Anyone tried Buspar for anxiety attacks?

[blueblitzkrieg]

I've gotten off my antidepressant (Effexor XR) but have still been having a lot of trouble with severe anxiety attacks so my doctor wants to start me up on Buspar.

Looking at reviews online, people don't seem to think it's very effective. Xanax and Valium seem to work better for a lot of people (but the addictiveness of those drugs worries me).

So does anyone have any experience with Buspar, good or bad? Please let me know. I'm thinking of calling up my doctor and asking her if we can try something besides Buspar..I don't want to waste time if it's just not going to work. I'm tired of wasting time.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[DemExpat]

1. I probably would go for having a Xanax or Valium on me

in case of an emergency, while trying to ride through the panic attacks until you reach the point when they lose their power.

This is what got me over years of severe anxiety disorder/panic attacks about 15 years ago.

I am 'clean' now, and panic free, although I am not the most relaxed person around in some situations...:D
I still carry one little pill on me when I fly or travel, but have not taken one in over 20 years....after being terribly addicted in the late-70s...:-(

Homeopathy from a Homeopathic physician gave me some real support through this process as well.

Hope you find your path to relief as soon as possible, blueblitzkrieg,

:hug: from one who knows the experience.

DemEx

[hedgehog]

2. Buspar was /is very effective for me for chronic anxiety

and I haven't had any panic attacks since I've been on it. I only had one or two before, so I really can't say how effective it is for acute problems. My problem was/is very high chronic anxiety. The Buspar relieves that with no side effects that I can see and no dulling of response to life in general. I don't drink, so going without alcohol isn't a problem for me.

[EFerrari]

3. My experience is that Buspar is used to enable a lower dose

of potentially addicting drugs, like the one I'm on, klonopin. The Buspar potentiates it, so you can take about half and get the same result. Buspar alone has been no help whatsoever for my chronic anxiety.

Walking, on the other hand, has :)

[tibbir]

4. I currently take Buspar.

One of my many labels is generalized anxiety disorder. Buspar by itself seems to help some but doesn't prevent my anxiey attacks. One of the medications I have to take for manic depression actually does have one good side effect though, which is control of most of my anxiety. I take both in combination.

[blueblitzkrieg]

5. Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate your input.

I called my doctor and she convinced me into trying it, so I'm doing that. Haven't really noticed a change in my anxiety yet. I have a job interview on Wed. so I'm hoping it kicks in, SOON! (interviews and the job searching process are the absolute worst for me) :crazy:

[DemExpat]

6. Hope it helps, blueblitzkrieg.....

especially now with your stress of job searching!

:hug:

DemEx

[blueblitzkrieg]

7. Thanks, me too!

I don't think it helped though, because I completely bungled the interview. Horribly. And I took 6 of them prior to help me calm my nerves (a lot more than my doc wants me to take). Oh well.

Thank you for the well wishes though.

[DemExpat]

8. This might not work as fast as tranqulizers do.....

maybe after some days or a couple of weeks it will kick in....?

Sorry the interview went so bad, blueblitzkrieg - on to the next one with hopefully calmer nerves!

:hi:

DemEx

Before really nerve-racking things I have to do I take a high doses of Valerian/Passionflower mixture (liquid tincture) in water. I take my bottle of water along and suck on it at regular intervals! :D
Like with flying, it really does take the edge off and keeps the anxiety well manageable for me.

[hedgehog]

9. Buspar doesn't work like that, plus you took way too much at once

6 tabs a day is a maximum dose. Talk to someone you trust to find out more how this drug works or check the drug sites.

On another topic, rmember that a job search is no, no non ,no etc, no, no, yes. Hang in there.