Posted by Ritch on June 1, 2003, at 10:01:50
In reply to Re: ZOLOFT /BUSPAR? Scott and Ritch?, posted by e503 on May 31, 2003, at 20:25:34
> > > Ben had been taking buspar and it did seem to help him before. Any thoughts about zoloft/buspar combination?
> > >
> > > elise
> >
> > Well, the first question to ask would be why the Buspar got canned the last time-was it because of the med itself, or was there something that was presumed to be better it was replaced with, etc. I've tried buspirone three different times since it came out. The first was with lithium, to see if I could get off the benzodiazepine I was taking at the time (back in the '80's). The switch didn't work because I have panic and buspirone doesn't address that. The second time was with desipramine to reduce the anxiety the desipramine was causing. That didn't work either-didn't make things worse-it just didn't seem to help. The third time was with Celexa and it definitely helped reduce the "physical" agitation and restlessness of the SSRI. However, I kept increasing the dose and got up to 15mg/day and starting having temper spells, so it got stopped. After it was stopped-I began to definitely have increased anticipitory anxiety and obsessive worrying--so I knew it was helping, but I never restarted at a lower dose. Buspar does seem to have a special synergy with SSRI's for some reason. You could ask his doctor about a possible retrial of buspirone if you don't want to hassle with Abilify (and compounding) again. If I start it again, I want to be very patient and start off at a very low dose, however.
>
> I gave ben 5 mg. buspar 2 times today. He was better-didn't have much, if any, agitation and less obsessions. I know it is supposed to take 2 weeks (?) to "kick in", but I believe it did help today. I do think that he is somewhat "flat" and sedate. I am thinking about your comment about decreasing the zoloft to 12.5 instead of 25.....well, I actually am thinking about somehow reducing the zoloft to total 50 mg./day from 75 to see if this helps his "flat" affect, but I am not sure if I should do it yet, or wait a few weeks and see what happens with the buspar. What do you think? He is better, but certainly not as "perky" or fun as he can be! I do think we are closer to "Ben"as I remember him than we have been since February (trileptal, abilify, risperdol, etc.) What do you think?
> eliseWell, first thing, make sure his doctor knows what you are doing and you get blessed to do so. Second, why did you guys take him off the buspar previously? Were you replacing it with something else? The "perkiness" may have been a mild drug-induced mania or part of his natural cycling pattern. You say he seems more normal now than ever? Now, that you've added buspar back in I would stick with where you are at now for three full weeks and see what happens, IMO. So, his primary diagnosis is autism? Is the bipolar dx just speculative?
poster:Ritch
thread:227600
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030530/msgs/230552.html