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Questions about medications prescribed for my anxiety

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Posted 12/31/2016 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
I had went to see the doctor today for my anxiety and was prescribed 10mg of prozac to take daily as well as 10mg of buspar to take twice a day as needed. I have taken zoloft and celexa in the past and I did not like the side effects those medications had on me. Because prozac is in the same category of zoloft and celexa, SSRIs, it has similar side effects - so wouldn't I get similar reactions to this medication. I do not have depression, just GAD/anxiety. I also had a question regarding the buspar. I read up on both medications. I noticed it was quite uncommon for buspar to be prescribed as needed. Is this true?

I'm not quite sure what to do. I'm hesitant and a bit uncertain and afraid of starting the prozac. Should I just try the prozac and see how I feel in a week or so? Because that is when I tended to notice the side effects of zoloft and celexa. If the prozac doesnt work for me should I just try to take the buspar daily?
Posted 12/31/2016 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome!

I am sorry to hear of your continued struggle...but glad to see you're reaching out and getting the help that you need...well done!

Though your were prescribed another SSRI...differences can be noted between specific formulas...so keep hopeful that this will be a good match for you. It is often some trial and error...but you will find your beneficial med(s) with perseverance. smile

The Buspar can be taken as needed...and is a good alternative to a benzodiazepine, so have faith that this med Rx will suffice for your more challenging situations.

Therapy and/or self help should also be employed IMO...so please look into these management tools if you've not already!

See our Resources at the top of the main forum page here for great ideas...

and keep posting with us if you find it helpful. We understand, care and support is key!

Talk soon,

Scaredy Cat
Posted 12/31/2016 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
...oh...

...and I forgot to mention that you need.to give the SSRI several weeks to build up and become therapeutic in your system.

A week is NOT going to be indicative of how your end result will be after your initial break in period.

Try to be patient with yourself and the process!

...and keep us posted so we can keep you cheered on! smile

S.C.
Posted 12/31/2016 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Scaredy Cat,

Thanks for your response. I had spoke to my pharmacist - who is also my manager- and she believed hay it would be best for me to take the buspirone daily in place of the Prozac and just not take the Prozac as I do not have depression and she believes because Prozac is an older antidepressant than Zoloft and celexa, it could cause me to have greater side effects. In addition, she also believed taking buspirone regularly would be beneficial for me because it's main use is for anxiety.

I hope it will work out for me.
I am planning on seeing therapy and counseling. Do you think I should go to my school counselor ( I'm in college ) or go see an actual psychologist in an office.

Thanks!
Posted 12/31/2016 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
Okay...solid plan.smile

I think, yes...start with your school counselor...and see how you progress with that resource!

...and then you can access in a few weeks and see where your management plan is bringing you.

We are here for you...so keep posting if you find it encouraging.smile

S.C.
Posted 12/31/2016 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
You had also mentioned self help. Could you expand a little bit in that?
Posted 12/31/2016 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
Sure! smile

Here is the link to our Resources to get you started!

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

Take a look and check out whatever looks applicable to you. Starting with the Meditation Videos and 'Stress Relieving Exercises ' is always a good place to begin.smile

Keep posting,

S.C.
Posted 12/31/2016 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
Buspar is not usually used intermittently. It takes weeks to build up in your system, similar to an ssri (but it's not). I have taken buspar for years and it works well for me. Good luck!
Posted 12/31/2016 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
i have taken buspar for years and it can most certaintly be taken as needed. i go weeks with out any and when i do need it-it works instantly - like a benzo. no its not prescribed and isnt supposed to work this way but for me it does. 10mg is a low dose for prozac and it should minamize any side effects you might get if you decide to take it. take it first thing after getting up as it can cause insomnia if taken at night. i agree to try the buspar first andsee how it goes also.
Posted 1/1/2017 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
I was on buspar for years, it kinda worked for me but not as much as what I needed. After finding another med, I slowly weaned myself off Buspar and Abilify.
Posted 1/1/2017 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
Because for the buspirone i have 2 doses of 10 mg each, when should I take them? like when would be the best times to take them?
Posted 1/1/2017 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
Just my own oppinion.

I would see the therapist first, take your meds with you, and have a long talk!

Prozak is a good drug it might make you want to sleep more but thats about all, they started my wife out on 80mgs and worked down now she's on 20mg a day.

Buspirone is much like a benzo but not as strong, i know people who take it both ways, i used xanax and just knowing i had it in my pocked enabled me to use what i learned in therapy this allowed me to fight off anxiety but i would have to use xanax in a panic attack. Peace
Larry ***
Posted 1/1/2017 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
in my experience there is no preferred time to take buspar. just take as needed. yes its not as strong as a benzo and i still have real benzos for major attacks. i also carried meds with me for a security blanket but no longer have to do that. i might have stayed on prozac longer if my dr would have let me have a low dose like 10mg. he insisted i take 40mg and it was too strong for me. sounds like your dr is in the know.
Posted 1/1/2017 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
I took buspar for about 6 months...it seemed to have helped me but it took a while to build up in my system, like SSRIs do. Buspar is not an SSRI, it's a pretty unique med from what I've read, with some of the same benefits as a benzo but with little to no addiction potential. However, for some it doesn't really help...no way to tell at first.

For immediate relief I had to rely on a benzo, Klonopin, but like Larry keeping it in my pocket generally seemed to keep my brain content, so I didn't really have to take it very often.

Now I just take Lexapro, which I believe is one of the newer SSRIs and very selective (as opposed to some of the older SSRIs which also act somewhat on dopamine or norepinepherine).
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