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Posted 5/31/2016 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
Anybody take buspar? I'm so scared to try any meds again besides my Xanax when needed.
Posted 6/1/2016 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
long time buspar user and advocate . its fairly mild and gentle so fear not. great med if it works for you. also you cannot get addicted. a huge plus. dont expect it to be as strong as your xanax
Posted 6/1/2016 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
PK, why the switch? xanax is a very good drug to shut down panic, just never exceed the doctors recommendation, it's a medicine designed for your problem however people have used it improperly
and it was not intended to be a party drug, the recreational users are the reason for people being cautious about it and atavin as well. Xanax worked so well for me that there was a three year period of time that i carried it and just knowing i had it to stop a panic attack was all i needed, I have not carried it for three years now, Peace

Larry ***
Posted 6/1/2016 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
I'm interested in knowing about buspar too my dr prescribed it to me and like you I'm afraid to take new medication and i'm trying to wean off ativan only 1mg a day because this new dr I'm seeing won't prescribe me the correct amount for the month and treats me like an addict even though i have never asked for an increase and she's only prescribed me it 2 times..and they try shoving down your throat how addictive it is and that its not for "long term use" yet if it works and you take it as prescribed i don't see the issue.
Posted 6/1/2016 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
Buspar is for mild anxiety. I've been taking it for about two years and it has very little side effects. When you first start taking it, you might feel dizzy or lightheaded for a couple weeks (just for about an hour after taking, goes away pretty quickly). You will always want to take your first dose of the day on a full stomach. Buspar has a very short half life (about 3-4 hours), so most doctors will prescribe multiple doses throughout the day. It also takes a while to get going through your system, so give it about two weeks to see if it will work for you.
Posted 6/1/2016 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys I didn't get the meds yet. I did the genesite test and that I can take not saying I won't get any side effects but it goes with genetic makeup. I have Xanax .25 which I break in half lol so who knows how little it is but it does work. I've been off my lexapro a year and a couple of months now. Today and a couple of days ago I've been very anxious and I hate that so I took a half of Xanax and one on the 28th but otherwise I haven't taken one sine April 4th. Today I had a panic attack at work and I'm only had that one other time before I had to excuse myself from the room with the patient in there so I didn't want to make them nervous I ran to the bathroom and sat for three minutes to calm my heart rate down my whole face got numb and tingly my heart rate was 142 because I did my little EKG machine that's on my phone and then it settled down and around 130 I said OK I think I'll take a half a Xanax but I hate that lightheaded numb tingly feeling in my head I thought I was gonna pass out but no my blood pressure was up not down LOL !!!!! Feeling better now. I don't want to go on another med I don't know what to do ugh...
Posted 6/2/2016 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
dont be fooled that just cause you are taking your benzos as perscribed-that you cant/wont get hooked. long term use still carries a risk use caution and only use them in a crisis.the beauty of buspar is you wont get hooked. i usually only take 5mg at a time when the usual dose is 15mg
Posted 6/2/2016 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
Buspar is nothing like an SSRI, if that's what your worried about. It is a totally different catagory. You will probably not even have to use Xanax to combat "start up" effects, as most don't even have any. There is no weaning off of Buspar either, you can just stop taking it without any discontinuation symptoms.
Posted 6/2/2016 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys and yes I only use the Xanax .25 cut in half when I really really need it. I'm just scared to start any other anti-anxiety medicine I don't think I ever want to take an SSRI again I was on them for 15 years straight with no break from one medicine to another. And like I said before in the beginning yes they helped it was life-changing wonderful great but towards the end I don't care what anybody says the medicine messes with you and your body because now being off of it even my husband says there's so many different changes and things that when I was on my medicine. I drink a lot I eat a lot of sweets I snored really bad when I slept I slept too much. Now I'm a complete opposite I went from 160 pounds to 127 pounds I barely drink I don't snore no more I eat sweets now and then. It's sad because when I have patients that come in and have side effects to medicines I used to be like what the hell but now I'm on the other side and I completely understand what they're going through. I tried so hard to get off my antidepressants it's just funny that something so scary had to happen for me to stop taking it and I've been off for a year and I have good days bad days but I cope. I know all medicines come with side effects and sometimes people really do need them and they just deal with the side effects but it is true once you come off of that your anxiety does come back 100% you have to learn how to cope with it if you can some people cannot.
Posted 6/2/2016 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Super20dan, I wonder if I do take it if I can just take like 10mg a day I don't want to take two or three times a day.
Posted 6/2/2016 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Pretty kittay, your story sounds exactly like mine. 14 years on Paxil, 9 months off now. Just recently started getting panic and anxiety.ive also thought about Buspar. My dr is recommending Gabapentin. I, like you, don't want to ever take another SSRI. I curious about Buspar though.
Posted 6/3/2016 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Perfect example I feel anxiety now. I felt a little dizzy before took my bp it was low now I keep checking it, then I'm thinking maybe I have dvt/pe because I take birth control my face feels numb and tingles and I have an upset stomach. I know I'm working myself up and it sucks. It was nice getting panic attacks only maybe what 15 times out of 15 years now it's a hit or miss. I'm so upset right now.
Posted 6/3/2016 6:16 AM (GMT 0)
Kittay, you know all to well that this will pass and you will have many good days ahead, Peace

Larry ***
Posted 6/3/2016 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
Like I said earlier, Buspar is not an SSRI, so you should have no preconceived notions that this drug will be anything like an antidepressant.

