Phobias Treatment D-Cycloserine as a Promising Phobia Treatment By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 29, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by David Susman, PhD Medically reviewed by David Susman, PhD David Susman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience providing treatment to individuals with mental illness and substance use concerns. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Robert Decelis Ltd/DigitalVision/Getty Images Originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of tuberculosis, D-cycloserine (Seromycin) may be the next line of defense in phobia treatment. The antibiotic has been found to aid in the treatment of a variety of simple phobias, including the fear of spiders (arachnophobia) and a fear of heights (acrophobia). The drug is not helpful as a sole treatment, however, and works as an adjunct to exposure therapy in patients with phobias. Repeated clinical trials have demonstrated that patients with acrophobia (fear of heights) who receive exposure therapy, and who also took D-cycloserine, learn to override their fears more quickly than those who took a placebo. Exposure therapy, which is often used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, targets learned behaviors that people engage in (most often the avoidance) in response to situations or thoughts and memories that are viewed as frightening or anxiety-provoking. How D-Cycloserine Works D-cycloserine is thought to affect certain receptors, namely NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors, in the amygdala portion of the brain (a part of your brain that is associated with fear). It does not directly treat the phobia. Instead, the drug appears to stimulate the area of the brain that is responsible for unlearning fear responses. In other words, it works to "speed up" or increase the response to exposure therapy. This, in turn, may minimize the frustration often felt during early treatment and thereby prevent a person from stopping therapy prematurely. Although research is still underway, clinical trials have found few side effects when using D-cycloserine in the treatment of anxiety disorders. D-cycloserine has also been studied for its effectiveness in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, OCD, PTSD, and other anxiety disorders. If you think D-Cycloserine could work for you, talk to your healthcare provider. Together you can weigh the risks and benefits of using this medication, alongside exposure therapy, in the treatment of your specific phobia. 4 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Hofmann SG. D-cycloserine for treating anxiety disorders: making good exposures better and bad exposures worse. Depress Anxiety. 2014;31(3):175–177. doi:10.1002/da.22257 Rodrigues H, Figueira I, Lopes A, et al. Does D-cycloserine enhance exposure therapy for anxiety disorders in humans? A meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(7):e93519. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093519 Sheerin CM, Kozak AT, Hale AC, Bcba, Ramesh BK, Spates CR. The effect of D-cycloserine on social anxiety treatment using a behavioral outcome measure and a post-session administration strategy. Behav Anal (Wash D C). 2016;16(3):123–134. doi:10.1037/bar0000054 Schade S, Paulus W. D-cycloserine in neuropsychiatric diseases: a systematic review. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2016;19(4):pyv102. doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyv102 By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist Online Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.