The suggested dose is 10 to 40 mg before a phobia-inducing event. People with very low blood pressure, certain forms of congestive heart failure, and asthma should not take propranolol or other beta-blocking drugs. Some researchers think there may be a link between the brain chemical serotonin and nonpsychotic disorders, such as anxiety and affective and compulsive-obsessive disorders. Recently, researchers have been working to develop a drug called befloxatone, which may be helpful in treating depression, social phobias, and panic disorders. The drug has been tested in clinical trials in France and the United States and has been found to be safe, causing no sedative, convulsant, or cardiovascular side effects.
Initial results indicate that it is suitable to take befloxatone orally once a day.
In one trial, researchers gave 10 mg of befloxatone a day to 12 healthy elderly volunteers. The researchers then tested the subjects' psychomotor and cognitive function. They concluded that the drug did not produce any detrimental effects on performance, memory, or sleep patterns. Psychotherapy Doctors often recommend drug therapy in conjunction with psychotherapy. People with anxiety or phobias may be helped by talking with trained therapists about their symptoms, feelings, behavior, history, and concerns.