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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 jessers11581 on April 19, 2006, at 14:48:45
Just curious whether anyone has used this drug for anxiety and found it to be effective. I just read some really good things about it in a book I have. If this is a beneficial remedy for GAD, I definitely need to get my hands on some! Are there any side effects with it? What about a Prozac/Buspar combo? Any thoughts? Thanks!
Posted by bassman on April 19, 2006, at 17:45:35
In reply to any BUSPAR users out there?, posted by jessers11581 on April 19, 2006, at 14:48:45
Buspar is popular with docs because it does not have the habituation potential of benzos-they can prescribe it and forget about it. On the minus side, I've never talked to anyone who thought it worked well for anxiety-and it turns out that it should be tapered upon withdrawal, too, and it is somewhat toxic, etc. So there is no free lunch. You might want to look on the net a bit for info-like remedyfind.com. That will give you people's actual experience with the drug on average. I tried it and it did nothing, so I'm biased (my doc also said the only effected he'd ever seen with Buspar appeared to be placeboish). As usual, YMMV.
Posted by Racer on April 19, 2006, at 18:48:16
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there?, posted by bassman on April 19, 2006, at 17:45:35
And my experience was that it was better than pretty much anything else I've ever tried for anxiety, thus proving once again that mileage varies...
What I know, though, about my response, is that the lack of any real sedation is a big part of the reason it helped me. I didn't think it was doing anything, until I noticed one day that I wasn't anxious. Just -- you know -- happened to notice it... {shrug}
What I'm trying to get across, though, is that I would have thought that it wasn't doing anything.
That said, everyone is likely to respond differently, so it's up to you whether it's worth trying it. Also, the drawback for me, which is the reason I don't take it, is that it left me virtually motionless. I have a big problem, anyway, with amotivation and lethargy from pretty much all drugs I've tried so far, and Buspar was certainly not as bad as some. (Lexapro was much worse, and Paxil was probably worse, too.) I'm now taking Dexedrine, and will maybe start Buspar again in a week or so -- if I still need it. Dexedrine seems to control my anxiety pretty damned well. (Sometimes I think I'm not even human...)
Anyway, good luck.
Posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2006, at 19:03:31
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there?, posted by Racer on April 19, 2006, at 18:48:16
Talk about opposites we sure are. The AD's make me anxious. And buspar with xanax did nothing to me . I was still anxious and it was tried in the hospital under medical supervision. But from what I've read it was originally manufactured to be used as an antipsychotic. Makes no sense to me. But don't they now use higher doses of buspar then they originally did? Love Phillipa
Posted by Caedmon on April 19, 2006, at 22:43:00
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there? » Racer, posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2006, at 19:03:31
I don't have GAD but I found that 20mg buspirone added to an antidepressant was sometimes a good augmentation strategy. Really made things "clearer" for some reason.
- C
Posted by Crazy Horse on April 20, 2006, at 10:05:03
In reply to any BUSPAR users out there?, posted by jessers11581 on April 19, 2006, at 14:48:45
> Just curious whether anyone has used this drug for anxiety and found it to be effective. I just read some really good things about it in a book I have. If this is a beneficial remedy for GAD, I definitely need to get my hands on some! Are there any side effects with it? What about a Prozac/Buspar combo? Any thoughts? Thanks!
Don't mean to be a downer, but for me buspar was WEAK. As a matter of fact it was no better than taking a sugar pill for me. I stayed on it for a long time too( about a year) and nothing.
Some people swear by it though. It might work great for you. It's very safe and non-addictive, worth giving it a try. Good Luck!-Crazy Horse
Posted by RetiredYoung on April 20, 2006, at 10:18:00
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there? » jessers11581, posted by Crazy Horse on April 20, 2006, at 10:05:03
I recently started BuSpar (in addition to Zyprexa/Prozac) to help with anxiety. When I slowly got up to 30mg/day, while the anxiety seemed to be down a bit, I was becoming *very* irritable and angry. I dropped down to 20mg/day, and that has stopped the irritability, but I'm not sure if my anxiety is being helped.
I'm still feeling somewhat anxious (and pop a little xanax daily), but can't tell if the anxiety would be worse if I stopped the BuSpar.
