A blood pressure pill could help people forget bad memories, according to a Dutch study published Sunday.
The generic beta-blocker propranolol weakened a person's fearful memories of spiders in the test group, making it a possible treatment for individuals with anxiety disorders and phobias, Reuters reports.
"We could show that the fear response went away, which suggests the memory was weakened," said Merel Kindt, a psychologist at the University of Amsterdam, who led the study.
The blood pressure pill reportedly has the potential to help those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Traditionally, people with these disorders are taught strategies to block bad memories and build new associations, but the problem is that people often relapse, Kindt told Reuters.
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