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Is there medication for retroactive jealousy? What it can and can't do

Many people look for a pill for jealousy about the past. What is known about medication, when a psychiatrist comes in and why the core treatment is something else.

Dr. Yuri Busin

Dr. Yuri BusinPsychologist (Brazil, CRP 06/107708) · 2 min read

Short answerThere is no specific medication for retroactive jealousy. When jealousy comes with conditions such as OCD, anxiety or depression, a psychiatrist can assess and prescribe medication for those conditions, and that can help reduce the intensity of the thoughts. But what changes the cycle, in general, is stopping feeding it and strengthening the person, which is usually done in psychotherapy.

Why so many people look for a pill

When thoughts feel uncontrollable, wanting a quick fix is understandable. Many people search for a medication for jealousy hoping something will switch off the movie.

There's no pill that erases the mind's interest in your partner's past. But there are situations where medication makes sense.

When a psychiatrist comes in

If jealousy comes with very intense obsessive thoughts, rituals that are hard to stop, generalized anxiety, panic attacks or symptoms of depression, a psychiatric assessment is worthwhile.

Only a psychiatrist can assess, prescribe and monitor medication. Never take medication on your own or because someone else suggested it.

What medication does, and doesn't do

When prescribed, medication can reduce the intensity of anxiety or obsessive thoughts and give you more room for the psychological work.

What it doesn't do is teach a new response to the trigger. Asking, checking and comparing are learned behaviors, and practicing not doing them is what changes the cycle.

The combined path

Many people benefit from working with both a psychologist and a psychiatrist. The Before Me app can support everyday life, with the crisis tools and daily logs.

What to do today

  1. Notice whether, besides jealousy, there's anxiety, sadness or obsessive thoughts in other areas.
  2. If so, seek a psychiatric assessment.
  3. Don't take medication without medical supervision.

Phrases to keep

Frequently asked questions

What medication is used for obsessive jealousy?

That decision belongs only to a psychiatrist, after an assessment. There's no specific medication for jealousy; when medication is used, it treats associated conditions such as OCD or anxiety.

Can I treat retroactive jealousy without medication?

Many people do it with psychotherapy and behavior change alone. A professional assessment helps decide what's best in your case.

This content is educational and does not replace professional assessment, diagnosis or treatment. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call your local emergency number now. In the US, call or text 988; in the UK and Ireland, call Samaritans at 116 123.

Read next

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