Buspirone (Buspar)... Anyone tried this med?

[whatif]

I've had anxiety since 20 yrs old. Have managed to keep it under control w/ the occasional .25 Xanax (about once every other week) for most of those yrs. Now, however, I've been out of control for about 3 yrs (partly due to persistent migraines freaking me out!). Dr recently prescribed a daily intake of Buspar (5mg). I have a long history of being phobic about taking meds and am scared about side effects/addiction. Anyone ever tried this drug? Side effects? Did it help at all?
Thanks for any feedback you guys have.
Ps. I have absolutely no depression w my anxiety... So would rather not take anti-depressant/ anti-anxiety drug (ie. Prozac, lexipro, etc).... I just think there's something wrong w treating a patient for depression when they're not depressed?!?! Your thought? Educated guesses? Experiences?

[Fashoom]

You might like Buspar because of its low side effects profile. If not you could try Luvox which is an SSRI but specifically for anxiety and OCD.

[bcdefg123]

I have just started taking that, actually.

I'm supposed to be taking 30mg per day, but I'm starting smaller (right now, 20mg per day). I read that Buspirone takes a couple weeks to reach full efficacy, so stick with it if you plan to take it.

At a 5mg dose, the effect I can feel the most is that my heart, which was beating rather loudly and quickly before I started taking Buspirone, both quieted and slowed down a bit. Which is also a bit scary for me, but at least it's more normal.

At a 10mg dose (what I should be taking each time), I feel a bit lightheaded for a couple hours afterward. On the first day, I compared it to having a fever. My head felt kind of like that. I've had no other side-effects yet. The side effects are supposed to decrease with time.

As for its effects on anxiety, I've only been taking it for two days, so its hard to say right now. But last night, I had trouble getting to sleep because of anxiety, which was a little worse than usual. As I've also read that anxiety might actually be worse when you start taking the pills, I'm simply pinning it on that.

[whatif]

Fashoom: thanks for the tip on Luvox... I'll ck that out.
Bcdefg123: I took 2 doses myself and after the 1st dose I felt great... 2nd dose caused (or at least I think it caused) strange thoughts/dreams so I chickened out of taken any more. Coincidentally, on day 3 (having not taken any MEDS), I had the worse panic attack in years?!?!?! I think it was all "me" and not the drug, so I'm seriously considering trying it again... Just got to work up the "balls" to do it! Lol thanks so much for the feedback and keep me posted on your journey w Buspar.

[Enduronman]

Hey WhatIf,

You asked, so here I go. Yes, I had been prescribed buspar a long time ago as this is customarily the 1st medicational attempt to treat anxiety. It is tried before others because of no risk of dependence, and is generally well tolerated with minimal side effects in most people. I however, am not most people..and can not be compared in any way. This medication, and I, did not get along well or play nicely with each other. It also takes a few weeks for the intended effects of this medication to take place. It was the initial dosing that affected me. I gave it about a month to do something other then give me intense headaches, make me feel like I wasn't "real", it made everything seem "im-perceptual" and it also increased and heightened my anxiety to new levels that I didn't wish to climb too. This medication MUST NOT be prescribed for people that have "panic attacks" and that is also clearly stated in any literature you could find at that time 10 years er so ago. It will make "panic attacks prolonged" in people that also have that disorder..It is not intended to be an anti-panic..only an anti-anxiety. It works for some people with great success! Then it doesnt do anything for others except amplify an already troubleing disorder. It can intensify anxiety in some people too (ME, OF COURSE!)...and I just read the post above me briefly and that member stated "trouble going to sleep"..Yes, it did that to me too....

I had to drop it, and begin another trial & error attempt afterwards.. You just gotta search for what works best for you friend..

Best wishes.

Enduronman.

[Enduronman]

UHHHH, I just read your last post friend..You also have "panic attacks"? Please read my above posted comment...You may wish to return to the Dr. asap to discuss the "What was the point in giving me buspar when all statistics, and prescribing literature suggest that this medication WOULD NOT BE THE BEST OPTION FOR ME WITH INTENSE ANXIETY++++++++PANIC ATTACKS sir...".. jus sayin..

