BuSpar and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Pan...
• April 28, 2016

For Panic Disorder "Took BuSpar for the first time yesterday. My PTSD has been growing into agoraphobia slowly, and it has been debilitating. Started 7.5 mg of the BuSpar, and not even an hour later, I was walking like a drunk, felt like my entire body was being zapped if I moved my neck or head. I was so dizzy I had to take a nap. Decided maybe I'd be better with the nighttime dose. Took it before bed, fell asleep, and woke up every two hours. Ended up wetting the bed (not an issue I've had ever) and still too damned dizzy to get up. I'm in my mid-twenties. This medication doesn't help me, and I'd rather stay on the Clonazepam."

• Anonymous
• August 21, 2009

For Anxiety "I wish I could say that BuSpar helped me. I was really hoping that I would have the same experience as some of the individuals here. I think the BuSpar actually made my anxiety worse. However, I didn't feel any side effects until I took it for about 2 weeks. I had dizziness and fatigue that many have commented on, but also the less common side effects like gastrointestinal problems, nausea, confusion, and lack of concentration. I had to stop taking it because it was impairing me so badly. I hope that this medication works for others, but it, unfortunately, did not for me."

• Pus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2015

For Anxiety "Been on BuSpar for 6 weeks, and I'm not feeling any better. My anxiety is mild compared to most, but the irritability and sometimes nervous feeling is why I elected to try BuSpar. So far, at 6 weeks, I haven't felt any benefits. The dizziness has been hard to deal with, although I found some relief with 25 - 50 mg Dramamine."

• Mem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2021

For Anxiety "My doctor gave me this on top of my Zoloft to help with increased anxiety. Pros: I’ve never slept so well in my life. Cons: After two days of taking it, I had horrible mood swings and intrusive thoughts. I was lightheaded and dizzy and had multiple panic attacks with heart palpitations and shortness of breath. I’d gladly keep my insomnia if it meant I didn’t have these horrific side effects."

• Tri...
• June 2, 2011

For Anxiety "I started taking BuSpar about 2 months ago, 5 mg 3 X a day, and it has really helped me quite a bit. I was VERY nervous about trying this medicine after having a terrible experience with an SSRI, but I had TOO much anxiety NOT to give it a try, plus the fact that it is non-habit forming appealed to me. I do get a touch of dizziness about 15-20 minutes after taking it, but it's not completely debilitating. My doctor has just recommended for me to up my dosage to 10 mg-3X a day, so I'll keep you all posted and let you know how that goes. It DEFINITELY has helped though, so for that, I am very thankful."

• MrC...
• November 18, 2015

For Anxiety "Started taking BuSpar to cope with the increased anxiety that Wellbutrin gave me. I eventually got off Wellbutrin because of the awful side effects, but stayed on the BuSpar. It definitely helps to relax me mentally. I feel physically relaxed too, and my anxious habits such as bouncing my leg and drumming my fingers have been reduced, plus some of the racing thoughts and constant worrying have been dulled (although not completely cured). The only side effect so far has been slight dizziness at times, and I feel slightly less coordinated at times. This hasn't been a deal breaker at all, however, and I'm sure these symptoms will go away with time. I'd recommend this for mild anxiety."

• krs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2015

For Anxiety "Took this medication for a few months after being diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. It did work fairly well in decreasing my symptoms of anxiety, but the side effects were just too much to handle. The first time I took it (my doc prescribed me a low dose, I think it was 5 mg if I remember right), I was knocked out in about 30 minutes and slept for 5 hours straight, not to mention this was in the middle of the day. Also caused extreme dizziness that I had a hard time functioning with. I thought the drowsiness, dizziness, and weakness that it caused might subside after taking it for a while, but I took it for about three months, and these side effects still persisted."

• Anonymous
• January 12, 2010

For Anxiety "I started taking BuSpar for my anxiety, and it made me very dizzy and tired. It also made my arms tingle, and I started getting terrible headaches every time I took it. My anxiety just got worse while taking it because I was worried about the side effects it was causing."

• Aan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2019

For Anxiety "I was given BuSpar for anxiety. I started taking 5 mg once a day, then I eventually tried to go up to 10 mg a day. NEVER AGAIN. I don’t think it did anything for my anxiety except make it worse. Every time I took the pill, I felt super sedated, and I would fall asleep and then have nightmares. I took it for almost 3 weeks, hoping side effects would pass, but it only got worse. Lightheaded, dizziness, my skin was so itchy I couldn’t hardly stand it. I felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin. I couldn’t go outside and be in the sun because I got hot within 5 seconds and felt sick. I stopped taking it abruptly, I didn’t notice any withdrawal symptoms at all. This med was not for me."

