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Does the thought of taking medicine strike fear into your heart? If so, you may suffer from a rare phobia called pharmacophobia – the irrational fear of taking medication. Patients who suffer from pharmacophobia experience a broad range of symptoms when faced with the prospect of taking and managing medication, including palpitations, panic attacks, racing heart rates, trembling, nausea, and even weakness. These are all traditional anxiety symptoms that stem from an overactive “fight or flight” system in the body.
Symptoms from pharmacophobia can be severe enough that patients stop taking medications altogether, harming themselves in the process. The nature of this phobia also makes it especially difficult to treat; the idea of taking a pill is what produces the anxiety in the first place.
Here’s the good news: it is possible to overcome your pharmacophobia. Start with these strategies to build up your anxiety coping toolbox.
Define How Your Pharmacophobia Started
People who develop pharmacophobia usually develop this phobia after a negative past experience. They may have experienced a negative side effect or allergic reaction, or they may have seen a loved one become very ill or even die after taking medication. Even if the death or illness isn’t directly related to the medication, the brain can draw correlations between the two. This may cause patients to fear that they will have the same experience. Therapists often refer to this as “fearing the fear” itself.
Do you remember when you first became fearful of taking medication? If you can trace your fear back to when it may have started, you may also identify what’s causing it in the first place. Think back to negative experiences you or someone you know has had with medication. How did those experiences affect you? Remind yourself that someone else having a negative experience does not necessarily mean you will, too.
Take Your First Dose at the Pharmacy
Can’t bear the thought of taking a pill at home? Many patients with pharmacophobia fear becoming extremely ill after taking medication for the first time in a location where they cannot easily get help. Someone with an extreme phobia may feel fear even if there is a telephone present or another resident at home to monitor them. Depending on your condition, not taking the medication may not be an option.
Instead, take your first dose at the pharmacy. With medical staff on-site, it may be enough to ease your anxiety and convince you that your medication won’t harm you. If nothing else, you will at least have access to support if something goes wrong.
A note: although this strategy is technically enabling your phobia (something therapists never recommend), it does work as a temporary measure for many patients. Research tells is that people with pharmacophobia experience the most fear with the first dose. As they take their medication and witness the lack of side effects, the anxiety lessens – hopefully it lessens for you, too.
Try Talk Therapy
When you just can’t get over your phobia yourself, it’s time to seek outside help. Talk therapy, including both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), can both significantly help people who suffer from pharmacophobia. The first attempts to change how you perceive your fear, and thus, its outcome. The second approach teaches you to be mindful and stay in the moment.
Finding the right therapist is important, especially in phobias where regressions and triggers can potentially cause more harm than good if mishandled. Additionally, talk therapy works best when patients mesh well with their therapists (from both a clinical and personality perspective). Don’t be afraid to consult with several therapists until you find the right one.
Can’t see a therapist? Try DBTSelfHelp.com. This website contains a database of DBT-based exercises and information you can put to use right at home. Practical skills learned include distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and mindfulness. Best of all, it’s totally free.
Try Exposure Therapy
Still struggling despite all attempts? Exposure therapy may help to desensitize you. This form of therapy exposes you to your fear with a therapist by your side to help you work through the negative emotions you experience. Research and statistics show the highest level of efficacy in resolving extreme phobias. In some patients, it is even more effective than using sedative medications.
When therapists engage in exposure therapy, they base your progress on where you are right now. If you can’t even tolerate seeing a pill, they may start by having you hold the pill first. If your issue causes you to struggle with swallowing pills, your therapist may advise starting with sugar pills or candy instead.
Exposure therapy is often gradual, so a complete fix may not happen for months or even years. However, it is still a valuable long-term tool. Patients with phobias who undergo exposure therapy often come to resolve their fears completely and permanently.
Change Your Dosing Method
For many patients with pharmacophobia, the phobia itself is related to a specific form of dosing rather than the medication itself. Patients may struggle with swallowing pills but do fine when given intramuscular injections. Others may be fine with pills but struggle with topicals. Even the fear of choking on medication can be enough to dissuade some patients from sticking with treatment.
Exactly why phobias play out this way isn’t always clear. Unfortunately, they are inherently irrational, and thus, they aren’t easy to explain. Changing the approach to accommodate may be easier than eliminating it.
If your phobia is attached to a specific dosing method, your local compounding pharmacy may be able to help by recreating your medication from scratch in a way that’s easier and less stressful to take. This approach might see the pharmacist making pills smaller and easier to swallow, changing topicals into a patch, or combining all of your medications into a single dose to reduce triggers. Compounded medications make it easier for you to take your medication dosage in a way that work specifically for you.
Compounding is especially useful for children with pharmacophobia, who may be more willing to take a medication that tastes great over a formula that’s bitter or sour. Pharmacists can add flavoring to make the medication more palatable!
