Today my psychiatrist prescribed me buspirone after we tried propranolol for my panic attacks. She is adamant on me not being prescribed Xanax or any benzos again and I'm okay with that as long as we can find something to help. When I asked her about how to take it, she informed me i could take it once or twice a day as needed for anxiety attacks. It is a 5mg dose. When I search about the medicine (which I always do before starting a new medicine.) I read that the does needs to be taken continuously to work and that taking it as per needed can be dangerous. One article from 2004 I found said you could take it as needed for anxiety.
My question is, should I take it as my doctor prescribed? Is it dangerous? If it may not work to the full effect that is okay, I'm just concerned with it being unhealthy for me in some way.
Hello! Buspirone must be taken consistently in order to be be effective so that your blood level can reach a therapeutic level... a minimum of 4-6 weeks to become fully effective. I've never heard of it being prescribed "as needed" especially at such a low dose. I've been taking buspirone for about 4 years and it works very well but I take 60mg daily. Best regards and I hope it helps you.
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CH
Christy38
24 June 2019
Hi! I also take mine 3x day for anxiety. Its 5mg and ive been doing it 3x day for about 2 weeks im not sure if I can tell a difference yet. I also have seizures which is why my anxiety is so bad! Always wondering if and when im going to have one. But I was going to ask my doc if she could up my dose. Good luck to you!!
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Alphabravo33
24 June 2019
I’ve never heard of Buspirone being taken as needed. The way it was explained to me is that it is a “build up drug” that takes time to reach a therapeutic level in your body. For me it took about a month or so of 10mgs 3 times a day before I noticed my anxiety lessening. Fast forward, I now take 15 mg, 3 times a day, and it works great. Initially my doc gave me a low dose Xanax (.25 mg) to take as needed in conjunction with the Buspirone. Honestly, for me it’s a great drug to take daily, but it wouldn’t be “strong enough” to work for a panic attack or strong anxiety based on my experience. I’ve been on Buspirone daily since 2001. A few months ago my doctor prescribed me propranolol to take “as needed” for panic (instead of Xanax), but I have not tried it yet. We are all different, 5mg is a very low dose, so I wouldn’t think you’d have many side effects. I hope this helped!
