BuSpar and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Kan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2017

For Anxiety "Been on BuSpar 6 weeks and 1 day today. Trying to stay the course and not give up till 8 weeks. On 15 mg (3x/day) and titrated my way up over the last 6 weeks. Tried 20 mg but felt like I took speed and my extremities had very uncomfortable tingling. Even at 6 weeks when I take my 5 mg dose, my heart still races and I get dizzy and feel some heightened anxiety about an hour after taking it. Lasts about an hour. I also have some left leg thigh pain now. I’ve read so much on this drug and it’s hard to know if you should go up or down in dose to get the right level for your body. My pDoc doesn’t seem to know much more than I do. In those 6 weeks, I’ve only had a few hours out of 2 non-consecutive days of anxiety/fear relief. I’ll write another review at 8 weeks."

• ang...
• September 5, 2015

For Anxiety "I was not able to function on this medication. I took one half of my pill as directed. 30 mins later I was hot, felt sick, everything irritated me. I was dizzy. I had to lay on my couch for 3 hours. I will never take this again."

• GAD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2022

For Anxiety "I started taking this medication after taking Mirtazapine (increased weight gain but worked well for sleep), Wellbutrin (increased my anxiety immensely), and Xanax. I don’t think anything works quite as well as Xanax for panic attacks (and I still have to take it when I feel them coming on), but BuSpar really helped control my GAD. I went from having intrusive thoughts looping inside my head, increased heart rate, changes in body temperature, and feeling constantly on the edge to being able to get through the day without the sense of impending doom. I still have anxiety, but it doesn’t feel like the end of the world anymore, and I have been able to get my life back. Some side effects: dizziness after first taking it and brain zaps for the first few weeks, but very little compared to others. I started with 5 mg and now take 15 mg broken apart through the day. With meditation, exercise, talk therapy, healthier foods, and this medication, I finally have my life back."

• Kel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 30, 2021

For Panic Disorder "Wouldn't recommend this to my worst enemy. Just wanted to share that I had the worst panic attacks of my life on this medicine. I would shake uncontrollably at random times, get extremely dizzy, and feel brain zaps throughout the day. I was on 5 mg, and this medicine had this much effect on me. Made me extremely depressed, and my doctor didn't even know it was the medicine that was causing these side effects. Please be careful when taking this medicine, it can be very dangerous."

• Mim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2019

For Anxiety "This med is the only anti-anxiety med I can take in order to use a Rx sleep med. Once stable, I'll go off my current anti-anxiety med. - Initial side effects: sore throat, dizziness, feeling 'excited' (over-reacting), and bad nausea. As a result, my psychiatrist told me to stop my 3 weeks of 20 mg/day. My pharmacist concurred. Unfortunately, I listened. I had 2 days of migraines. Less than a day later, I was in the ER. 'Stiffness' of the legs...excruciating pain and could barely walk. I had 'pain...weakness in the hands and feet.' The pain in my hands was almost unbearable! I saw my PCP 4 days later. Still in horrible pain, she told me to go back to the 20 mg; my body was craving it. I felt relief, and within 2 weeks, I was fine. I'm still on 20 mg. I now have had depression for a few weeks. I'm continuing BuSpar so I can get a sleep med due to 40 years of insomnia."

• san...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2015

For Anxiety "I take BuSpar 5 mg twice a day for anxiety. After a week, I will then take BuSpar 10 mg twice a day. I have only been taking it 4 days now. I also take Paxil 50 mg daily and Adderall 10 mg twice daily. So far, I have had no side effects from the BuSpar except slight dizziness and lack of appetite. So far, those are tolerable."

• Wor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2018

For Anxiety "I started the medication for my anxiety and bipolar. The first dose was not bad, but the second dose took me 2 hours before I could get up, I was so dizzy and lightheaded. It made my panic attacks worse and I felt so spaced out. I have a terrible headache that keeps coming and going."

