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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on July 16, 2006, at 10:16:50
I'm not sure how long this excessive fragility has been going on, but one change when I started Buspar is that when my anxiety finally started to settle a bit, I noticed that I was more aware of my depression. That might have been when the crying started.
I'm still able to respond to things that I find pleasurable most of the time. Not all the time, so I know there's some pretty significant depression going on, but enough of the time that I think I can survive a while longer. But I feel so very fragile, emotionally, an am crying so much more easily.
Lsst night, though, was something new. Last night, I didn't just start a little crying -- I was ready to lie down on the sofa and just sob. It felt as though I was drowning. And this morning, I'm not much better.
I'm taking 450mg Wellbutrin XL, and 5mg Buspar TID. Because we're still trying to get me pregnant, there aren't a lot of options for medications for me right now. I'm just not sure what to do.
I'm halfway hoping that excessive weeping is a rare side effect of Buspar, or that someone has some other ideas of medications that are Category B that might help.
Also, I had a problem with Ambien last night. The last time I took it, I hallucinated. (Called my husband to come up and see it...) It didn't bother me, because I knew it was Ambien, and I still went right to sleep. That was several weeks ago. Last night, I took one because I was so weepy, and was still fast awake and tense and a bit weepy for the better part of an hour. Does anyone have any helpful information about that? Does it mean that Ambien is not likely to be helpful to me for a while? That last night was likely a fluke? That space aliens are going to perform experiments on me?
If anyone has any advice or comments, they're appreciated.
Posted by bassman on July 16, 2006, at 11:56:16
In reply to Weepy, not sure what's going on, WB? Buspar?, posted by Racer on July 16, 2006, at 10:16:50
Racer, sorry you are going through this-you've help so many people (including me), I certainly hope people have ideas for you.
I had the weepies when I was on 450 mg Wellbutrin by itself...they were the fearful weepies-I was just sort of passingly depressed but fearful and so I'd cry at anything. At 300 mg, same thing, less intense, at 150 mg-major difference in terms of being less fragile. I was taking Klonopin at the same time. I switched to Xanax and the fearfulness and depression have lightened...Klonopin above about 0.5 mg depresses me.
Just a thought. Buspar never had any effect on me-and I mean ANY. I feel much more effect from a brownie (really). :>} (the effect is that I want another brownie!) I hope you get some ideas and feel better soon...
bassman
Posted by Phillipa on July 16, 2006, at 13:50:27
In reply to Re: Weepy, not sure what's going on, WB? Buspar?, posted by bassman on July 16, 2006, at 11:56:16
Two days of crying myself and I'm not on any of those meds. Have you just realized something? I am getting the puppy and realized I can't find my loving dogs pic and it meant so much to me. And I never grieved his and my other dogs death. Could you be grieving something you're unaware of? Love Phillipa
Posted by bassman on July 16, 2006, at 14:21:00
In reply to Re: Weepy, not sure what's going on, WB? Buspar?, posted by Phillipa on July 16, 2006, at 13:50:27
No, I'm grieving something I AM aware of...I'm thinking of leaving the best job I've ever had which has turned into a typical corporate nightmare because of new management...I keep going back and forth...eeeek! Thanks for asking, Phillipa.
Posted by circusboy on July 16, 2006, at 19:55:59
In reply to Weepy, not sure what's going on, WB? Buspar?, posted by Racer on July 16, 2006, at 10:16:50
Heya Racer,
I don't have anything to add from my own experience, except to say that I'm going through a similar sort of thing right now with Strattera. I hate that you lose track of yourself so much on these psych drugs...
Anyway, if I were to play amateur psychopharmacologist, I'd say I was suspicious of BuSpar's dopamine-D2 receptor antagonism. As you probably know, antipsychotics work through this mechanism, and they're known to induce "negative" symptoms (including depression) even as they help with the nasty psychosis. Of course, most of them do a lot of other unhelpful stuff as well (like muscarinic and adrenergic blockade), so maybe it's not the D2 antagonism that does it.
A little knowledge can be dangerous. :) Anyone else?
I really hope someone can help you, or that this awfulness somehow resolves on its own. It's hard not to obsess over the subtle and not-so-subtle psychological changes these drugs cause, but doing it diverts so much energy. I struggle with this all the time.
-cb
Posted by bassman on July 16, 2006, at 20:12:11
In reply to Re: Weepy... Buspar D2 receptor antagonism? » Racer, posted by circusboy on July 16, 2006, at 19:55:59
Racer, here's 170+ buspar user's comments:
http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=18731&name=BUSPARIn case you don't want to go through them, there were several cases on depression apparently induced by buspar.
