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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by em_kath on June 28, 2010, at 19:58:03
I recently added a low dose of buspirone to 300 mg daily of bupropion. I started with 15mg (5 mg three times per day) and only made it up to about 20mg total per day before noticing that I was increasingly depressed, hopeless, and angry. I have been going through some difficult personal issues lately so it could be that I am feeling worse for outside reasons, but it seems a bit of a coincidence that during the last few weeks since starting buspirone I have felt such intense depression. I'm wondering if anybody has experienced an adverse reaction to even a low dose of buspirone? I haven't noticed any troublesome physical side effects. In my limited knowledge of the medication and how it works I don't really know what could be causing it. It could be that I just am not taking a high enough dose for it to be noticeably helpful and these feelings are unrelated. I see my pdoc tomorrow morning but I haven't decided whether or not I want to be taken off the buspirone, perhaps to increase my bupropion or add another medication. Any input would be appreciated!
On a side note, is buspirone generally associated with weight gain? I have read some conflicting information.
Posted by Christ_empowered on June 28, 2010, at 20:47:27
In reply to Bad reaction to buspirone?, posted by em_kath on June 28, 2010, at 19:58:03
I could see buspar making you sad. It is basically a low-dose neuroleptic; it blocks dopamine and serotonin receptors. Some docs use it to improve the performance of antidepressants, kind of like they use atypicals antipsychotics. High dose buspirone has been associated with tardive dyskinesia; at any dose you have to worry about brain damage of the type induced by neuroleptics. I'd just drop it...most shrinks don't even bother with it.
Good luck.
Posted by linkadge on June 28, 2010, at 21:39:44
In reply to buspar sucks, posted by Christ_empowered on June 28, 2010, at 20:47:27
Buspar does not block serotonin receptors.
It does have some d2 antagonism but this is moderate compared to 5-ht1a agonism.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on June 29, 2010, at 0:11:04
In reply to Re: Hey, I like buspar, posted by linkadge on June 28, 2010, at 21:39:44
Doesn't work for me as took benzos. Phillipa
Posted by Brainbeard on June 29, 2010, at 8:09:01
In reply to buspar sucks, posted by Christ_empowered on June 28, 2010, at 20:47:27
> I could see buspar making you sad. It is basically a low-dose neuroleptic; it blocks dopamine and serotonin receptors. Some docs use it to improve the performance of antidepressants, kind of like they use atypicals antipsychotics. High dose buspirone has been associated with tardive dyskinesia; at any dose you have to worry about brain damage of the type induced by neuroleptics. I'd just drop it...most shrinks don't even bother with it.
>
> Good luck.
>
>This information is not correct. Buspirone is a partial dopamine AGONIST, so it partially stimulates, partially blocks dopamine receptors. The dopamine blocking property is so weak that buspirone has been tested as an antipsychotic in doses of up to 1500mg a day. The risk of getting TD from Buspar is theoretical: as far as I know, there hasn't been one actual case report yet.
Furthermore, buspirone is also a partial 5HT1A-AGONIST, which is its main mode of action. Stimulating the serotonin 5HT1A receptor is therefore the drugs distinguishing mode of action.
It may not be a very effective drug, but to associate buspirone with brain damage.. has more to do with a vivid imagination than with the facts.
Posted by linkadge on June 29, 2010, at 15:49:57
In reply to ...Or does it?, posted by Brainbeard on June 29, 2010, at 8:09:01
Do you have any literature that buspar is a dopamine agonist??
Also to corroberate what you say, 5-ht1a agonists are highly neuroprotective (at least to hippocampal neurons).
Linkadge
Posted by Brainbeard on June 29, 2010, at 17:50:16
In reply to Re: ...Or does it?, posted by linkadge on June 29, 2010, at 15:49:57
> Do you have any literature that buspar is a dopamine agonist??
>
> Also to corroberate what you say, 5-ht1a agonists are highly neuroprotective (at least to hippocampal neurons).