Jim
Posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2006, at 21:37:22
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there?, posted by RetiredYoung on April 20, 2006, at 10:18:00
Retired young have you considered an MAOI or the ENSAM patch. Just curious as I am considering it. My babblemail light is on so you can babblemail me. Sorry not trying to hyjack the thread. Love Phillipa
Posted by RetiredYoung on April 21, 2006, at 8:12:29
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there? » RetiredYoung, posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2006, at 21:37:22
Hi - I would very much like to try an MAOI (patch or pills). The problem for me is that I don't think I would survive the washout period - in other words, going completely off my Prozac and Zyprexa for up to 4 weeks before even starting up on the MAOI would render me suicidally depressed. I wish there was a way around it.
Regards,
Jim
Posted by Phillipa on April 21, 2006, at 20:11:23
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there? » Phillipa, posted by RetiredYoung on April 21, 2006, at 8:12:29
Jim I talked to my pdoc yesterday and he said if I wanted to try the new ENSAM patch just to cut down on my luvox by half then stop and start the patch. According to him no washout period required. And if you take a benzo you still can take it with the patch and no dietary restrictions. I will have to take money out of meager saving s but it is worth it if it works as well as the others are finding. Already someone has offered to buy any I may have if I experience problems. With all the money I've spent on worthless meda and pdoc appointments it will be made up quickly and since I still have my nursing licence current I could go back to work. Babblemail me any time. Love Phillipa
Posted by LynnPerley on April 21, 2006, at 22:31:37
In reply to any BUSPAR users out there?, posted by jessers11581 on April 19, 2006, at 14:48:45
Buspar helped me get past the jaw clenching (bruxism) effects of Prozac and Effexor when I started taking meds. It seemed mild to me, and it is cheap!
Posted by SLS on April 22, 2006, at 7:17:12
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there? » Phillipa, posted by RetiredYoung on April 21, 2006, at 8:12:29
> Hi - I would very much like to try an MAOI (patch or pills). The problem for me is that I don't think I would survive the washout period - in other words, going completely off my Prozac and Zyprexa for up to 4 weeks before even starting up on the MAOI would render me suicidally depressed. I wish there was a way around it.
There is no reason why you couldn't remain on Zyprexa. It should help take the edge off the depression and prevent suicidal states.
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk on April 22, 2006, at 16:58:22
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there? » RetiredYoung, posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2006, at 21:37:22
Hi PJ
You'd need a washout from Luvox before starting Emsam or another MAOI.
Love
Ed xxx
Posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2006, at 18:47:02
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there? » Phillipa, posted by ed_uk on April 22, 2006, at 16:58:22
See here we go again with the drug reps if it is true about needing a washout period how come the pdoc said no just stop and start the Patch? Not mad at my Ed. Just too much misinformation out there. Love PJ O
Posted by gardenergirl on April 22, 2006, at 21:11:31
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there? » RetiredYoung, posted by Phillipa on April 21, 2006, at 20:11:23
> Already someone has offered to buy any I may have if I experience problems.
Which you promptly turned down because you know that would be illegal, right?
gg
Posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2006, at 21:42:23
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there? » Phillipa, posted by gardenergirl on April 22, 2006, at 21:11:31
Of course I am only gathering info at the moment. If I decide to try it I will stick it out. At that price I will definitely be sure it is something I'm going to stick with. Heck the drug reps haven't even talked to my pdoc yet I'll let him decide based on what my therapist says and his assessment of me if he thinks the med would be good for me. He admits not knowing about it yet other than what other patients have told him. And personally I like to read others experiences for a while without jumping on the bandwagon. Thanks, Love Phillipa
Posted by gardenergirl on April 22, 2006, at 22:11:18
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there? » gardenergirl, posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2006, at 21:42:23
I'm like that, too. In fact, that's why I got Celexa several years ago, even though Lexapro was available. My doc at the time said she didn't know enough about Lexapro yet, and wanted to wait to see more of how it goes before jumping on the Lex bandwagon.
I think it's often a good way to approach it.
gg
Posted by ed_uk on April 23, 2006, at 9:15:30
In reply to Re: any BUSPAR users out there? » ed_uk, posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2006, at 18:47:02
Sorry PJ, you would need a washout :(
Ed xxx
This is the end of the thread.
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