Posted by Racer on July 16, 2006, at 22:30:16
In reply to Re: Weepy... Buspar D2 receptor antagonism?, posted by bassman on July 16, 2006, at 20:12:11
Thank you so much for that link. I didn't read through all of them, just skimmed, so I especially appreciate your summary, too.
Thanks again, and thanks to circusboy for the D2 receptor antagonism thought, I guess I should look into that, too, huh?
{sigh} I wish something worked -- treated the depression and the anxiety, without the problems that certain other drugs have caused. I'm not sure now whether it's worth continuing the Buspar, or if it's better to quit it and see if I can handle the anxiety...
Ugh.
Thanks.
Posted by bassman on July 17, 2006, at 4:54:21
In reply to Re: Weepy... Buspar D2 receptor antagonism? » bassman, posted by Racer on July 16, 2006, at 22:30:16
There's a reason you aren't considering a benzo?
Posted by SLS on July 17, 2006, at 9:15:28
In reply to Weepy, not sure what's going on, WB? Buspar?, posted by Racer on July 16, 2006, at 10:16:50
Emsam (selegiline transdermal)
Pregnancy Category C
- Scott
Posted by Racer on July 17, 2006, at 10:09:23
In reply to Re: Weepy... Buspar D2 receptor antagonism?, posted by bassman on July 17, 2006, at 4:54:21
> There's a reason you aren't considering a benzo?
:-) Yeah, benzos tend to make my anxiety worse. If I try to take them when I'm upset or anxious, they don't do anything good, and I have had blackouts on them -- while still spinning out of control. Not a good picture.
Buspar does seem to work on my anxiety, without setting off whatever it is that benzos do. But, after reading here and the other place yesterday, I think I'm going to drop it a few days and see if that helps...
Thanks.
Posted by bassman on July 17, 2006, at 11:19:47
In reply to Re: Weepy... Buspar D2 receptor antagonism? » bassman, posted by Racer on July 17, 2006, at 10:09:23
Good idea. I hope it works...
Posted by Phillipa on July 17, 2006, at 12:11:19
In reply to Re: Weepy... Buspar D2 receptor antagonism? » bassman, posted by Racer on July 17, 2006, at 10:09:23
Not being critical but I hope empathetic but Racer you sure have some strange side effects to the lamictal and benzos or I'm the one who does? We are a unique group of people trying to help each other. Love Phillipa ps I hope it works for you you deserve some relief from your anxiety.
Posted by Racer on July 17, 2006, at 20:53:20
In reply to Re: Weepy... Buspar D2 receptor antagonism?, posted by bassman on July 17, 2006, at 11:19:47
Well, I haven't taken Buspar today, and I feel pretty completely different. Headache, but no tears.
This is truly the first day I've gotten through without crying in I can't remember how long. And I even said something -- voicemail to my T -- that would have sent me into floods yesterday. Not only didn't cry, didn't even feel that upset by it.
It's too soon to tell if this is truly the Buspar, but I guess a few more days will show it, right?
Dang -- why can't drugs start to work this fast?
Posted by SLS on July 17, 2006, at 22:28:00
In reply to Re: Weepy... Buspar D2 receptor antagonism?, posted by bassman on July 17, 2006, at 11:19:47
Hi Racer.
I hope you continue to feel better as the buspirone leaves your system.
Most doctors don't take into account that buspirone is metabolized into 1-PP. This metabolite acts as a potent NE alpha-2 receptor antagonist, just like Remeron. It can make some people's depressions worse or produce a sort of dysphoria.
- Scott
Posted by bassman on July 18, 2006, at 4:57:45
In reply to Update » bassman, posted by Racer on July 17, 2006, at 20:53:20
No, no...drugs do work fast-look how quickly buspar made you miserable! :>} And I thought buspar wasn't good for anything. Maybe you could recommend it to your friends that are too happy...:>} SO glad you're feeling better! Still don't understand your reaction to benzos...
Posted by linkadge on July 18, 2006, at 19:51:36
In reply to Re: Weepy... Buspar D2 receptor antagonism?, posted by SLS on July 17, 2006, at 22:28:00
"This metabolite acts as a potent NE alpha-2 receptor antagonist, just like Remeron. It can make some people's depressions worse or produce a sort of dysphoria."
Yes, I would certainly think this is a more likely reason for the moodiness than the moderate d2 antagonism. D2 antagonism may make you feel bla, but I don't think it would make you weepy.
Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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