Buspirone for Panic Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• lin...
• August 17, 2009

"I suffer from panic disorder, which I inherited from my mother and grandmother and passed on to both of my daughters. I also have post-traumatic stress disorder. When I was a lot younger, a doctor tried to put me on Buspar, but it made me feel like I was going to pass out with every breath, so I made up my mind that I hated it. Now that I'm in my 50s and Xanax (my medicine of choice) has practically been outlawed, I have started taking Buspar again. My blood pressure is normally running a lot higher now. Buspar, along with Effexor, are working fairly well for both conditions."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2021

"I'm prescribed 5 mg in the morning and 5 mg in the evening. This medication is not for me. It gives me horrible headaches, horrible insomnia, and a really weird, sort of nauseated, seasick feeling about 2 hours after taking it. Last night, I had to take a Xanax just to sleep from taking the buspirone. That's defeating the purpose. I can't stand these side effects. Done."

• CBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2016

"I was worried because an ingredient is lactose, and I am lactose intolerant, but the doc said it would be fine, and it is. The problem is for an hour or so after taking it, I get bad brain 'zaps' and dizziness. Luckily, no bad nausea or anything, but the zaps are bothersome and would keep me from driving. I only take 5 mg at a time. This is unfortunate because I think it is helping my disorder (functional esophageal dysphagia/dyspepsia) it was prescribed for. I've had a little less stomach pain and trouble swallowing on it."

• Sca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2021

"Was successfully taking Xanax for hypertension and panic for 10 years. New doctor said Xanax is no good for panic disorder and refused to refill my prescription. He put me on buspirone. After only a couple of days, I became manic. No sleep. Terror, intense fear, panic. Could not think or eat. Found a new doctor who told me to stop taking it immediately. He put me back on Xanax and my symptoms resolved within a few days. He told me never to take an SSRI or a medication like buspirone as it could cause uncontrolled hypertension and mania in me."

• Mil...
• April 28, 2021

"I’m a 40 YOF, 103 lbs. Was given this to take twice daily in replacement of 0.5 lorazepam for panic attacks. My lorazepam was a very low dosage and used maybe every couple of months. I used it the day after I had to drive in the metroplex, as that’s a trigger for me! The lorazepam calmed me back to my normal self. Buspirone was prescribed at 0.5 mg twice a day. I’m now on my third dose, haven’t slept, extremely snappy, angry, and jittery, like I have had far too much coffee! Extreme leg pain and dizziness along with diarrhea. Odd pain in my ears! Had to call in to work today due to complete lack of sleep! A terrible headache and a bit of confusion. Now I can explain being confused due to lack of sleep, please explain my desire to now organize everything in my home. I’m already a bit obsessed about organization, I like things in order. If this is the rubbish I will have to work through or deal with to possibly not have a panic attack, I’ll take the panic attack over this nightmare. I will NOT continue this med."

• Eve...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 26, 2019

"I had my first panic attack last Thanksgiving, literally, and from then on, paralyzing anxiety to the point I couldn’t even take a shower. I’ve been on citalopram and buspirone for about 11 months now, and all of a sudden, I’m going backwards to where I’m scared to leave the house. It just happened, not sure what to do, any ideas."

• Ell...
• August 17, 2011

Buspirone "I used to take Paxil, and I hated the side effects and the withdrawal effects, like brain zaps. Because of this, I don't want to try another SSRI. So my doctor had me try BuSpar. I was hopeful at first. I knew it affected serotonin, but without the withdrawal effects. Well, the first 5 mg dose I took brought on a gigantic round of brain zaps for 1.5 hours, the same kind that I'd had in Paxil withdrawal, but much worse. It was so bad that I could barely walk. Every time I moved my head or neck, I'd get a bunch of zaps in a row. Very disorienting. I gave it a week and a half to see if the zaps would dissipate, and they didn't. My doctor said to stop the BuSpar because if the zaps haven't stopped by now, they probably won't."

• Tnh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2019

"The first night on buspirone, I slept very well, but that was the only night! I have had terrible dreams ever since then. I had several anxiety attacks prior to starting the pill. Needless to say, I have had none since being on the medication. But the dreams are unbearable, and I am choosing to stop taking the medication due to that reason alone."

