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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Garnet71 on February 16, 2009, at 19:45:21
Just started taking Buspirone-generic Buspar - 15 mg x 2. My PDoc told me to quit reading on the internet about meds and disorders and stuff. I've actually taken his good advice--I am done Googling! For a while, anyway...After he said that, I realized the Googling is actually a symptom of my anxiety..you learn something every day....
But I want to know how Buspirone worked for any of you here. I haven't had anxiety for a few days before I started--I am just thinking ahead with preventative maintenance. Sometimes my anxiety gets very severe/panic attacks.
The only side effects I noticed were those brain electrical shock feelings (similar to Effexor sudden withdraw shocks but not as intense and a bit different) in my head and arms just a few minutes after I take my dose. This goes away in about an hour.
Has anyone had panic attacks while on Buspirone long term? Also--any side effects?
Posted by seldomseen on February 16, 2009, at 21:04:57
In reply to Buspirone - does anyone have experience with it?, posted by Garnet71 on February 16, 2009, at 19:45:21
I took Buspar for anxiety for approximately 6 months while I was trying to avoid the benzos.
I actually responded to Buspar, but not fully. It flipped the dimmer switch on my anxiety, but did not stop it. With anxiety though, ANY response can be a welcome relief. However, the combo of Buspar and the benzos like you have going may work quite well.
The reason though I quit taking the Buspar was the dreams. I had terrible dreams. Now, I can never be sure that the Buspar was causing the dreaming, or if it was just an offshoot of an anxious, worried mind. I can say, however, that the dreaming began about a month into Buspar therapy and resolved after cessation of the drug.
Even that temporal association is "iffy" though, because as I went off the Buspar, I started on the Klonopin.
Just my two cents. Good luck with your regimen. (I'm still so happy for you!).
Seldom.
Other than the possible dreaming SE, I had no other problems with the drug at all.
Posted by Phillipa on February 17, 2009, at 0:17:54
In reply to Re: Buspirone - does anyone have experience with it? » Garnet71, posted by seldomseen on February 16, 2009, at 21:04:57
Unfortunatately when I tried buspar had been on benzos for years at it was new and 5mg was all they prescribed so nothing at all. I heard if you've taken benzos it doesn't work is that true? Good luck Garnet. Phillipa
Posted by SLS on February 17, 2009, at 7:36:46
In reply to Re: Buspirone - does anyone have experience with it? » Garnet71, posted by seldomseen on February 16, 2009, at 21:04:57
> The reason though I quit taking the Buspar was the dreams. I had terrible dreams.
If you tried Remeron, did it produce the same sort of dreams?
- Scott
Posted by garnet71 on February 17, 2009, at 10:52:52
In reply to Re: Buspirone - does anyone have experience with it? » Garnet71, posted by seldomseen on February 16, 2009, at 21:04:57
Hi Seldomseen,
That sux about the dreams. I've only been taking it a few days, so I'll watch for that. I've never had nightmares or really even bad dreams before, so maybe I'll have an immunity to that possible side effect.
I can be anxiety free for months at a time with no meds, then I think environmental factors lead to a relapse, although years ago, I used to have it all the time when my life was the easiest its ever been.
The only way to know is to wait and see if I get anxiety again!! The .25 Xanax is only at night, and I don't know if I will be able to take that long term.
Thanks for your help, and for your comment on the other board about the website-I'm sure what you said will be useful to the site/Dr. Bob.
:)
Posted by garnet71 on February 17, 2009, at 10:58:10
In reply to Re: Buspirone - does anyone have experience with it?, posted by Phillipa on February 17, 2009, at 0:17:54
> Unfortunatately when I tried buspar had been on benzos for years at it was new and 5mg was all they prescribed so nothing at all. I heard if you've taken benzos it doesn't work is that true? Good luck Garnet. Phillipa
----------------------------Hi Phillipa,
I've never heard of that last statement, but it's interesting. I was never a consistent or long-term benzo user, although I love how effective Xanax is with severe anxiety. Every time I've gone of xxRIs, and eventually succumb to anxiety and visited a doctor and got something like Ativan temporarily--not only did it completely 'erase' my anxiety--but my mood also turned around 100%--like I was normal, content, and even happy. Just a tiny .5 dose of Ativan would have that effect on me.
