will take a few weeks. Social Anxiety Disorder Psychiatrists recommend waiting around 4 weeks before making any adjustments to dosage. This gives your body time to adjust to the medication and start seeing results.
Immediate relief medications like Benzos and Beta Blockers can be felt in a few minutes, but the effect only lasts anywhere from a few hours to a day.
What Side Effects Should I Be Worried About?
Side effects will be specific to the drug you take and the response it has on your body. Common side effects for social anxiety disorder medication include:
- Nasuea
- GI issues
- Loss of appetite
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Blurry Vision
- Headaches
- Sleep issues
Always check with your psychiatrist about any side effects you may have. Communicate all side effects you have to your psychiatrist, as some of them can be severe.
Is Medication for Social Anxiety Effective?
Yes, numerous studies have found that medications such as Paxil and Zoloft are very effective at reducing anxiety symptoms and giving people with social anxiety disorder some breathing room.
However, some studies have found the long-term effects of medication for social anxiety to be underwhelming. People who take medication for social anxiety disorder often continue to have social anxiety disorder symptoms when they stop taking medication.
Talk therapy, on the other hand, has better long-term effectiveness. Therapies like CBT and Exposure Therapy can help someone recover from Social Anxiety Disorder for good.
Often, a combination of both medication and therapy is needed. For many people with social anxiety, talk therapy is too intense. They avoid it, don’t engage in it, or leave before the treatment can start to be effective.
Taking medication for social anxiety while you are engaging in talk therapy can help the therapy be more effective.
A psychiatrist will work with your therapist to determine the right combination of medication and therapy for you.
Other Treatments for Social Anxiety
Medication alone is helpful but unlikely to cure social anxiety. Supplement your medication by seeing a therapist. Common therapy modalities proven to be effective at treating social anxiety disorder include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns (e.g., fear of judgment) and replacing them with more realistic beliefs, combined with behavioral practice in social situations.
- Exposure Therapy: Gradually and systematically exposes individuals to feared social situations in a safe, controlled way to reduce avoidance and anxiety over time.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Emphasizes skills such as emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness to help manage intense emotions and social interactions.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Encourages accepting anxious thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them, while committing to behaviors aligned with personal values despite anxiety.
A psychotherapist will help you get to the bottom of why you have social anxiety. Understanding and treating the underlying cause is the best way to ensure your social anxiety symptoms go away and stay away.
To get started, talk to either a psychiatrist (who can prescribe social anxiety disorder medication) or a therapist (who can provide talk therapy). Either one is a good starting point because they can refer you to other professionals as needed.
Contact Lifebulb to be scheduled with a psychiatrist or anxiety specialist today.