>
> LinkadgeHa, this is a nice one: 'Buspirone in the treatment of tardive dyskinesia': http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8102622. ;)
From the great Medscape article on buspirone (http://www.medscape.com/druginfo/monograph?cid=med&drugid=74939&drugname=Buspirone+(Bulk)+Misc&monotype=monograph&secid=8):
'Buspirone appears to possess some dopamine agonist activity. Like apomorphine, buspirone produces weak turning behavior in lesioned animals and, like amantadine, potently reverses catalepsy induced by antipsychotic agents, suggesting that the drug has some dopamine agonist activity. Buspirone reportedly elevates plasma somatotropin (growth hormone) concentrations (see Neuroendocrine Effects), an effect possibly mediated by postsynaptic dopamine agonist activity in the hypothalamus.'
Posted by atypical on June 29, 2010, at 21:53:24
In reply to Bad reaction to buspirone?, posted by em_kath on June 28, 2010, at 19:58:03
Do you have both anxiety and depression? Buspar is typically used to boost the effect of an SSRI that either pooped out or is not working well enough. In my case, Buspar didn't do anything except give me side effects (don't remember what exactly though -- I think it was a bit of weight gain and dizziness). I have heard doctors say Buspar is a fairly weak medication. Has Bupropion helped? If so, perhaps you could have your doctor increase it to 450mg, or he or she might add an SSRI to it.
Posted by X-ray on June 30, 2010, at 6:55:12
In reply to Bad reaction to buspirone?, posted by em_kath on June 28, 2010, at 19:58:03
Hi,
I've been on buspirone for 17 years.
This is a benign drug that has few side effects.The target dose is 30-40 mg.
No weight gain is associated with buspirone.Buspirone is good for GAD and anxiety.
It may take a month to get the full effect of this med.Best regards,
X-ray
Posted by linkadge on June 30, 2010, at 7:08:07
In reply to Re: Bad reaction to buspirone?, posted by X-ray on June 30, 2010, at 6:55:12
I personally liked buspar. It was a very clean and tolerabe med for me. No sexual side effects (infact it improved libido). It appeared to help concentration, rumination and anxiety. It also seemed to help apathy, which SSRI's always gave.
Linkadge
Posted by fayeroe on July 1, 2010, at 17:30:21
In reply to Bad reaction to buspirone?, posted by em_kath on June 28, 2010, at 19:58:03
> I recently added a low dose of buspirone to 300 mg daily of bupropion. I started with 15mg (5 mg three times per day) and only made it up to about 20mg total per day before noticing that I was increasingly depressed, hopeless, and angry.
Kath, I take two tablets, 10 mg, three times a day. I feel much better now.
I have been going through some difficult personal issues lately so it could be that I am feeling worse for outside reasons, but it seems a bit of a coincidence that during the last few weeks since starting buspirone I have felt such intense depression. I'm wondering if anybody has experienced an adverse reaction to even a low dose of buspirone?
I have not had an adverse reaction.
I haven't noticed any troublesome physical side effects. In my limited knowledge of the medication and how it works I don't really know what could be causing it. It could be that I just am not taking a high enough dose for it to be noticeably helpful and these feelings are unrelated. I see my pdoc tomorrow morning but I haven't decided whether or not I want to be taken off the buspirone, perhaps to increase my bupropion or add another medication. Any input would be appreciated!
Kath, I never quit a new medication before I've taken it for at least a month and sometimes 6 weeks. I ride the storm out and wait to see if it helps me. I've only had a problem with one med, ambien. It made me feel like **** the first time I took it and I refused to take it any longer.
>
> On a side note, is buspirone generally associated with weight gain? I have read some conflicting information.I've had a tremendous weight gain but it might be from binge eating after Fayeroe died. I was so shocked and grieved so much that I turned to food. Comfort eating.
Posted by sukarno on July 1, 2010, at 19:42:10
In reply to Re: Bad reaction to buspirone? » em_kath, posted by fayeroe on July 1, 2010, at 17:30:21
I tried BuSpar (buspirone) in 1989 after asking my psychiatrist for it. He wasn't very enthusiastic about it and thought it wouldn't do anything. He was right.. at least for me it did nothing.