• Dir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2022

"I've been taking buspirone for 6 months, and I can't say it has done too much. My anxiety is still crippling. Although it does help me sleep more regularly, and it takes some of the edge off Wellbutrin. Holy smokes, though, do these pills ever taste terrible. The pill touches my tongue, and my whole body recoils in disgust, and my whole being rejects it, making it very hard to swallow, which means it stays on my tongue longer, which means I have to taste it even longer. The ordeal feels like it lasts 5 years. This happens every time I take it. If you have any respect for yourself, do not take this medication without water. Though you can still taste it through the water. I really don't know if this medication is worth it. Though my friend is on it, and she has seen improvements. Different strokes for different folks."

• Nic...
• November 11, 2021

Buspirone "I was prescribed BuSpar for panic attacks. I started out on 5 mg twice a day. I was feeling great for a few weeks, and then once I was bumped up to 10 mg twice a day, I felt lousy. Constant headache around the eyes, drowsy, little appetite, and weak. I do not recommend taking this drug."

• SDG...
• June 8, 2010

Buspirone "I wish BuSpar was the solution I was looking for to help control panic attacks, but it wasn't for me! After 10 years of taking Zoloft (an SSRI), which worked to help control panic attacks, I decided to consult my doctor to see if there was an alternative drug safe for pregnant or nursing mommas. He recommended BuSpar, and I so wanted it to work, but not only did my panic attacks come back in full force, but I also had muscle weakness and these weird 'zaps' in my head/ears."

• Kas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2017

"Prescribed to me to treat anxiety and panic disorder. Couldn’t take this during the day when at work or driving. Found the best time was to take 1.5 pills early in the morning and 1.5 pills before bed. It knocks me out, and I have very heavy sleep and clear dreams. When I did take it during the day before work, it made me so dizzy and tired I felt like I was going to pass out or throw up. But those effects only last about 30 min. I take it really early in the morning and late at night so I can fall back asleep during the more dizzy times, and then I wake up completely fine! It has really helped me calm down combined with therapy."

• Cro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2021

Buspirone "Ok, so BuSpar was a no-go for me. It gave me brain zaps and feels like an electrical surge and did nothing for panic attacks. Clonazepam does a better job. I did not like this, and within 3 weeks, asked my doctor to switch to something else."

• Ayo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 20, 2021

"After a single week, I had control over my OCD thoughts for the first time in my life, and my compulsions almost completely went away. While the benefits slightly decreased during the second week and I started to experience side effects (dry mouth and dizziness), this medication was still a miracle for me, and I intend to stay on it."

• new...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 5, 2022

"I was given this as part of a cocktail that my psychiatrist gave me since no other meds seemed to work either. She just wanted to keep increasing. I have emetophobia, and each dose increase I'd have nausea and feel like rubbish. I stopped at 35 mg a day. It didn't work at that dose at all, and I wanted to remove the meds I am on since they just all combined make me feel worse. I can't recommend it since it didn't seem to work at all. I had no known side effects after the few weeks after the up doses, but also no benefits. Right now, I am slowly going off at 5 mg at a time. It is a med that works for some and doesn't work for others. There was a potential for it to work if I went higher, but I really did not want to."

• Fru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2021

"Was given this to try, despite voicing that I didn’t do well with antihistamines. Gave it a try and had the worst reaction of anything I’ve tried. Sweating, warm body flushes, itchy head, racing heart, paranoia, anxiety, and a nightmare. NP said it would only cause dizziness, but as you can tell by the low rating, that’s not the only side effect. Really bummed this didn’t work, but I know that everyone is different. I was told to take 5 mg 2x a day but only took it 1 time and then threw it away. Not for me!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 27, 2021

Buspirone "Experienced no side effects (60 mg per day), yet it has done very little to help with my panic disorder (from what I read here, it’s more for GAD). Based on my experience, for its effectiveness in managing panic disorder, I can only give it a 3/10. If I had GAD, the score might be different. I still take it as even if it helps 5%, it’s worth it for me (been on it for 3 years), though I’ve recently introduced Luvox and my panic has now almost completely disappeared."

