![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by FluteTheatrix on September 1, 2001, at 11:54:23
HeLLo... I posted in here awhile back "I think I am dying". Well things are still bad. I have tried PAXIL and ZOLOFT and PROZAC and the side effects are horrible. It made my panic attacks 5x's worse. I feel like there is no hope. My doc prescribed me Buspar but Im afraid to take it. I am scared of side effects. I have been speaking to SalArmy4me and he has been very helpful. Giving me alot of advice. I want to speak to somebody that has taken or currently on Buspar. Are the side effects bad? Does it help? I cannot take SSRI's. no no no.... very bad! I leave into the Navy in October.... I only have like 6 weeks to take the Buspar.... I need advice! What I am scared of is increased heart rate and insomnia. Thank you!
Posted by JohnL on September 1, 2001, at 13:00:04
In reply to Panic Attacks/Does Buspar work???, posted by FluteTheatrix on September 1, 2001, at 11:54:23
I want to say something encouraging to you. But when it comes to Buspar, there just isn't much to get encouraged about. For one thing, if it is to work at all it takes 4 to 6 weeks to do so. You don't have that kind of time. Second of all, when it does work (seldom), it doesn't seem to stay working(frequent). Third, it is wicked expensive. Doctors love Buspar, and the literature on it looks great. Why, I have no clue, because every doctor I've had never had any luck with Buspar. In the REAL world, you have to hunt real hard to find anyone who has done well with it. Nobody here, that's for sure.
I sound like a broken record when I say this, but I would suggest going straight to Zyprexa 2.5mg to 10mg range. Probably the best choice is actually in the benzo class, such as Xanax, Valium, or Klonopin, but doctors are reluctant to get a patient hooked on these.
Another trick worth mentioning is a beta-blocker. Ask your doctor for a sample of a beta-blocker. The cool thing with them is that you only take them as needed, you don't need to take them all the time. This is a much underused trick when it comes to treating panic attacks. When you feel a panic attack coming on, you take a beta blocker. Then you don't take another one until the next episode.
My vote would be for either Zyprexa or a beta blocker. I give two thumbs down to Buspar.
John> HeLLo... I posted in here awhile back "I think I am dying". Well things are still bad. I have tried PAXIL and ZOLOFT and PROZAC and the side effects are horrible. It made my panic attacks 5x's worse. I feel like there is no hope. My doc prescribed me Buspar but Im afraid to take it. I am scared of side effects. I have been speaking to SalArmy4me and he has been very helpful. Giving me alot of advice. I want to speak to somebody that has taken or currently on Buspar. Are the side effects bad? Does it help? I cannot take SSRI's. no no no.... very bad! I leave into the Navy in October.... I only have like 6 weeks to take the Buspar.... I need advice! What I am scared of is increased heart rate and insomnia. Thank you!
Posted by Janelle on September 1, 2001, at 21:27:26
In reply to Re: Panic Attacks/Does Buspar work???, posted by JohnL on September 1, 2001, at 13:00:04
Just thought I'd say that I second EVERYTHING JohnL has so articulately stated. If you do go the benzo route, Klonopin may be the "best" bet because it is the least addicting.
I've taken it for years and when I've forgotten it a few days, nothing terrible happened.
Posted by ChrisK on September 2, 2001, at 3:17:00
In reply to Panic Attacks/Does Buspar work???, posted by FluteTheatrix on September 1, 2001, at 11:54:23
Buspar for me was a glorified sugar pill. I never got one benefit from tsking it for anxiety and panic attacks. Go straight to Klonopin is the best advice I can give you. That was the one med that really alleviated my panic problems.
Posted by Tony P on September 2, 2001, at 3:25:25
In reply to Re: Panic Attacks/Does Buspar work??? » JohnL, posted by Janelle on September 1, 2001, at 21:27:26
Without wanting to take anything away from the good suggestions posted re appropriate meds to try for panic disorder, I have to say that I am the one (maybe two??) exception(s) on this board who have obtained significant benefit from Buspar. It may depend a lot on what AD if any you are on. Serzone and Buspar seem to be a good mix - I've met a few people in cyberspace who also found that combo very effective - and Serzone MAY also help with the panic - it has an immediate mild tranquilizing effect for me and most people besides its longer-term antidepressant action.
Also, for me Buspar is a fast-acting drug. The product literature may be correct in stating that full benfits and steady-state levels are only obtained after 1-2 weeks, but my experience is that I get useful help within hours. Immediately after a dose, I feel slightly "stoned" (not entirely pleasantly) for an hour or so. Then the stoned feeling passes off and I experience an increase in energy and assertiveness, almost aggressiveness, combined oddly with a much higher tolerance for stress and scary or irritating situations without getting angry or panicky.
It also has for me a considerable beneficial effect on social phobia - not the same as panic disorder I think, but they may have enough in common that you could benefit from Buspar. I expect that Buspar is not considered by most Drs. the first drug of choice for panic disorder, but nonetheless it might work for you as it has for me. Don't write it off just because others have not found it useful - your mileage may vary, as we say.
If you do give it a try I have a hunch you will know within a day or three at most whether it is a useful med for YOU.
Please feel free to email me (my address should be attached) if you want.
Tony P
> Just thought I'd say that I second EVERYTHING JohnL has so articulately stated. If you do go the benzo route, Klonopin may be the "best" bet because it is the least addicting.
>
> I've taken it for years and when I've forgotten it a few days, nothing terrible happened.
Posted by Tony P on September 2, 2001, at 3:34:08
In reply to Re: Panic Attacks/Does Buspar work???, posted by Tony P on September 2, 2001, at 3:25:25
Re Buspar side effects, in my experience very few and mild. I found the increase in assertiveness / aggressiveness a bit scary at first, especially the effect on my driving style (maybe the other drivers did too ;-).
I did find it could make insomnia worse for me, but only if I took it after about 6PM.
Tony P
> [previous lengthy post by TP snipped]
>
Posted by Leon Ousby on October 26, 2010, at 19:23:14
In reply to Re: Panic Attacks/Does Buspar work - PS???, posted by Tony P on September 2, 2001, at 3:34:08
Please do not go down the Benzodiazepine route, there are so many of them, highly effective, fast acting, highly addictive - most people in the end want to stop taking BENZOS completely, it is an effective medication simply for a short term basis. I completely disagree with most of your posts on helping this lady, who we know nothing about. Suggesting BENZOS isn't the wisest of advice. I would speak to your GP and get a referral to see a specialist especially if you are having thoughts that your dying. Posters please do not offer BENZO routing because they work for you, of course they work - That's the issue. You didn't take them for a few days and you were fine, of course you were, the drug was still in your system - All of you taking BENZOs stop for two weeks and then re post. The DTs are extremely worse than Alcohol Withdraw.
BENZOS are fast, effective, highly, highly addictive... (Try the two weeks stop) See how you go. They are of course prescribed for different issues. Don't offer advice to someone that is showing signs of suicide.
Love if you're reading this get yourself to a specialist get to the core issue (Not Easy) be totally honest about what drugs you have taken, what you have drunk, you life's worries - There is help out there. Do not go the BENZO way, the tolerance level is high, within weeks you will be required to increase the dose. Benzos are a depressant.
You can be saved love.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.