Have questions about managing your pharmacophobia? Talk to your pharmacist directly. He or she is an invaluable resource that can help you decide how you want to move forward, whether you decide to take your medication to refuse it in the end. What’s most important is that you know pharmacophobia is nothing to be ashamed of – plenty of patients struggle with it, and most eventually overcome their fears. You can, too!
And if you need more information about how Burt’s Rx can help, call us today! We offer services such as pet compounding, compounded medication for pain management, BHRT, and dental compounding.
I was diagnosed with anorexia and anxiety. I am terrified to take the zoloft I am supposed to take. I was prescribed the medication 4 months ago and I cant take it. I also am scared of food because I might gain weight. I dont know how to handle this.
Hello, have you started your medication
I have a severe case of this to the point that benzos even give me panic attacks when I feel the sensation of them kicking in. I’m at a loss. I have seen therapists and they all just start getting frustrated that they can’t get me to do it. As a result, my health is deteriorating and I’ve developed severe case of agoraphobia. This all began after horrible Zoloft withdrawal and exposure to steroids.
Hi! We’re so sorry to hear that. For the medication aspect of it, it could be really beneficial to talk to a pharmacist that offers compounding. There are many types of medications that may help with pharmacophobia, such as tablets, liquids, creams etc. We hope this help! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at all.
Thank you so much for this article. I thought I was losing my mind. I have had many allergic reactions to antibiotics and now I am afraid of having side effects or allergic reactions to any new medication. As your article stated, once I have taken the medication and do not have negative side effects the phobia melts away and I can resume taking it. I have been struggling with managing my diabetes and my Endocrinologist is threatening to “fire” me because of my resistance to new meds. I know that if I had support, someone to reach out to, or check in with (during the span of time that a reaction might occur) I would definitely feel more secure. When my Mom was alive she used to do this with me. I am going to take your advise and reach out for help. Any additional advice on a “coach” or support person besides the link above would be helpful. Again, great article!
Hi Lori, many people suffer from pharmacophobia – you are not alone! Know that there are many options available, and having a support system is essential; whether that is your doctor, pharmacist, family member or friend. Exposure therapy and talk therapy may also help. In addition, you can always talk to a pharmacist to see if your dosing method could be changed to better match your needs. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Hi I have anxiety at present and I have had several phone calls with my gp regarding different medications that are available to me but I am petrified of taking any of them. I keep calling my gp to try and put my mind at rest but getting nowhere. they seem very rushed and keep telling me they have other patients to speak too. I have been on the Internet researching the suggested tablets but I’m so scared of the side affects so this is causing me even more anxiety! can you help?
Hi Tracey, thanks for reaching out. We’re sorry to hear that you are going through this! Please call us at 805-498-6675 to speak to a team member who can assist you with creating a solution that works for you. You can also reach us at info@burtsrx.com. We wish you the best and look forward to speaking with you soon!
I completely understand where you are coming from!
I just recently started taking Zoloft for anxiety and it took me a couple weeks to even mentally do that. Start low you will be surprised how nothing actually happens.. you will probably be sleepy first few days.. I got a little emotional week 2 and now no side effects just trying to stay positive. I think it’s starting to help! I’m back to work. I usually get like every side effect but now I’m honestly thinking most are in my head because the anxiety gives me all the physical/mental symptoms anyways. It’s worth a shot if it is controlling your life. Easier said than done, but really the first time I got on this med I said it changed my life for the best and I didn’t know why I took so long to do it could have been enjoying more the whole time!! I got off for awhile but with the pandemic and stress I’m getting back on. Good Luck! Remember you are not alone!
Thank you for sharing your story, Kay! We are so glad that you took steps to take back control of your life! Thank you again and we wish you all the best in the future!
Im beyond terrified of taking pills, especially big ones. I feel kinda dumb because people call me a big baby about it. I get anxiety even thinking about taking them… I’ve been like this since i was little. There’s times I’ll overcome it and just take it but I for the life of it can’t take a pill because in terrified I’ll choke on it. I choked on a small pill before and since then I wont take any pills unless they’re small enough I feel OK taking. I will have a panic attack with a pill in my hand whenever im sick and then I just won’t take it so I do other things to overcome my cold.
Thank you for your comment, Heather! You should never feel bad about this. Many people suffer from the same anxieties and issues, and there are many ways to get around pharmacophobia! Our team would be more than happy to speak with you about compounding options that can work for you! Rather than taking pills, we can create a customized medication dosage that will work for you and reduce anxiety surrounding pills. Feel free to give our team a call at (805) 498-6675!
you’re not a big baby for feeling this way. Your emotions, feelings and fears are completely valid. I guess what you can try to maybe do, is identify the reason you have developed this fear, meaning try to see what you associate it with. I’m no expert and I can’t place myself in ur shoes, but I think that would really help. Maybe also progress your way into consuming larger pills, rather than expecting yourself to overcome the fear and anxiety at once. What I mean by this is to try and break down large pills into smaller pieces and progress with time into larger pieces until u may eventually grasp the full thing. I hope that helps, it comes from someone that has 0 experience and background knowledge but is trying to help.
