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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Snowie on January 18, 2000, at 22:50:22
In reply to Re: BuSpar, posted by Al on January 18, 2000, at 21:39:59
Al,
What is doxepin and what does this combination do for you? In other words, can you be more specific? I, too, tried BuSpar once, and it did nothing for me, but I stopped taking it after less than a month. Thanks!
Snowie
> BuSpar (60mg)did nothing for my panic disorder, and I gave it 2.5 months. My doctor prescribed Neurontin + doxepin to help with sleep and it has done wonders for me.
Posted by Al on January 18, 2000, at 23:19:38
In reply to Re: BuSpar, posted by Snowie on January 18, 2000, at 22:50:22
> Al,
>
> What is doxepin and what does this combination do for you? In other words, can you be more specific? I, too, tried BuSpar once, and it did nothing for me, but I stopped taking it after less than a month. Thanks!
>
> SnowieDoxepin is a tri-cyclic used for anti-depression. It allows me to get a good nights rest (much needed for GAD), and gives me an overall feeling of tranquility.
Posted by Walter on June 5, 2000, at 10:19:37
In reply to BuSpar, posted by Sam on January 9, 2000, at 22:35:35
Took buspar 10 mg daily for 1 yr. Ineffective at that dosage level. When taken with a lot of caffeine, it destroyed my sex drive . I threw the BUSPAR away. will try stress relieve exercises etc. You need to take at least 20 to 30mg daily to be of any use.
Posted by pollypop on June 6, 2000, at 15:34:32
In reply to Re: Panic, Prozac & Remeron and Kava Kava????, posted by saint james on December 27, 1998, at 7:13:44
Can someone help me? I believe I am suffering from GAD, and have been for sometime. One of my symptoms is that I have a terrible time sleeping, periodically. I am not taking anything right now, besides Ambien as needed. But it makes me feel terrible in the morning. I am thinking of starting Buspar, but am afraid since I am VERY sensitive to meds and have had really weird reactions to some Chinese herbs, and Kava Kava.
What do you recommend to help with sleeping, stop palipations and racing, and generally calm me down...?
-Polly
Posted by Greg on June 6, 2000, at 15:52:41
In reply to Need help with meds!, posted by pollypop on June 6, 2000, at 15:34:32
> What do you recommend to help with sleeping, stop palipations and racing, and generally calm me down...?
>
> -Polly
Polly,I take Ambien for sleep also, I have had Insomnia for about a year and a half now. Fortunetly, I don't experience any side effects with it. I've also had success with Remeron. If you have a low tolerance for meds, a low dose (5-10mg) might do the trick for you. One of the side effects of Remeron is an increased appetite for a lot of people. So, if putting on weight is a big concern for you, this might not be the answer.
BuSpar did not work for me, but I've read here of many having success with it. In the overall scheme of AAs it seems to be a very mild one, and with your low tolerance level it might be a possible answer for you.
As always you should discuss any suggestions you get here with your doctor. I wish you luck in finding the right "stuff" for you. Please keep in touch and let us know how you're doing.
Peace,
Greg
Posted by Cari on June 7, 2000, at 14:57:33
In reply to Need help with meds!, posted by pollypop on June 6, 2000, at 15:34:32
I had a doctor prescribe Buspar for me because she thought that the class of drugs known as Benzodiazepines, which I was currently taking with wonderful results, was terrible because it's been found to be addictive. Buspar made me so dizzy and naseaus that I could not stand up or walk around without waves coming over me. I couldn't even see what was in front of me, all I saw were dizzy blind spots. The doctor recommended that I continue taking the Buspar. She said that the side effects would subside. Well they NEVER subsided!!! They only increased in intensity until I was so dizzy and sick that I could not see or get out of bed. Not only that, but when I stopped taking Buspar, it took THREE WEEKS for the dizzyness and head spinning feelings to go away!!! I have been on dozens of meds over the years, and Buspar holds the record for being THE ALL TIME WORST!!! And I'm NOT the only one to have such negative side effects from this nasty medication. My boyfriend thought he was having a heart attack the first night he'd taken Buspar. He had such strong heart palpitations at 4am and chest pain that he had to call 911 and get rushed to the hospital by ambulance. PLEASE PLEASE BE WARY OF THIS HORRIBLE MED!!! There are SUCH BETTER meds out there that will cure anxiety and not make you sick!!! Ask your doctor about Klonopin or Lorazepam. If your doctor thinks those (in the class of Benzodiazepines) are horrible, yet Buspar is ok, then FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR!!!
