I've had undiagnosed anxiety since i was 6. I didn't like playing with other kids, being around kids i didn't know made me a nervous reck. It was a tug of war to get me to go to school. I could never sleep at night knowing i had to go to school the next day & I was physically sick, throwing up, walking out the door in the mornings. I don't know if my mother just chose to ignore these signs or if she thought it was just a stage. But after 27 years of this I finally gained the balls to talk to my doctor about it... which in its own gave me a panic attack. My doctor put me on Zoloft 50mg, which seemed to work & like a dumbass I decided to just stop taking it, b/c i didn't think i needed it anymore. Then she put me on Effexor XR, which did nothing. No side affects, no good affects, nothing. I asked if I could go back on the Zoloft & she stated she wanted to try me on another medications first. So two weeks ago she started me on Buspar. The offical BuSpar site is "underconstruction" & I haven't been able to find anything else on it. So i was wondering if anyone here has been on it & if so does it work for anxiety / panic attacks? Since starting BuSpar I don't know if it's working or not. It seems to work immediatly for a few hours but then stops. I'm only taking a half 15mg tab twice a day. Should I continue taking it... will it take more time for me to see if it's working?
I'm just soo frustrated. I can't take the day to day anxiety anymore...
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29 Answers
WI
WildcatVet
2 Aug 2020
I'm Bipolar with associated anxiety disorders. I can't take any antidepressant/anxiolytic and I absolutely refuse to touch a benzodiazepine. I was prescribed buspirone four years ago and it's changed my life! No more anxiety beyond what any person might feel on any given day. I can leave my house, I can drive, I even am able to speak in public and enjoy social gatherings. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants a safer and effective medication.
Votes: +1
BA
barbiecorn
30 March 2022
You give me hope.
BL
blue-sky
2 Aug 2020
It did not work for me at all. I had every side effect also. Constipation, Horrible horrible nightmares that lasted all night long. No appetite, laziness, apathy, headaches and brain zaps. Waking up at 4 am and unable to fall asleep from wired effect. On the 7th day, I just broke down crying. I felt it was poisoning me.
Votes: +0
DS
Dsmith62
19 Sep 2021
Just read this and am curious to know if you had withdrawal problem. I took Buspar for 17 days . Have been off for 3 weeks and really struggling right now.
BL
blue-sky
20 Sep 2021
I did not have withdrawals. I only took for 7 days and always try something at 1/2 the lowest possible dose. I wish it would have worked ok for me. I did feel less anxiety actually when I took it but the side effects were overwhelming. Why did you stop taking it? I am taking a small dose of Klonopin. Wish I could take something else but I have no side effects and it works. I have tried SSRI's and I couldn't take them. Klonopin and Gabapentin work great for anxiety btw...
WI
WildcatVet
12 March 2020
Hi, delaney! Two words: Wonder Drug! I can understand your story very well because it could be my own. I've been on several antidepressants since I was a child all of which worked for both depression and my anxiety disorder as well. Unfortunately, I developed late onset Bipolar 1 disorder and had to stop any antidepressants. My doctor then started me on BuSpar (buspirone) and I've been on it for over 4 years now at 60mg/day and I love it for it's efficacy. The one drawback is that it isn't a "quick fix" type of medication. It usually takes about a week or two to feel some initial effects and 4-6 weeks to get the full benefit of the drug. Here's the Drugs.com website for more information: https://www.drugs.com/buspar.html You might have more success Googling "buspirone" because the brand name was discontinued in the U.S.
When you read about the side effects don't let your anxiety get the better of you. Most people have none at all and those who do feel them almost immediately. You're two weeks in and didn't mention any side effects that you're having so you not likely to have any now. I hope this is helpful and if you have more questions or concerns just use the comment button below, okay?
Votes: +1
RS
rsav
12 March 2020
I've been taking it for several months, 30 mgs in the am and 30 in the pm. I have felt nothing. Makes my ears ring a bit but it has not helped my anxiety at all.
Votes: +0
IN
Inactive
10 Jan 2019
I am not bipolar, but Wildcat says that she is bipolar, and that Buspar has worked perfectly for her for years. I have taken Buspar for over 3 years and it has worked wonderfully well for me to keep my anxiety attacks as well as my panic attacks at bay! I never had panic attacks (that I can recall) until I quit my thyroid medication while it was on back order. But I got my thyroid med back, and along with my Buspar, I no longer have anxiety or panic attacks. I use a much lower dose, but everyone is different, and that is why Buspar is prescribed at lower doses for some people and higher doses for other people. You can work with your doctor to figure out the right dose for you. I started feeling better within the first two weeks, but you need to wait 4-6 weeks for it to reach a therapeutic dose and reach full benefits. It is the best medication that I have taken for my anxiety. But it has to be taken every day to remain effective.