I do not suffer from any side effects from Buspar. The only "start up" symptom I had was dizziness or light headed feeling after taking the first dose of the day and that was gone in about three days. If I miss a dose, nothing bad happens. In fact, I've missed several doses in a row, and I'm totally fine.

If you decide to try Buspar, it's not like trying an SSRI. You do not have to wean off. Usually you don't have to work your way up to a certain dose, as it's better to take it a couple times a day.

I know you didn't directly ask me, but 10 mgs probably won't be enough to get rid of your anxiety. Most people do well with 20-30 mgs split throughout the day.
Posted 6/4/2016 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks igm1942. Momtogigiandquinn hmmmm I have to see I'm very sensitive to meds. I break a .25 Xanax in half and .25 is the lowest dose you can get lol and half works for me my eyes get glazed over and all its so weird, but buspar might not be as strong as Xanax.
Posted 6/4/2016 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
pretty kat you will just have to discover what dose works for you but i will tell you despite what drs say you can can use this drug as needed and not stay doped up on a constant dose every day, you may need a steady dose at first but i did not. i can go weeks with out taking it and then take a small dose and get instant relief. its not supposed to work like this but for me it does. this is one of the safest gentle meds i have ever taken so you should have no fear and go ahed and try it
Posted 6/6/2016 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Super20dan yes I just with the dr today I'm gonna see him on the 27th he has to go over my genesite test that tells me how my body deals with these meds. Then I told him I would give it a try after we talk about it first.
Posted 6/19/2016 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hello.

I was on Sertraline for two-plus years. After doing well for a long time, my doctor weaned me off the medication and I was fine (no OCD/anxiety/depression) for three months. Recently symptoms have crept back pretty severely and I was prescribed Escitalopram 10mg. I'm feeling so much better already. But as with Sertraline, I'm back "suffering" with anorgasmia.

I'm planning to call my psychiatrist tomorrow and ask about switching to Buspar. As I heard there are no similar sexual side effects. Have any of you used Buspar for OCD, etc? Had a problem with anorgasmia on SSRIs but not with Buspar?

Thanks.
Posted 6/20/2016 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi GG,

Sorry to hear of the return of the anxiety...though happy to hear you are seeking help with a new Rx for relief...hopefully one that performs well for you without the undesired s/e's.

I am sure you won't have the sexual side effects that can be common with SSRI's with the Buspar...

...however I don't know if you'll have comparable efficacy for OCD, you will just have to try it...

...in addition I do recommend also utilizing self help or therapy skills for your best management plan possible.

We have great material in our Resources here, including self help for OCD and general anxiety. You can find it at the top of the main forum page.

Let us know how your start up goes...and post anytime for support. We care, understand and are here to listen and encourage you along the journey. :)

Scaredy Cat
Posted 6/20/2016 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hey GG, The ssri's I took work for a couple of years then poop out on me. I'm not taking buspar yet. I'm waiting for my Dr to go over my genesite testing then I will go from there. My anxiety has been eh ok not terrible.
Posted 6/25/2016 6:42 PM (GMT 0)

Scaredy Cat said...
Hi GG,

Sorry to hear of the return of the anxiety...though happy to hear you are seeking help with a new Rx for relief...hopefully one that performs well for you without the undesired s/e's.

I am sure you won't have the sexual side effects that can be common with SSRI's with the Buspar...

...however I don't know if you'll have comparable efficacy for OCD, you will just have to try it...

...in addition I do recommend also utilizing self help or therapy skills for your best management plan possible.

We have great material in our Resources here, including self help for OCD and general anxiety. You can find it at the top of the main forum page.

Let us know how your start up goes...and post anytime for support. We care, understand and are here to listen and encourage you along the journey. :)

Scaredy Cat

Hi SC.

Sorry I have not replied sooner. Went completely off the rails (actually bad reaction to Lexapro) and slowly working my way back. This time around, my OCD issues are being compounded with insane amounts of anxiety.

My psychiatrist took me off Lexapro and put me on Sertraline, which I did well on in the past. So far, I am about 80% back to feeling somewhat normal. I will definitely check out the various resources on the site. Really appreciate your time to respond and advice.
Posted 6/25/2016 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
G.G.,

I am really sorry to hear of your recent Rx trouble...but glad to hear you are getting the help you need...and hopefully this return to the Sertraline will be just what you need to find your best recovery!

Did you/your doctor decide against trying the Buspar? Just curious

Yes, definitely take advantage of our Resources. Self help has been key for my own management plan!

Wishing you the best...and encouraging you to keep posting if you find it helpful.:)
Posted 6/29/2016 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
SC:

Sorry again for not stopping by the forum more regularly. On top of everything, I'm moving my family to another home in a few days. Gee, wonder if that has exacerbated anything? lol

I mentioned Buspar to my doctor, who felt that, at least in his experience, would not work well for me. After discussing the sexual side effects, he said that we might try it once I get back to an acceptable level of dealing with my anxiety/OCD issues. He actually thought my Buspar suggestion was an interesting idea.

Thanks again.
Posted 6/29/2016 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
GG,

Not a problem...we are breezy here...reply/post as needed...or as your schedule allows!

I wish you the best with your move...exciting, but yes...it certainly has its stressors!

Continued encouragement while you and your doctor find the best plan for your recovery.

Peace and progress be yours!

S.C.
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