Posted by Cari on June 7, 2000, at 17:56:40
In reply to Re: Need help with meds!, posted by Greg on June 6, 2000, at 15:52:41
Polly,
From the symptons you describe, Klonopin would help you immediately. It doesn't have any bizarre side effects, it won't make you gain weight or kill your sex drive. About 45 minutes after taking it, you'll just feel very mellow and calm. You want to start off with a small dose, like half a mg. It can make you very sleepy when you begin to take it, so make sure you're in a setting where you could just comfortably go to sleep for awhile. After a week or so the "high buzz" feeling goes away and you'll just feel very relaxed from it. It does wonders for anxiety and the effects are immediate. After a few weeks you can figure out what dose is right for you by seeing how much you need to take that makes you feel relaxed but doesn't put you to sleep. Female doctors tend to be extremely anal about prescribing it or any of the medications in the family it belongs to, so your best bet is a male doctor.
Posted by FredPotter on June 7, 2000, at 18:01:39
In reply to Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!! » pollypop, posted by Cari on June 7, 2000, at 14:57:33
If you have panic attacks, Buspar is no good. If you have persistent debilitaing anxiety, then it might be, but benzos won't. YMWV
Posted by Greg on June 7, 2000, at 18:02:23
In reply to Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!! » pollypop, posted by Cari on June 7, 2000, at 14:57:33
You obviously have have a very passionate opinion about BuSpar. I'm very sorry to hear that both you and your husband had such horrible experiences with it. I hope your post was not a result of my suggestion that it might be an option for Polly.
Some people on this board have had great experience with BuSpar, some, like myself, have felt no effects from it at all, and for some like you and your husband, it has truly been a Greek tragedy. But this is the nature of many of the drugs we here at Babble use. Chemical makeup, receptors in the brain, DNA and genetics, among other things determine how a person will react to a given med. 100 different people might have 100 different reactions to a single med. One man's poison mignt be another man's miracle.
I can relate to how strongly you feel about the BuSpar, I feel the same way about narcotics. I took pain killers for chronic pain for over a year and they nearly killed me. It is only by the grace of God that I am still here today. I occasionally read someone's post discussing the possibility using one of the narcotics I used as a possible answer to depression or anxiety and it makes me want to scream "NO, DON'T DO IT!" (and I have done that). But all I can really do is relate my experience to others and hope that they don't have to go thru the pain that I did. Dr. Bob's disclaimer (for lack of a better word) at the top of the main page is:
"Don't (necessarily) believe everything you hear. Your mileage may vary. What you say may (conceivably) be used against you. In a crisis, get help the old-fashioned way. It's good to give as well as to receive."
And that is good sound advise. I don't expect anyone to try a chemical just because I say it works, or, not try something just because I say say it doesn't. I just try to give my experience and support, and then hope and pray that the person can find what's right for them, with, hopefully, a good doctor's help.
I hope that Polly goes to her doctor with all the experiences that she has heard here and makes an informed, intelligent decision based on what she and her doctor feel is right for her. And if that ends up being BuSpar, then so be it.
All my best to you and your husband, I hope that you are doing well.
Greg
Posted by Cari on June 7, 2000, at 18:34:34
In reply to Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!! » Cari, posted by Greg on June 7, 2000, at 18:02:23
Greg,
I'm glad you've had positive effects from Buspar, although I must admit that surprised me a great deal. I agree with you that 100 different people can have 100 different reactions to the same med, and hopefully Polly will discuss her options available at length with her doctor. I also recommend checking any new med out on the internet and reading as much as possible about it before taking it, and make sure you don't only check out the web sites sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies because of course they will be biased. As for Fred who said that Benzos are only good for panic attacks but not chronic debilitating anxiety, I beg to differ. I have the chronic debilitating kind and the Benzos are the only meds that have been effective for me since I took my first Klonopin 7 yrs ago. I've stopped taking them at various times, mostly due to moving to new areas & states where doctors are paranoid about prescribing them, and have suffered anxiety so acute and terrorizing that I could not drive a car for months. That constant impending "sense of doom" is kept away by taking the same dosage of Klonopin each day.
Posted by FredPotter on June 7, 2000, at 19:30:56
In reply to Re: better alternative to Buspar, posted by Cari on June 7, 2000, at 17:56:40
FWIW Klonopin does nothing for my anxiety. Fine and mellow - how wonderful, but I think Billie Holliday was on something stronger
Posted by pollypop on June 7, 2000, at 21:07:43
In reply to Re: better alternative to Buspar, posted by FredPotter on June 7, 2000, at 19:30:56
Well, I got the name of a doctor today (from my therapist) who can prescribe. So I will go armed with this info and see what she says.
Sometimes it seems the things that are supposed to help anxiety actaully make me feel worse. My Chinese Herbalist has not been able to track a pattern yet, but I have only been seeing him for 3 months...so we'll see.
Can herbs interfere with these meds? Or cross-react? I wonder if anyone, even a Doc, would really know, as it is kind of cross-disciplinary medicine...don't know if one side really understands the other, and am pretty sure no tests are done.