• Art...
• December 21, 2016

For Anxiety "This drug is awful. My doctor took me off my Klonopin because she was worried about addictive behavior. This drug I only took one time and will not take again. It made me very dizzy, sick to my stomach, my heart was racing. It basically gave me the worst panic attack I've ever had. Odd since this is supposed to be for anxiety. I understand the risk with taking benzos, but it's the only thing that has ever helped me. I would recommend never taking BuSpar."

• DGa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2019

For Anxiety "Was hesitant to take this pill after reading all the reviews and then finally decided to give it a try. HUGE mistake. My mind felt like it was getting electrocuted. I felt dizzy, lightheaded, and it was extremely unpleasant. I called my doctor immediately! I ended up forcing myself to take a nap, and when I woke up, thankfully they had subsided. It’s been about an hour since I awoke, and I feel extremely tired and exhausted! I do not recommend this if you are highly sensitive to medication!"

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2019

For Anxiety "Because of trouble being prescribed Klonopin by doctors, I decided to wean off this medicine. I was on 1.5 mg daily for 25 years, and it took me 6 months to get it out of my system. My new doctor prescribed BuSpar in a low dose at first, and then 10 mg three times daily. Two months before I finished Klonopin, all my troubles came back with a vengeance. I developed tinnitus, my voice was weak and slurred. BuSpar gave me very bad dizziness, bad balance, heaviness in my upper trunk and my legs. I was on BuSpar for 2 months, and I put up with these horrible side effects hoping that time would make them go away. I decided to go back to Klonopin, and after 2 days, I was a new man. I also take Zoloft. I’m not saying that all my problems are over, but at least I can go by and have my daily walks with no problems. BuSpar works for most, but not for me. Good luck, guys."

• DCD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2016

For Panic Disorder "I suffer from anxiety/panic disorder, and I was given BuSpar 10 mg twice daily. I felt very lightheaded and like I had a constant head rush. My doctor tried increasing the dose to 20 mg twice daily, and with that, I couldn't keep my eyes open. I had to nap for 2 to 3 hours. It was just awful. After nearly 4 weeks of being on this medication, I have insisted that I be taken off of it. I am on 5 mg twice a day for today and tomorrow, and then I'll be done with it, and I hope the side effects go away soon. Just an awful experience."

• Kat...
• August 17, 2015

For Anxiety "Okay, so BuSpar was the first medicine I took, and it helped with my anxiety tremendously, but the side effects sucked. I'm a female and only weigh about 115, so I'm not sure if that's why the side effects impacted me so much or what. The first day I was on it, I was fine. The only problem was I felt a little dizzy after the first 10 minutes of taking it, but then I was fine, and I would go about my regular day, and I felt amazing. I took this pill every day for about 4 days and felt fine, but then one day after I took it, I was so dizzy, I could barely stand up, and then I felt nauseous all day long. It was not fun. So it's kind of a hit or miss with this medicine. You either take it and feel fine, or you'll have bad side effects. At least for me anyways."

• Aug...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2022

For Anxiety "Thirty minutes after taking a dose, BuSpar gave me brain zaps and tingling in my fingers. It was the same feeling one might have after going off the SNRI Effexor. BuSpar also upset my stomach. It made me feel dizzy, yet drowsy without the ability to sleep. Dosed at 5 mg twice a day. For me, there were no benefits to this medication whatsoever."

• Anonymous
• July 30, 2010

For Anxiety "I take this medicine, 20 mg in the morning and 20 mg at night. When I first started it, I had trouble sleeping. I felt like my legs couldn't sit still, and I had tingly fingers, and I would get dizzy. I've been on it for about 5 months, and I still get dizzy after each dose, sometimes I need to lay down. But it has helped tremendously with my anxiety, I can go out and have fun without having the constant worry in my head. Before being on any kind of medicine, I used to throw up and shake a lot from my anxiety attacks. Now it's all gone, and I can live a normal life. I am also on 100 mg of Pristiq and 0.25 mg of Xanax (as needed). I recommend this medicine for anyone who has an anxiety disorder, but just be aware of the dizziness."

• Tee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2022

For Anxiety "Horrible! I was started on 14 mg a day. At first, it was okay. I'm like I can work through the side effects. Then bam!!!! I felt weird one night. Like dizzy and like I couldn't sit up straight. I just wanted to lay in bed, but I was at work with a 20 min car ride home!!! So I drank lots of water, and I was able to function. On the drive home, it was rainy, and every puddle I hit I thought it was going to spin off the road. I got home then started worrying about rent so much. I almost cried. It was horrible!!! I have never had such a bad panic attack. It's the day after, and I still feel like I am having it, but not as bad. I had to take a hydroxyzine to help bring me down from it. My advice? Don't get too comfortable with it."

