# List of investigational social anxiety disorder drugs

This is a list of investigational social anxiety disorder drugs, or drugs that are currently under development for clinical use in the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD; or social phobia) but are not yet approved.
Chemical/generic names are listed first, with developmental code names, synonyms, and brand names in parentheses.
This list was last comprehensively updated in August 2024. It is likely to become outdated with time.

## Under development
### Phase 3

* Fasedienol (Aloradine; AM-005; PH-94B; 4-androstadienol) – vomeropherine
* Soclenicant (BNC-210; IW-2143) – α$_7$-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor negative allosteric modulator

### Phase 2/3

* Riluzole sublingual (BHV-0223; Nurtec) – complex mechanism of action or glutamatergic modulator

### Phase 2

* Cannabidiol (CBD; ATL5; RLS103) – cannabinoid receptor modulator and other actions
* FKW00GA (FKW-00GA; TGW-00AA; TGW00AA) – serotonin 5-HT$_{1A}$ receptor partial agonist and serotonin 5-HT$_{2A}$ receptor antagonist
* JNJ-42165279 (JNJ-5279) – fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor
* Oxytocin (intranasal potentiated oxytocin; TI-001; TI-114; TNX-1900; TNX-2900) – oxytocin receptor agonist
* Vilazodone (Viibryd) – serotonin 5-HT$_{1A}$ receptor partial agonist and serotonin reuptake inhibitor

### Phase 1

* (R)-Midomafetamine ((R)-MDMA; R-MDMA; EMP-01) – serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine releasing agent, weak serotonin 5-HT$_{2A}$, 5-HT$_{2B}$, 5-HT$_{2C}$ receptor agonist, entactogen, and weak psychedelic hallucinogen

### Preclinical

* Dimethyltryptamine (DMT; N,N-Dimethyltryptamine; N,N-DMT) – non-selective serotonin receptor agonist and psychedelic hallucinogen
* PSYLO-3001 (Psylo-3001) – non-selective serotonin receptor agonist and psychedelic hallucinogen
* SENS-01 – undefined mechanism of action ("highly selective fast-acting anxiolytic without sedation")

### Phase unknown

* Fluvoxamine extended-release – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
* Venlafaxine controlled-release – serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor

## Not under development
### No development reported

* Bupropion (Wellbutrin) – norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor negative allosteric modulator
* EX-597 (KDS-4103; ORG-231295; URB-597) – fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor`
* Guanfacine extended-release (Connexyn; Intuniv; Intuniv XR; S-877503; SHP 503; SPD-503) – α$_2$-adrenergic receptor agonist

### Development discontinued

* AV-608 (CGP-60829; NK-608; NKP-608C; NKP608) – neurokinin NK$_1$ receptor antagonist
* Tradipitant (LY-686017; VLY-686) – neurokinin NK$_1$ receptor antagonist
* Verucerfont (GSK-561679; NBI-77860) – corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRF$_1$) antagonist

### Formal development never or not yet started

* Small-molecule oxytocin receptor agonists (e.g., LIT-001)

## Clinically used drugs
### Approved drugs
#### Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

* Escitalopram (Lexapro; Cipralex) – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
* Fluvoxamine (Depromel; Luvox) – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
* Paroxetine (Dropax; Serestill; Paxil; Seroxat) – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
* Sertraline (Zoloft; Lustral) – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

#### Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

* Venlafaxine (Dobupal; Effexor; Effexor XR; Elafax) – serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor

#### Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

* Moclobemide (Manerix) – reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A

### Off-label drugs

* Alcohol (over-the-counter self-medication) – GABA$_A$ receptor positive allosteric modulator
* Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., olanzapine, quetiapine) – monoamine receptor modulators
* Benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam) – GABA$_A$ receptor positive allosteric modulators
* Beta blockers (e.g., atenolol, propranolol) – β-adrenergic receptor antagonists
* Bupropion (Wellbutrin) – norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor negative allosteric modulator
* Cannabidiol (CBD) – cannabinoid receptor modulator and other actions, found in cannabis
* Gabapentinoids (e.g., gabapentin, pregabalin) – α$_2$δ subunit-containing voltage-dependent calcium channel blockers
* Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g., phenelzine, selegiline, tranylcypromine)
* NMDA receptor antagonists (e.g., ketamine)
* Other anticonvulsants (besides gabapentinoids) (e.g., topiramate, valproic acid, tiagabine)
* Psychostimulants (e.g., amphetamine, methylphenidate)
* Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (non-licensed) (e.g., citalopram, fluoxetine)
* Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (non-licensed) (e.g., desvenlafaxine, duloxetine)
* Serotonin 5-HT$_{1A}$ receptor agonists (e.g., buspirone)
* Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., clomipramine, imipramine)