My anxiety attacks are mostly like panic attacks, sometime mild panic. They are worst at times of conflict and change, (right now). It stinks not to sleep...then I get to have anxiety about whether or not I'll sleep. Yuk.
Thanks everyone for all the info, I really appreciate it!
-P
Posted by Tina1 on June 8, 2000, at 8:44:23
In reply to Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!!, posted by Cari on June 7, 2000, at 18:34:34
I've known some people who have great success on BuSpar, my mom for one butI'll grant you that it doesn't work all that well on the very severe anxiety you describe. I too have had great success with benzo's but I do easily get addicted to them and withdrawal can be hell. Have you had no diminished effects with such long term use? I always find that the longer I take them, the more I need to take.
Greg,
> I'm glad you've had positive effects from Buspar, although I must admit that surprised me a great deal. I agree with you that 100 different people can have 100 different reactions to the same med, and hopefully Polly will discuss her options available at length with her doctor. I also recommend checking any new med out on the internet and reading as much as possible about it before taking it, and make sure you don't only check out the web sites sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies because of course they will be biased. As for Fred who said that Benzos are only good for panic attacks but not chronic debilitating anxiety, I beg to differ. I have the chronic debilitating kind and the Benzos are the only meds that have been effective for me since I took my first Klonopin 7 yrs ago. I've stopped taking them at various times, mostly due to moving to new areas & states where doctors are paranoid about prescribing them, and have suffered anxiety so acute and terrorizing that I could not drive a car for months. That constant impending "sense of doom" is kept away by taking the same dosage of Klonopin each day.
Posted by Cari on June 8, 2000, at 11:19:58
In reply to Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!! » Cari, posted by Tina1 on June 8, 2000, at 8:44:23
Well I've never upped my dose on Klonopin since the first 2 weeks I was taking it 7 years ago. My doctor actually recommended that I take 4 mg/day (but I was living in Alaska and everything up there, including docs, are more liberal), but I myself realized that 2 mg was the perfect dose, because under 4 mg I got too sleepy. To this day I only take the same 2 mg/day and it is still effective for me.
Posted by Cari on June 8, 2000, at 11:35:48
In reply to Re: better alternative to Buspar, posted by pollypop on June 7, 2000, at 21:07:43
Polly,
The only experience I've had in this area is that I've tried Kava, which is supposed to help anxiety, but it didn't do anything. I think that with us who suffer from truly acute anxiety/depression, the herbs are just too weak to make a difference. In Alaska I used to drink Valerian root tea that was freshly grown and sold locally, and that may have helped, but nothing like the Klonopin. I heard that if you take herbal pills like Valerian they won't be as effective because the natural properties are lost when they get refined into pill form. Once I took a bunch of Valerian root pills to see what would happen, but they didn't do a thing. St. Johns Wort never did a thing for me either, and if you have health insurance that covers prescriptions, you'll ending up spending more on St. Johns Wort that your actual meds. I don't think most doctors know much about the herbs, or if they do they don't share info with patients, because herbs are out of their "scientific" realm, but overall I'd say that herbs are very weak compared to meds.
Posted by Tina1 on June 8, 2000, at 12:11:04
In reply to Re: Buspar is HORRIBLE!!!, posted by Cari on June 8, 2000, at 11:19:58
That's great. You must have one of those systems that doesn't build up a tolerance. I used to take one aspirin for a headache but got so used to it that it takes 4 or 5 to rid myself of the pain now. I'm glad Klonopin works so well for you.
> Well I've never upped my dose on Klonopin since the first 2 weeks I was taking it 7 years ago. My doctor actually recommended that I take 4 mg/day (but I was living in Alaska and everything up there, including docs, are more liberal), but I myself realized that 2 mg was the perfect dose, because under 4 mg I got too sleepy. To this day I only take the same 2 mg/day and it is still effective for me.
Posted by Tina1 on June 8, 2000, at 12:13:37
In reply to mixing herbs with meds, posted by Cari on June 8, 2000, at 11:35:48
Cari: Do you have any experience with melatonin?
> Polly,
> The only experience I've had in this area is that I've tried Kava, which is supposed to help anxiety, but it didn't do anything. I think that with us who suffer from truly acute anxiety/depression, the herbs are just too weak to make a difference. In Alaska I used to drink Valerian root tea that was freshly grown and sold locally, and that may have helped, but nothing like the Klonopin. I heard that if you take herbal pills like Valerian they won't be as effective because the natural properties are lost when they get refined into pill form. Once I took a bunch of Valerian root pills to see what would happen, but they didn't do a thing. St. Johns Wort never did a thing for me either, and if you have health insurance that covers prescriptions, you'll ending up spending more on St. Johns Wort that your actual meds. I don't think most doctors know much about the herbs, or if they do they don't share info with patients, because herbs are out of their "scientific" realm, but overall I'd say that herbs are very weak compared to meds.
