Social anxiety treatment idea gives some physicians stress

Social anxiety treatment idea gives some physicians stress


For many people, there’s nothing more terrifying than having to stand in front of a crowd and give a speech. Except, maybe, flying. Or going on a first date. Often, the attempts to quell a racing heart have included deep breaths and, possibly, a stiff drink. But what if you could pop a lozenge, maybe minty flavored, that would slowly release a medication that would stop your hands from shaking and your forehead from sweating?

A startup company called Kick is planning to bring to market an Altoid-like pill that will deliver 10 milligrams of the cardiac drug propranolol [pro-PRAN-all-all] to combat the social anxiety symptoms that affect millions of Americans.

Propranolol isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat social anxiety or performance anxiety, but doctors for decades have written off-label prescriptions for the drug for patients with those disorders. Kick wants to take this to a new level through a telemedicine platform that would allow people to get a prescription for the drug by simply passing an online screening and interacting with a physician through a video call.

Some mental health experts oppose the idea, saying it trivializes the conditions and that no physician should prescribe a drug without first conducting a thorough assessment of the patient. There is also a slight risk of side effects from lightheadedness to allergic reactions.

The company’s owner acknowledged there are some concerns, but he also said this could be a way to help people who might not want to seek psychiatric treatment but who could benefit from the medication. For those whose anxieties keep them penned up in their homes or minds, it could be a life-changer.

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