Up to you.

[whatif]

Thanks EMan, it was good to hear about that perception thing happening to someone else as well... On day 2 it was like things were more 3-dimensional than ever b4... Very strange?! I tried to tell myself that it was just me panicking, but that's never ever happened to me b4. Plus the dreams were insane... Not to mention that they happened in the morning after I'd already woken up... I called them dreams, b/c i assumed that id fallen back asleep and had them, but the truth is, I felt very awake (even though my eyes were closed) and it felt more like hallucinations (although I'm just guessing there as I've never hallucinated b4 this incident). I think I'll just stick to the occasional Xanax and try cog therapy again?! Thanks again for the info :)

[bcdefg123]

Hmm, I'm not sure what to think of this.

I did start out with panic attacks, but it's been a few weeks since I had anything truly that bad. I still get moments of heightened anxiety, but I wouldn't really call them attacks. I know (or at least, very strongly suspect) that my current anxiety is related to my symptoms themselves. If my symptoms don't go off the deep end, I shouldn't need to worry about that too much. I'm going to keep taking the stuff for now.

[whatif]

Bcdefg123: if you're doing ok on the Buspar, by all means, keep taking it. My experience is just that... Mine. I'm grateful that you're doing fairly well on the med and hope it works out for you ;)

[bcdefg123]

I've only been taking it for two days though, anything can still happen :P Hope you find a good alternative, meds or otherwise.

[Enduronman]

Hey dudes..

I usually ALWAYS try to mention somewhere/somehow within my typing tirades that (not all of us are the same, and not all medications act the same, with anyone)..There are always trial & error periods for probably the largest majority of anyone that has been prescibed any sort of new medication, to treat any particular ailment, disease, condition, disorder. That's why we as patients, have SO many different options available to us becasue if we didn't??? OMG!!! This world, and everyone in it,, (with the exception of a few that say, well it works great for me!...then the rest of us would say how lucky they are)..

Yes, confirmed on the (varying dimension perception also) as I had forgotten about that side effect. It did seem to make me feel kinda "cartoonish" but I honestly don't need anymore ANIMATION IN MY MIND OR LIFE! lol!...

Even though all medications have an initial design principal that the chemist study, research, analyze, test, for a specific treatment, for a specific health issue, and the Gov passes, accepts, and approves manufacture and distribution for the prescribed use for a specific illness..Doesn't mean that a pill that has been tested, passed, approved, and prescribed (to grow hair).. wont make all of my hair fall off. I think I even posted something in regards to this (theory, idea, principal) and it was called "Dear Dr. Barely F. Able"..You should read it, kinda funny!!

Each of us, just has to find the right medication or combinations of medications that "best suit our systems"..to promote "a better quality of life then without them"...

Goodluck!!!

[whatif]

Well said... Thanks :)

[alankay]

Whatif, although called "antidepressants", these meds(SSRI/SNRI's, TCA's) have significant anti-anxiety(anxiolytic) properties as well. They take a while to work for either anxiety or depression. They help with panic attacks as buspar only helps with Generalized Anxiety. Anyway these meds are used for anxiety when indicated and/or depression. Alankay.

[whatif]

Thanks alankay... I've always feared that antidepressants would increase my serotonin levels, and since I'm not depressed, that may result on serotonin syndrome??? I got that once in my 20's when a dr suggested I try Prozac... Of course that was about 15 yrs ago, maybe the dosage was too high? Maybe the formula has been improved since then??? Either way, thanks for the info :)

[Enduronman]

They help with panic attacks as buspar only helps with Generalized Anxiety. Alankay.[/QUOTE]

Just wanted to clarify the intended purpose of buspar here again..It is NOT an anti-panic and is generally also not prescibed to people whom also have a history of "Panic attacks" either..just take a mental note of that friend..

E-Man.

[Fashoom]

Buspar is a medication that is taken daily to treat symptoms of anxiety and panic. I was prescribed Buspar by my psychiatrist who is a very experienced, senior clinician - and I have panic attacks. Buspar is not a medication taken on an "as needed" basis WHEN one experiences a panic attack to abort the attack, in the way medicines e.g. Ativan and Xanax are used.