• Ano...
• March 3, 2015

For Anxiety "PTSD. Seemed to help some. Have a bit of dizziness, loopy for about 15 to 30 minutes after taking, then okay. Was taking other meds and got sick and barfed often. Quit taking, and nausea stopped. After a couple of months, feeling quite anxious, so started up BuSpar again, and anxiety seems to be very much calmed down. I plan to space meds out throughout the day and find a schedule where my tummy doesn't feel so nauseated."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2021

For Anxiety "I was afraid to try something new. So afraid I had this RX for a month before trying it. I felt it instantly, starting at 5 mg a day for 1.5 weeks. I got headaches the first week and mild dizziness within and ending the first 30 minutes. I felt irritated and like it wasn’t working. My psychiatrist moved me to 2-5 mg and then to 3-5 mg a day. By week 2, I felt better about driving again and went into a store for the first time in a while. I just hit week 3 and will move to 10 mg in the AM, 5 mg at lunch, and 5 mg around 3 or I have trouble going to sleep. It has been working well and hopefully will continue to work. I need to get back to everyday comfort and be able to not only live a good life for myself but also for my kids and husband."

• Gan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2021

For Panic Disorder "Buspar is a complete waste of time. I took it for 3 months on all different sorts of doses, 5mg-15mg, and it did NOTHING to help my anxiety/panic. Complete placebo pill. What it did give me was tremors, dizziness, noise sensitivity, dissociation, and made me angry BEYOND belief. Waste of time. If you do want to try to try it, take it 2-3 hours before you actually have to go to work or accomplish something, because it makes you feel like rubbish for that long after you take your dose. Might have worked for some people, but definitely didn't for me."

• npb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2023

For Anxiety "Started BuSpar at 5 mg a month ago for GAD and mood swings. I have been feeling much better since starting. For the first two weeks, I suffered from terrible insomnia and vivid dreams. I decided to add XR 3 mg of melatonin daily at night to combat this. By week 3, I was sleeping without difficulty. I do have occasional dizziness, but nothing too intense that would make me choose to stop it. I feel now that after 4 weeks, I can consider increasing the dose to 10 mg daily since lately my anxiety has been increasing again. I would recommend giving it a try for at least 4 weeks. It has a low-risk profile compared to other medications. Find what works best for you!"

• Anonymous
• October 12, 2010

For Anxiety "I started taking BuSpar only a few days ago, 7.5 mg in the morning and evening, and so far have experienced the dizziness only in the morning. Had some nausea, but don't know if I can attribute that to the medication or the fact that I've stopped taking Ativan. So far, so good though. I do feel a little less anxious already and am excited to see the full results."

• Why...
• January 16, 2017

For Anxiety "I started BuSpar because I was having anxiety with the horrendous pain from gallbladder attacks. I started out at 7.5 for three days and then was supposed to advance to 15 mg. During the week of starting this, I had to have an emergency surgery for my gallbladder. When I was finally able to take this consistently, I found that I suffered from insomnia, felt restless and nervous, dizzy, and downright horrible. I have taken it less than a week, and I have an appointment to see the doctor tomorrow. If I stop taking this, will I have withdrawal symptoms? Or should I do this gradually? My gallbladder symptoms are gone, and my body feels great after the surgery. Any suggestions?"

• mee...
• August 23, 2011

For Anxiety "BuSpar has worked great on my mild to moderate anxiety. I take it in combination with Ativan (as needed), but generally find I do not need the Ativan more than a couple of times a month. BuSpar has worked very well for me and has the great advantage of not being habit-forming, so I feel safe taking it on the long term. That being said, it takes about 3 weeks to kick in fully. It also makes me dizzy if I take it differently than normal (with food as opposed to without, vice versa). It would also not be a good choice for someone with moderate to severe anxiety, as it is not a very strong drug. I take it in combination with a good diet and exercise, but doubt it would work as well without them."

• Anonymous
• December 21, 2009

For Anxiety "I began on 5 mg in the morning and at night. I became extremely dizzy, flush, and sleepy. I lowered the dosage and got tingles all over my body. I would touch something and the tingles would run up my arm and then up to my head. After a few weeks, I became enraged and could not control my anxiety. I stopped using the drug and got a few migraines, but the rage is gone."

• out...
• August 11, 2010

For Anxiety "BuSpar has been wonderful for me. Out of the blue last year, I experienced my first panic attack (thought I was having a heart attack). I have tried several medicines, and nothing seemed to help. SSRIs have too many side effects, and Xanax and Valium did nothing. I started on Klonopin and BuSpar, after 6 months, I stopped. The BuSpar was doing great up until 2 months ago, and they came back for no reason. I was started back on BuSpar with the Klonopin and feeling pretty good. BuSpar takes about 43 minutes to make me dizzy and lasts for about 20 minutes, then I am good. I just make sure I take it at a good time. I take 10 mg in the morning and 10 mg at night and 0.5 mg Klonopin: 1 tab in the morning, ½ tab early afternoon, and 1 tab at bedtime."