• lnf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2019

For Anxiety "After having an anxiety attack that required a stay in a mental health residential facility, my Dr. thought that this would be a great addition to my bupropion 300 mg per day for anxiety. It was going well until, a few weeks in, I noticed this dizzy feeling about 10 minutes after I took it and my insatiable desire for carbs. I had just lost my last 10 lbs, so to see 5 of them come back on was disheartening! Weight gain wasn't listed as a side effect, but I know it caused me to gain weight and that was all I needed to know before I asked to be taken off it. I have decided to stop this medication."

• Eri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 27, 2023

For Panic Disorder "I have been taking this medicine now for about 8-9 months. When I started taking it, it took about 4 weeks before it started working. It helped a lot with the anxiety and panic attacks for about 3-4 months, then it just stopped working. I was on 25 mg a day in the end. Tried increasing the dose, but it doesn't help. It's like a sugar pill. I have now tapered off the medicine for almost two months, and I promise that for me it has been worse to stop taking this medicine than with withdrawal from Xanax. I took Xanax for 4-5 months and maybe had withdrawal for 2 weeks. I have had a withdrawal from this buspirone medicine since the day I started tapering it. Withdrawal symptoms like tremors, dizziness, passing out, cold sweat, dissociation, panic attacks, nightmares, flu symptoms, and much more. I am now down to one a day, 5 mg. Hope it gets better soon. Everyone reacts differently to medication and withdrawal. Some get side effects and others don't, this is just my experience."

• Wai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2021

For Anxiety "This medicine has made me so sick, it's given me terrible vertigo for months. The side effects have not stopped until I stopped taking it: weight gain, a very upset stomach, terrible vertigo, and dizziness. I will never take this again, I'd rather have anxiety than this."

• Wai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2021

For Anxiety "This medicine has made me so sick, it's given me terrible vertigo for months. The side effects have not stopped until I stopped taking it: weight gain, a very upset stomach, terrible vertigo, and dizziness. I will never take this again, I'd rather have anxiety than this."

• Smt...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2015

For Anxiety "After my first dose on Sunday, I had a terrible migraine. I decided to take it once a day at night until I get used to it. I took it at night instead of taking it at the beginning of my 12-hour shifts (I'm a nurse). Yesterday was my first day of taking it twice a day as prescribed. I took the second dose at 10 PM. I woke up at 2 AM this morning with extreme dizziness and a profusely bleeding nose. I thought I was dizzy because of my allergy meds and being sleepy, and I explained the bloody nose as being related to allergies. I went to work again today after taking my morning dose at 6 AM. At 10 AM, I once again had a bleeding nose. I checked my blood pressure, and it was in the 150s when it normally runs less than 100. Will never take again."

• cla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2012

For Panic Disorder "I was given this for panic disorder with agoraphobia. It made me so dizzy every time I took it that I couldn't even read a book because it felt like I was in a washing machine being twirled around. I took it at night before bed, and I had to make sure I was in bed when I took it, and I could not be walking around or doing anything because I was afraid I'd stumble or fall down. I took it for eight days, and it didn't get any better, so finally, I stopped taking it. It had no noticeable improvement on my anxiety anyway, and I didn't see the point in taking something that made me feel like I was on a merry-go-round."

• Smo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2024

For Anxiety "I am only 4 doses in, 7.5 mg per pill, 2x a day, and wow. Game changer. I have had general anxiety for years and only after 2.5 days I feel a positive change. BuSpar has calmed my everyday anxious thoughts, and I would always think about the extreme. It's like your body and mind 'wants' to have these thoughts because you are so used to the rumination, but with BuSpar, it physically does not allow you to get to those places. The dizziness isn't terrible, it's more of a calming lightheadedness, but not something I want to deal with long-term, so I am hoping it subsides. I know they say you can take it with or without food, and I haven't had enough trial runs with doing so. The brain fuzz subsides a little after lunchtime if you take it in the morning. The only downfall I have right now is the nightmares and dreams. I don't want to say I don't have the 'I don't care' mindset and I truly haven't been tested in intense situations yet, but overall daily life, BuSpar has been great."

• Iro...
• June 29, 2017

For Anxiety "This medication did not work for my anxiety. BuSpar actually allowed my anxiety to increase with severe insomnia and vivid dreams. It also caused severe stomach and intestinal problems. I also experienced dizziness, irritability, and incoordination. There are other symptoms from BuSpar, these are the main ones that caused me to stop taking the drug."