Pharmacophobia

Pharmacophobia is an overwhelming fear of medications or pharmacological treatment that can interfere with a person's daily life and social functioning, and in its more excessive and irrational forms may be classed as a specific phobia. People with pharmacophobia can experience fear, distress, anxiety and panic attacks at the thought of taking medication or of administering it to someone else, along with physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling or a racing heart. Its causes are not well understood but are thought to involve a mix of genetic, environmental, behavioral and social factors, including a past traumatic experience such as witnessing an allergic or adverse drug reaction. A 2020 study found that roughly one in five people described themselves as pharmacophobic, and the fear can have serious health consequences when it leads someone to refuse a medication they need.