So maybe you didn't take enough when you tried it? If you are trying to get off benzos, maybe you could try Buspar again? I take 15 mg. twice a day. I"ll let you know if it continues to work in the long run.
:)
Posted by Phillipa on February 17, 2009, at 20:03:45
In reply to Re: Buspirone - does anyone have experience with it? » Phillipa, posted by garnet71 on February 17, 2009, at 10:58:10
Garnet please do as just seems I can't take the same doses of benzos after all these years and buspar was only a 5mg dose at the time added to benzos. I hope it continues to work for you. Love Phillipa
Posted by jflange on February 18, 2009, at 22:46:28
In reply to Re: Buspirone - does anyone have experience with it? » Phillipa, posted by garnet71 on February 17, 2009, at 10:58:10
Hi Garnet,
I take Buspar for years now for anxiety and it works very well for anticipatory anxiety. I also experienced the nightmares and some headaches when I took it alone. Now I take it in combo with Zoloft and it's fine.
A warning: it's not very effective for panic. It erases a great deal of the anticipation that leads to panic episodes, but if your panic attacks are already in full swing, then I strongly recommend coupling Buspar with something indicated for panic.
Another note: Buspar is the only way I can take an SSRI (needed for the above-mentioned panic). Alone, an SSRI would just ramp up my anxiety, not ameliorate it. Anyway, the combination of the two has been a real lifesaver for me.
Benzos are nice (there's no problem taking Buspar if you were once a benzo user - they aren't even similar) but IMHO benzos are a short-term solution.
Good luck and be well,
jflange
Posted by garnet71 on February 21, 2009, at 12:18:13
In reply to Buspirone - does anyone have experience with it?, posted by Garnet71 on February 16, 2009, at 19:45:21
Now I know what you mean by the nightmares!!!
They started last night. For a few seconds, I'd start dreaming of scary stuff-weird-but I was lucid enough to be able to stop them in just a few seconds so they didn't turn into full-blown nightmares. This happened over and over for what seemed like 2 hours. I woke up this morning with that hungover feeling I thought I'd gotten rid of, and slept 6 hrs, less sleep than I think I need with my current state of mental health.
I'm really worried about my regimen now because I don't think I can deal with nightmares. I've had enough real-life nightmares in the past that I don't want to go there in all the ugliness. I really make it a point in my life to be around beauty as much as possible - nature, art, positive ideas and affirmations, healthy people.
Since I was able to stop them from manifesting last night, maybe my awareness/lucidity while I dream would be able to stop them permanently? I don't know since I've never dealt with nightmares before. But when I am lucid of my dreams, I don't get a very restful sleep at all. I'll have to see how the next couple of nights go. This is, at the least, very dissapointing.
Posted by Dima on April 5, 2009, at 10:34:01
In reply to Re: Buspirone - does anyone have experience with it?, posted by garnet71 on February 21, 2009, at 12:18:13
> Now I know what you mean by the nightmares!!!
>
> They started last night. For a few seconds, I'd start dreaming of scary stuff-weird-but I was lucid enough to be able to stop them in just a few seconds so they didn't turn into full-blown nightmares. This happened over and over for what seemed like 2 hours. I woke up this morning with that hungover feeling I thought I'd gotten rid of, and slept 6 hrs, less sleep than I think I need with my current state of mental health.
>
> I'm really worried about my regimen now because I don't think I can deal with nightmares. I've had enough real-life nightmares in the past that I don't want to go there in all the ugliness. I really make it a point in my life to be around beauty as much as possible - nature, art, positive ideas and affirmations, healthy people.
>
> Since I was able to stop them from manifesting last night, maybe my awareness/lucidity while I dream would be able to stop them permanently? I don't know since I've never dealt with nightmares before. But when I am lucid of my dreams, I don't get a very restful sleep at all. I'll have to see how the next couple of nights go. This is, at the least, very dissapointing.Could we get an update on the effects you experienced? I'm considering taking Buspirone if Wellbutrin doesn't work well enough for me.
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