[bcdefg123]

Yeah, it needs to be taken constantly. Even if you don't feel like it's helping initially.

Last night I actually got a full night's sleep, which hasn't really happened at all over the past month (although I've come close). I got a mild feeling of anxiety in the morning, but that's pretty much gone now.

Not sure if it's the medicine, my continued actions (exercise, relaxation, relatively healthy eating each day), dumb luck, or a combination of the three, but it's still a good thing. No weird dreams or anything. I'm increasing my dose by 5mg to 25mg today to get me closer to the doctor's prescribed dose of 30mg.

[Chiliphil1]

I also fall into the " it didn't work" category, I took buspar for about a month, felt zero effect except for tingling lips.

With that said, I did a 4 month course of pristiq which is an snri, it did great I felt awesome on it, and I guess the time reset my system because I'm off of it and still feel great.

I understand your not wanting to take an anti depressant, however maybe a short course say 3-6 months could do you good, as others have said they are also used for anxiety, not just depression.

[whatif]

Bcdefg123: so glad you're feeling a bit better today, that's so good to hear about a fellow sufferer! ;)
Chillphil: good to hear about Prestiq... My GP wants me to try that, but my psyc thinks it may be too strong? Says there's only 2 doses of that (high and higher)??? I trust them both, but it's making me worry (imagine that) since they don't agree. Anyway, good to hear positive feedback about P. thanks

[Chiliphil1]

That is correct about pristiq, it only comes in 50 mg and 100 mg and the tablets cannot be broken into pieces. This really isn't a big deal except when you try to stop taking it.

There are other meds though, prozac, effexor, Zoloft, just to name a few. I would listen to the shrink over the gp though, they have more experience with these things, alas do not despair something is out there that will work for you!

[whatif]

Thanks Chillphil... And I agree about listening to shrink over GP ;)

[bcdefg123]

Meh... woke up in a panic attack (just past midnight here) and found it harder to recover from. It also kinda seems like I can lapse back into another one easier (hopefully that doesn't happen). I guess part of it could be the fact it hasn't happened for a while...

[Enduronman]

dude,

grrr..(sigh).. You posted earlier that its been awhile since you had panic attacks. It was hard to go to sleep. Then you're jolted into a panic,.that never seems to end and is prolonged...As I've already stated previously, this particular medication is successful with some, and a complete disaster for others. I may have even mentioned the fact that it "caused a greater frequency of panic attacks in me, and it also prolonged or lengthened the time of the panic attacks themselves like they were never going to end..the world appeared in 3-D..and it was a complete failure in my case also".. I think another forum member stated that a highly regarded Psych prescribed it to them.. but throughout any literature, research, prescribing guidelines, anywhere...it stated in specific terms that "this medication is NOT recommended for patients that have GAD with PANIC"...I can read english..I can also understand that if it is stated in specific words, or terms..then maybe theres a reason why it was clearly placed and inserted into "medication prescribing guidelines"...jus sayin what the companys are sayin...frustrating.

[misunderstood0412]

My Psych prescribed Buspar to enhance the effects of the prozac. I have GAD, depression and ADD.

I felt great the first two days and now I dunno if I caught a cold or if im reacting to it but I have been getting sweats and can barely sleep. I am also on a bunch of other pills for various things which is crazy for mid-20s but so be it I guess.

[Yanni]

BuSpar sucks. It did not help my anxiety at all.

[trinidiva]

I take Buspar along with Zoloft.It seems to be taking away the majority of my anxiety......I take 45 mg of buspar daily (15mg,3X a day).

[misunderstood0412]

I take 30mg twice daily as well as prozac and I have begun to feel happy again

[Stacy Lumbrezer]

My mom was on this drug for three weeks and committed suicide. It made her nauseous and numb and she was not herself. If you do not have informed doctors and family members watching you 24/7 - do not go on this drug! Completed Suicide is the highest reported side effect of using it reported to the FDA. I am angry and heartbroken.