I tried it again in 1990 when my GP prescribed it for my panic attacks and generalized anxiety. He gave me free samples and I took 5mg three times a day.
After a week on it I felt dizzy when I moved my head (the type of dizziness you feel when you have influenza), heart was beating a bit harder than usual, felt slightly spaced out (like my brain was full of cotton) and had diarrhea several times. Quit BuSpar and those symptoms stopped pretty quickly.
I was also on Hismanal (astemizole) at the same time or after that...can't quite remember. I don't remember it causing any side effects. Perhaps Hismanal interacted with BuSpar. I had bad allergies and Hismanal was great stuff. Too bad it (Hismanal) was pulled off the market.
After that the GP gave me free samples of Tranxene (clorazepate). Peach/orange-colored boxes with a swan resting peacefully on a lake. hehheh. Tranxene 7.5mg "T-Tab" alleviates anxiety! Lots of advertising on the box.
He told me to take that 3 to 4 times a day but added, "I don't like to give this to college students" because it interfered with your ability to study I suppose. He was right about that, but that sure as hell got rid of my anxiety.
Posted by DocRon on July 2, 2010, at 7:57:52
In reply to Bad reaction to buspirone?, posted by em_kath on June 28, 2010, at 19:58:03
Hello,
I am DX severe panic disorder and Bu-Spar is one of the first things my pdoc tried. It is TERRIBLE, IMHO. The first low dose I took I got SO dizzy I threw up--felt like I was on a carnival ride! It got worse from there over three weeks... The vertigo somewhat abated, but the depression that it put me into was unlike anything I'd ever experienced.
I don't know what drug family its in, but you can see why it's considered "non-addictive" unlike the benzos--it's so terrible that you COULDN'T abuse it--you'd puke your guts out!
6 Alien thumbs down!!!
Posted by fayeroe on July 2, 2010, at 12:03:58
In reply to buspar sucks, posted by Christ_empowered on June 28, 2010, at 20:47:27
There are lots of people here who take Buspar. Could you be more to them sensitive in your subject lines? Thank you, Faye
Posted by fayeroe on July 2, 2010, at 12:05:27
In reply to Re: Buspar, posted by Phillipa on June 29, 2010, at 0:11:04
> Doesn't work for me as took benzos. Phillipa
which benzos are you taking, Phillipa? i take Buspar.
Posted by em_kath on July 2, 2010, at 15:25:35
In reply to Re: Bad reaction to buspirone?, posted by DocRon on July 2, 2010, at 7:57:52
Thanks everybody for your responses. I've been taken off the Buspar and I already feel better. I am somewhat convinced it was the Buspar that made me so intensely depressed, but I guess it's hard to know for certain. For a few days there I felt as bad as I did back in high school before I sought treatment... I've been depressed for most of my adult life, but this was different. I was on it for 3 or 4 weeks, so not as long as recommended for a new med trial, but I was having some very dark thoughts on it, I think it was the right decision to discontinue.
I'm glad to hear that some people are helped by Buspar. My pdoc says he's had a lot of success with it.
Posted by fayeroe on July 2, 2010, at 15:27:49
In reply to Re: Bad reaction to buspirone?, posted by em_kath on July 2, 2010, at 15:25:35
Posted by zonked on July 5, 2010, at 8:16:34
In reply to buspar sucks, posted by Christ_empowered on June 28, 2010, at 20:47:27
I am surprised Buspar ever got approved for GAD. Then again, I am also surprised that Xanax XR isn't used very much...
> I could see buspar making you sad. It is basically a low-dose neuroleptic; it blocks dopamine and serotonin receptors. Some docs use it to improve the performance of antidepressants, kind of like they use atypicals antipsychotics. High dose buspirone has been associated with tardive dyskinesia; at any dose you have to worry about brain damage of the type induced by neuroleptics. I'd just drop it...most shrinks don't even bother with it.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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