Posted by Cari on June 8, 2000, at 12:23:42
In reply to Re: mixing herbs with meds » Cari, posted by Tina1 on June 8, 2000, at 12:13:37
Tina,
I haven't tried melatonin yet but have heard good things about it helping people sleep. Have you tried it? My boyfriend tried it and he said the first 3 nights he slept great but after that it didn't do anything for him.
Posted by pollypop on June 8, 2000, at 13:05:00
In reply to Re: mixing herbs with meds » Cari, posted by Tina1 on June 8, 2000, at 12:13:37
I haven't tried it---tried Valerian...it worked for a few nights, but then stopped. What is with that?
Posted by Tina1 on June 8, 2000, at 13:33:53
In reply to melatonin, posted by pollypop on June 8, 2000, at 13:05:00
I haven't tried melatonin and that's why I asked you. You seem to have more knowledge of the natural alternatives, effective or otherwise, and I thought you might have an idea if it worked or not. Believe it or not, I have had great success with warm milk with nutmeg and cardamom pods. I know it sounds cliche but it's true. I'm not kidding...It's an ayurvedic cure for sleeplessness that I find helpful. It sure doesn't work everytime but it's a good one when I'm stressed.
> I haven't tried it---tried Valerian...it worked for a few nights, but then stopped. What is with that?
Posted by Cari on June 8, 2000, at 14:11:02
In reply to Re: melatoninCari, posted by Tina1 on June 8, 2000, at 13:33:53
OK I say this hoping that nobody will attack me for it, but has anyone tried using pot to relieve anxiety??? I've never used other drugs & never will, I don't even drink. I have a college degree and work at stable, full time job. I've found pot to be extremely effective in fighting off acute anxiety and used to use it do induce sleep nightly before I began taking Remeron (which also induces sleep so I don't need the pot anymore for that).
Posted by KarenB on June 8, 2000, at 15:33:15
In reply to a natural remedy that works but is controversial, posted by Cari on June 8, 2000, at 14:11:02
Cari,
This is why they say, "Your mileage may vary..."
A long, long time ago, when I smoked pot, it CAUSED anxiety in me. I mean, EXTREME ANXIETY. It is the very last thing I'd do if I wanted to relax. It had exactly the opposite effect on my husband, however, but neither of us have smoked in years.
Strangely enough, I have been taking the "dreaded" Buspar (10 mg, 3x a day) for about five weeks and I have no side effects whatsoever. At first, I thought it was a placebo. Now, I actually think it's working.
There are many different chemical reasons why you may suffer depression or anxiety, including Noa's favorite, your THYROID. No one drug works for everyone and a drug is not inherently "bad" because it doesn't work for you. If that thinking were true, I would personally try to put a complete ban on both Prozac and Serzone - I would rather be tortured than take either of them again.
Karen
Posted by pollypop on June 8, 2000, at 16:16:06
In reply to a natural remedy that works but is controversial, posted by Cari on June 8, 2000, at 14:11:02
I have been told this by alot of people...but am a chicken about trying! When I quit smoking many years ago, it was because of *paranoid* pot reactions...but who knows maybe now it would be different...with just a little bit...
I do have some Melatonin somewhere...maybe i will try that...
Posted by pollypop on June 8, 2000, at 16:18:34
In reply to Re: Buspar/natural remedy-Cari, posted by KarenB on June 8, 2000, at 15:33:15
It's so weird because my racing heart and anxiety seems to come in groups of days, then goes for a week or two, then is back...?
Posted by Kath on June 8, 2000, at 17:24:43
In reply to a natural remedy that works but is controversial, posted by Cari on June 8, 2000, at 14:11:02
Hi Cari - Just a couple of non-attacking comments about pot. My 16-yr old is in a treatment program due to using it pretty well daily for about a year & a half - often numerous times daily. I've been finding out more about it and two things that I didn't know are: 1) It is a depressant. 2) It has a half-life of 48 hours. That means that 48 hours after one has smoked it, half of the active ingredient is still in one's bloodstream. I recently read a list of all the physiological effects of smoking pot & was surprised at how many areas in the body it affects, including the immune system. It's also WAY stronger than in my teen days (I'm 53). If you're considering it, you might want to look into the effects it has on the body, and keep in mind that one can become dependent on it - my son sure has.
Best of luck & take care.
Kath.
> OK I say this hoping that nobody will attack me for it, but has anyone tried using pot to relieve anxiety??? I've never used other drugs & never will, I don't even drink. I have a college degree and work at stable, full time job. I've found pot to be extremely effective in fighting off acute anxiety and used to use it do induce sleep nightly before I began taking Remeron (which also induces sleep so I don't need the pot anymore for that).
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