I ve been taking Buspar (10mg 3x a day) for about 3 months now for anxiety. It took the medication a few weeks before it started working and it gave me headaches for a few weeks but after that I thought everything was fine. Now, in the last week I ve been experiencing these "brain zaps" that feel like electrical pulses through my brain. They are very startling, uncomfortable and actually increase my anxiety. Has anyone else experienced these sensations before? What did you do to alleviate the symptoms? I m seriously considering quitting the Buspar all together but I m afraid of my anxiety coming back. As far as I know, Buspar is the only thing out there for anxiety that isn t habit forming and that is not an anti-depressant and that isn t a benzo. I am staying far away from benzos as I have had a terrible experience from withdrawing Valium! Any help/experience with Buspar would be much appreciated!
Can Buspar cause Brain Zaps?
- Asked
- 27 Oct 2015 by sheilac3102
- Active
- 27 Apr 2017
- Topics
- buspar, anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, medication, brain, brain zap
Responses (5)
It could be the BuSpar. I recommend, if you aren't already doing this, that you make sure you are always taking with food or always taking without food, but don't alternate between both ways. This will keep the blood levels more steady over the day. Whether this may help, don't know. If not, I would let the doctor know of your symptoms.
sheilac3102, As far as I know Buspar has not had that problem,I was on the 15mg 3 times daily for over 6 months and just tapered off of it slowly for my own sake and never had that problem If they continue make sure you let the doctor know. And by the way I never tried this but I have heard several people say taking 600mg of Ibuprofen and extra water helped them get through the Brain zaps I have had them from SSRI'S but never from Buspar. Have a good day. Chuck1957
Thank you! I will try the ibuprofen trick. I hope it works. I am going to call my doctor too. Thanks again!
I had a good experience with Buspar. It helped me for about a year and a half. For me, I bounced up and down on doses, and found that I did better with lower doses, alleviating my anxiety, with less side effects. My target doses were 5 mg. I decided to off of it a couple of weeks ago, just quit one day, no repercussions, no withdrawal syndrome. It works good when it works, I highly recommend it for anxiety.
Further Information
- BuSpar Information for Consumers
- BuSpar Information for Healthcare Professionals (includes dosage details)
- Side Effects of BuSpar (detailed)
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I take it without food every time and the same time each day. I have alarms set on my phone for every 8 hours: 6:00am, 2pm, and 10pm.