Best pharmacological treatment for social anxiety disorder?

For the last few months, I have been on 20mg of Paxil to treat my social anxiety disorder. It has certainly helped, but resulted in weight gain and an increase in cholesterol. What other medications have people found effective, which do not cause drowsiness or weight gain?

I am not interested in benzodiazepines, natural treatments or CBT.

I have found that Zoloft works well with minimal side effects compared to other anti-anxiet medications. I've been on it for months and have had NO side effects. Medications do work differently for people, so it just depends. There are so many of these meds on the market right now, one is bound to work for you. I agree that you should not have to deal with those side effects. Source(s): Master Social Worker

i take lexapro. but everyone's chemical make-up reacts differently. i am overweight, have been since becoming a mom, and serverely scaared of people's judgements. the lexapro is giving me minimal side effects, but i liked the paxil, too. but people around me didnt like me on paxil, i was like super-controlling-do-it-your-d... on it!
Ask your shrink about Lexapro. It works for me!
But a natural treatment is indicated....
Social anxiety is natural - especially when others are allowed to dictate a great deal, if not all, aspects of our lives.

Pharmacology is not.

"Doctor - it hurts when I do this."
(Dr.'s response) "Don't do that." - There is a measure of truth in that response.
This is probably a trust issue. Many trust in meds instead of learning personal techniques in mastering such difficulties.
I'm not saying meds don't have their place, in extreme cases.
Temporarily.
A Doctor will be sure to prescribe for you, if you come to their office with a pharmaceutical grocery list.

Nothing beats personally mastering a social problem.
You get to give yourself the credit, instead of trusting everyone else to know what is best for you.

Their failure (those who YOU allow to exert the most influential power, or think THEY know what is best for you) might possibly be what has been making you so anxious.
Assume some control.
i don't take anything for it. i spend two years in my house without leaving once, these days i still have some spells but what i have learned is don't give it to it. if you want to go out but are scared just make yourself.. giving into the fear just makes it worst..