Posted by Steve on June 27, 1999, at 13:31:26
In reply to Re: Does BuSpar work for anxiety? HELP!, posted by Elizabeth on June 25, 1999, at 23:18:27
What is the side-effect profile of Buspar?
> Hi there.
>
> I'm afraid I don't have much experience, but I did write a paper on it (Buspar, that is) recently. :-}
>
> I think Buspar is a good antianxiety drug and also a good antidepressant. I strongly suspect that the doses typically used (and recommended) for anxiety are not high enough. However, a number of anxious people get relief from doses that I think are pretty low. Basically, if you have depression too, you might have to go pretty high (average doses for depression are around 50-60mg, maximum that has been studied is 90mg). (To minimize side effects, start at a low dose and increase slowly.)
>
> Sometimes Buspar can work synergistically with an SSRI like Paxil or Prozac and (get this) reduce or eliminate the sexual side effects from the SSRI! So perhaps for you, the low dose of Paxil plus Buspar would be the best thing. (Wellbutrin is another add-on that people have found works for SSRI sexual dysfunction, and Viagra has been used with success as well.)
>
> Now, one thing about Buspar is that it doesn't work immediately; it might take up to 8 weeks for it to work. (My impression is that it tends to take a little longer than the average antidepressant to kick in.) So if you need something that will work immediately, the best idea I can think of is a benzodiazepine. They are sedating for many people, so use a low dose. (It's possible that you might find one that isn't sedating for you, but it would take some experimenting.)
poster:Steve
thread:7818
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990601/msgs/7915.html