• ext...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2017

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Buspirone in October of this year to help with anxiety and a very fast heartbeat. When I originally went to see my doctor the very first time, my heart rate was 116. Two weeks later, and two weeks after starting Buspirone, my heart rate was 86. It now seems to fluctuate between 98 and 74. The first few weeks were miserable, and the first week was the worst. I actually ended up quitting on day 2 because of the dizziness and restarted a week later. When I restarted, the symptoms weren't as bad. I still get dizzy sometimes, but my doctor said it's most likely because my heart is slowing down."

• Anonymous
• May 3, 2012

For Anxiety "I have been taking BuSpar 10 mg 3 times a day for the past 3 months for anxiety and panic attacks. I think, for the most part, my panic attacks have subsided, but I still experience a bit of anxiety and increased blood pressure. I do take Xanax 0.25 mg from time to time if my anxiety gets too bad or too stressed. I do notice I feel slightly lethargic and run down most of the time while I have been on this. Also, after each dose, I get some dizziness about 45 minutes afterwards, which lasts for about 45 minutes to an hour. I used to have a spark to me before taking it, but I guess I'll take the good with the bad for the time being."

• Mic...
• February 13, 2015

For Panic Disorder "My panic disorder started very gradually. At first, it was a slight panic that lasted for a min or two when I was driving, then it slowly intruded into my life. At some worst points, I was unable to sleep for a week. I might be able to doze off for an hour or two, and then I'd wake up with a racing heart. BuSpar helped at first, I was only on 5 mg for five months, never went up in dose. After about 5 months, stressful events like job interviews pretty much made this med ineffective for me. I really liked this med as it had no side effects for me. No dizziness or nausea or 'brain zaps.' My doctor put me on Paxil instead. Just started it, but it seems to be working. My pulse is still about 20 beats above my normal rate, but it doesn't bother me."

• the...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2017

For Anxiety "I have been on BuSpar for about 2 months now for anxiety from Keppra. It seems to work sometimes, but when I get an anxiety or panic attack, it hits hard. I was on 5 mg twice a day, and now my dose is really high. Like today, it seems to have no effect. And I'm always lightheaded, dizzy, fogged out feeling. And my other doctor said to try Xanax."

• gam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2021

For Panic Disorder "This is medical torture in capsule form. It does not treat panic disorder and chemically isn’t intended to. Had more panic attacks since starting the BuSpar than I did in order to get a prescription for it. The dizziness when you take it could be bearable if it was helpful, but I’ve also had two grand mal seizures since starting, even after almost two months entirely seizure-free before this. Truly miserable."

• Age...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2015

For Anxiety "I did not like this medication. For anxiety, I have also tried Hydroxyzine (Atarax). I guess this is just my personal body chemistry, but I actually prefer Atarax to this, unlike most people. This made me very lightheaded and dizzy. I can't exactly remember the effect it had on anxiety, I think it may have helped a little."

• Anonymous
• January 30, 2012

For Anxiety "BuSpar made my head cloudy. I would feel dizzy, had chest pains, and felt like my heart was fluttering. All anxiety was gone, but so were my emotions after only a day and a half. My wife said it was like I was stoned. I am now on Celexa and will see how that works."

• Anonymous
• September 11, 2009

For Anxiety "I was hoping this medicine would help with my anxiety and depression, but it made me feel terrible. I took my 1st dose at night, a low dose of 7.5, then again in the morning... about an hour later... I was so dizzy, almost fainted. My husband was wondering what was wrong with me. I lay down in my bed and stayed there till all these feelings went away. Didn't work for me!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2018

For Anxiety "BuSpar does the job better than other medication so far. Everything else has made me feel worse. The first couple of times I took this medication, my heart rate increased, and I felt dizzy. This went away after a couple of days of taking it. It makes me sick to my stomach if I take it on an empty stomach, so I definitely recommend eating a meal right before you take a pill."