Votes: +2
AN
Annali03
10 Jan 2019
It helps with my worries but not for panic. It also made me very happy probably because I wasn't plagued with constant negative thoughts.
Votes: +1
WI
WildcatVet
18 Sep 2018
No, NO drug works for everyone, but I have been taking buspirone for years and it's completely eliminated my anxiety disorders... with NO side effects! Thank goodness, because I'm Bipolar and can't take antidepressant/anxiolytics and I wouldn't touch the benzos with a ten foot pole. It usually takes at least two weeks to begin feeling the full effects, so be patient. Best regards,
Votes: +2
LI
Lindz78
12 Oct 2018
I am taking lamictal and was given buspar to take also. I have yet to take the buspar. I am very sensitive to any meds I’ve taken. I was told I have bipolar 2. However my main problem is anxiety and feeling anxious. I was wondering if buspar would work alone. I have read it works better with other meds but I’m not liking the way I feel on lamictal.
To be quite honest, Buspar is not very effective for serious, everyday crippling anxiety. If it is taken with an antidepressant like Zoloft it seems to work a little better. It is not intended to work as quickly or as potently as Xanax, Klonopin etc... In clinical trials, less than 60 mg per day didn't exhibit superior performance on anxiety Vs placebo. You may want to mention a newer antidepressant Viibryd to your physician. It seems to have anxiety properties similar to buspar but is 7-8x more potent. It is much more expensive than Zoloft, however, and does not have a generic available.
Votes: +0
SE
sementec
18 Sep 2018
Buspar (Buspirone HCl) is not an extremely potent anxiety medication. It has a unique mechanism of action, and is not intended to work quickly like Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan etc... However, in clinical trials, it did not exhibit much higher efficacy than placebo in daily total doses of less than 60 mg.
Votes: +0
MK
mkryan57
12 Dec 2017
i take buspar and it hasn't helped me nothing has helped but doing it on my own i hate living with it too i feel like a freak i have it so bad i get anxious all the time i cant even babysit my grandson it has totally ruined my life i want my life back.
Votes: +0
IN
Inactive
9 Dec 2017
It helped me when I took it with Wellbutrin SR.
Votes: +0
WI
WildcatVet
9 Dec 2017
I take lithium and Abilify for Bipolar ll and buspirone for my anxiety issues. I've been on it for nearly five years and it works wonders for me!
BL
blottobox
9 Dec 2017
I took it for a year with no positive effect on anxiety or panic. It’s basically a placebo made to look like a Xanax bar.
Votes: +0
KE
Kegtown
9 Dec 2017
I just got a new psych doctor and he told me to quit taking it because it hasn't ever helped anyone he's treated, and he's pretty old. I was on it for close to 18 months and I can't say for certain that it did anything except I took it once while I was having really bad anxiety and it went away. That was probably just mental though because that's not how the drug works.
Votes: +0
TI
Tina57
10 Sep 2017
I've just started Buspirone and I found I don't care for it. Tired and just out of it feeling! Only 3 days into taking it at 5 mg. Can I just stop this without withdraw symptoms?
Votes: +0
ST
Steveo3560
31 July 2017
After taking Klonopin 1mg for 6 years for general anxiety disorder, it worked perfect and what I loved about it was that the effects were long lasting yet they didn't make you sleepy like xanax. Anyway, he cut back my Klonopin and put me on a combination of Klonopin Buspar and for me, it doesn't work at all. My doctor said I have to give it a month before it kicks in and still nothing. I think people like us that have really bad anxiety need benzos, either xanax, Klonopin (my personal favorite) or ativan.
Votes: +0
IN
Inactive
1 Aug 2017
Hi Steve: When buspar works, it works very well. Unfortunately many people who have been on any of the benzodiazepines first, then put on buspar later, then buspar doesn't seem to be as effective for people in that situation. Sorry. :-(
RU
ruth7155
18 Sep 2018
I agree. Ruth
RS
rsav
12 March 2020
everyone unique body chemistry is different. It amazing when you read these posts. to some people its been a God send and for others a nightmare. Keep in mind that doctors don't really know how and why it works. So, you give it a try and hope it does. If it doesn't, on to the next drug.
