Very simply, a person who suffers from Social Anxiety is terribly shy; so much so that their shyness is crippling and debilitates their personality development. People suffering from Social Anxiety, are most often afraid of meeting new people, and are even more afraid of new environments and new situations, and this causes them to blush, tremble, sweat, or simply run away from the place if possible. As per statistics, more than 16 million Americans are believed to be affected by Social Anxiety Disorder.

Medication is now widely available to deal with Social Anxiety Disorder. However, one must remember that medication is not the cure for this disease. Of course, it may provide temporary relief but is must only be used keeping in mind the severity of condition, and your general medical condition. Most often, social anxiety medication is given to those who suffer from social anxiety in their day-to-day life.

Popular social anxiety medication is as follows. This however should be considered as just a guide. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is often considered useful when dealing with Social Anxiety Disorder. Medication may be used as a tool along with CBT.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI)

These are currently the most popular anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs due to the minimal side effects. Prozac, Luvox and Apropax are examples. Certain side effects may include lack of sleep, fatigue and decreased sexual stamina.

Serontoin & noradrenaline Re-uptake Inhibitors (SNRI)

These are drugs which influence the levels of serotonin and nor epinephrine in the brain. They may have certain side effects such as nausea, sexual dysfunction, tremors and even increase in blood pressure. Venlafaxine (Effexor) is a popular SNRI drug.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI)

These drugs work do not add serotonin and nor epinephrine to the brain. Instead, they inhibit the break down of serotonin and nor epinephrine. This causes the level of neurotransmitters to rise and consequently decrease levels of anxiety. These drugs have certain limitations that one MUST adhere to, such as following a strict diet and being careful of other medications taken at the same time. Not following these seriously enough could lead to stroke and death. Side effects may include fatigue and drowsiness.

Bezodiazepines

These drugs have a quick effect, but the effect does not last long. The drawbacks of taking these drugs are that there are strong chances that one may become dependent on them. If you have a history of substance abuse it's best to avoid this. Also, one should not suddenly stop taking these drugs as withdrawal symptoms and rebound anxiety are possibilities. Valium and Ducene are examples. Side effects are poor memory, fatigue, loss of interest in sex and drowsiness.

Beta Blockers

Beta blockers such as Inderal can treat anxiety by decreasing heart palpitations and trembling of hands, as they block adrenaline receptors in the heart and muscles. They are generally used for performance anxiety such as public speaking and exams. However, it is only a temporary effect. Diabetics, heart patients and asthmatics should not take them.

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