Hello,
I got a problem with medicine too and I don’t know what to do.
I went back to my psychologist but she didn’t really take me seriously.
The first issues I had with medicines was when the psychiatrist gave me prozac I just fainted with that, another time I took a supplement, some minerals, and the day after I woke up hallucinated with panic attacks and fear, and the second time my mum had an anaphylactic shock with an anti-inflammatory I had her image passing out for many many days even years now the last one was when I used a nasal spray for the allergy, I had such a bad panic attack that I went straight to the psychiatrist, I can’t take anything because I fear that medicine can touch the nervous system and make me feel that horrible feeling of fear and panic and derealisation even when I put something topic now I feel those kind of things, if I don’t take anything I’m fine, I live normally, sincerely I don’t know what to do!
thanks for listening to me
Hello Anna, thank you for your comment. Please feel free to reach out to our pharmacy team at (805) 498-6675! We’d love to work with you to meet your medication needs and find a solution that works for you!
I am terrified of taking medicine. I had a couple really bad side effects from two different medicine. Now even the thought of having go take medicine gives me such anxiety. I’ve seen a psychology but she couldn’t help me. She said it’s up to me to overcome it. I don’t know how to overcome this fear of medicine
Thank you for your comment. This is not uncommon! There are ways of changing the administration method to best fit your need. Please reach out to our pharmacy staff at (805) 498-6675, they can help guide you in the right direction and find a solution for you!
i just got some meta blocking meds for my hyperthyroidism and i am afraid of it because the list of side effect is sooo HUGE…medication is methimazole
Hi Mike, thanks for your comment! If you’re concerned about your meta blockers, our pharmacy staff is happy to help! Please contact them at (805) 498-6675.
Hi Mike,
I was diagnosed in 2014 with Graves and my endocrinologist Rx’d Methimazole. I have been on it for years and all it does is help. A godsend. I went into remission and was off for 3 years, my graves returned and been back on Methimazole 1 year. Still a huge fan, and I don’t like meds at all, thats why I am on this site! The internet is a nightmare for phobia’s. Your Doc has your back. Best of luck for your recovery.
I been diagnosed with H-Pylori and I have to take triple therapy two antibiotics 500mg and clarithromycin 500mg twice a day . I’m freaking out having lots of panic attacks of even the thought of taking the medicines I got them in liquid form . I’m really scared to have a allergic reaction or severe reaction when I take it and not being able to breath . The side effects scare me too because I’ve never taken any medicines due to fear but usually the stuff I needed it for would clear on it own , but this is different it won’t eradicate on it own .
Hi Anthony, thank you for your comment. Our team of pharmacists is only a phone call away! We’d love to speak with you about your concerns, please feel free to contact us at 805-498-6675 or at info@burtsrx.com.
hi,
i struggle with pill taking specifically but i don’t know how to overcome it because i can’t even identify where it all started i’ve just kind of always been like this? when i turned twelve my mom told me i’d have to start taking pills instead of liquid medication because they didn’t offer many liquid options for adults, and i’ve always been terrified of it. there are times when i can briefly get over it and just take one dose, but when it comes time for me to take another dose i completely freeze up and start crying and shaking and it gets to a point where id rather deal with pain or sickness than sit there through the process of swallowing a pill. anytime i look at websites about pharmacophobia it’s like “oh well you just have a fear of it getting stuck! or it’s from a negative experience!” but the thing is i’ve NEVER had a negative experience and i could care less if it gets stuck in my throat as long as it works anyway. usually i can get myself to take the pill out and hold it but once it comes time for me to actually put it into my mouth i just can’t do it. i cry and sit on my bathroom floor with the bottle next to me just in case i get the strength to finally take the stupid thing but i cant. i do struggle with ocd so that could be a factor in my fear but i don’t get any intrusive thoughts regarding taking my medication really so i feel kinda dumb for being so scared since i have no medical related trauma.
Thank you so much for your comment. Many people struggle with swallowing pill, and the beauty of compounding is that our team can create custom medication that is better suited for your needs. Our team of pharmacists is here to help. We’d love to speak with you about your concerns, please feel free to contact us at 805-498-6675 or at info@burtsrx.com.
Dear Burts,
I just want to say thank you for posting this article. I am a gal with self-appointed Pharmacaphobia which started after SSRI use caused a serotonin storm and almost killed me. I’ve backed my way out of a dozen meds that probably will help with hypothyroidism…I always talk myself out of trying them, so life is pretty crappy. If I ever need a compounding pharmacy, I’ll be sure to contact you in SoCal.