• Liz...
• December 9, 2017

"Started working about 2 weeks after starting it, at which time I also experienced significant hair loss. The first two weeks of taking it, there was an increase in my anxiety. It worked great for about 2 months until my panic attacks came back. I have stayed on it for over 2 years now for fear of rebound/withdrawal effects, but I don't feel it helps anymore. I continue to experience periods of significant hair loss. 36-year-old female. Luckily, I have extremely thick hair."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2021

"I am 28, female. I was prescribed buspirone for panic attacks and anxiety. The medication worked for about a month with the panic attacks, but once the panic attacks ended and I just had anxiety, this medication went downhill fast! I was experiencing major dizziness and extreme dark thoughts. I would wake up at 2 or 3 AM in pure fright over my thoughts. I called my doctor, and she told me to stop taking the medication. She switched me to Lexapro 5 mg, and I can honestly say 2 to 4 days after getting off of buspirone, the dark horror thoughts went away, and I was able to sleep again. I feel so much better on the Lexapro."

• Dia...
• August 26, 2010

"Just got this medication from the doctor yesterday. He gave me 10 mg tablets and told me to take them 3 times a day. This morning I took my first one. I got so light-headed and dizzy I had to lie down. Then I got nauseous. I was so light-headed I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. I couldn't get up from bed for four hours, and even then I was still extremely light-headed for another three hours. Needless to say, I didn't take the other two pills that day."

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2018

"Yes, I started taking Buspar, and I had so many side effects: bad taste in my mouth, dizziness, chest pains, unable to make yes or no decisions, fever, unable to do daily tasks, so sick I can't even describe: vomiting, twitching, ears ringing, high-pitched. Now that I have to wean myself off of this medication that made me literally crazy in the head, where I'm talking to myself and swearing at people in my head. I still can't get my head straight on this drug. It is a nightmare. You will be doing things, putting soap and conditioner in the freezer, you can't think clearly, you go crazy out of your head. Whoever takes this, you'll go nuts. Oh, and you'll lose your appetite and won't eat for days, and you're walking around talking to yourself like one of the crazy people."

• Mid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2018

"Years ago, after having an angioplasty, the doctor prescribed buspirone after I had had two panic attacks. After the 2nd pill, I felt like I was floating on air as I walked. I stopped the pills and never had a panic attack again."

• Squ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 22, 2021

"I’ve suffered from panic attacks for over a decade before finally opting for medication. My doctor started me on 10 mg of Buspar per day, as well as 0.25 Xanax to take as a last resort during the onset of a panic attack. I’ve had my dosage of the Buspar increase every 2 months because for the 1st month it works great, but when the 2nd month hits, especially towards the end, the panic attacks start to come back. I had 2 panic attacks in 1 day, both at work last week, the first one being one of the worst ones in a very long time. I explained this, and as of today, I’m now up to 60 mg of Buspar a day. Overall, this medication has helped, but if it wasn’t for the Xanax safety net, I’m not so sure if I’d feel this confident. I’m hoping after switching to the 60 mg, I can maintain that first month bliss for longer than a month."

• Qui...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 23, 2017

"I take quite a big dose. Also, I take it with 300 mg of Wellbutrin. I hope it does not affect the liver, I am going to get it checked out. Whenever I feel anxious, I take it. I think I am addicted to it. My doctor doesn't know it, I just keep getting refills. I hope this dosage isn't bad. It is really helping me, though. I also have OCD, and it helps with that somewhat."

• Jai...
• July 1, 2021

"I started taking this, and after about an hour and a half, I would start to feel very... odd. I didn’t understand it back then, but I realize now it was causing me to dissociate. Then, after an hour and a half of that, along with blurry vision, I would finally feel peace for a few hours, and then it would stop, and it would be time to take another one. Then, at about four days, the peace stopped coming, and it was just constant dissociation and extreme nightmares, which messed up my sleep, bad headaches, and I was constantly tired. I had an 8-hour panic attack because I woke up to racing thoughts, I was in the weirdest negative mindset, that’s never happened to me before. I couldn’t stop crying and had to go into work like that! I quit after that. Buspirone made my anxiety even worse because of how distressing this week was for me, this was the worst decision I made yet for my mental health. I was just dealing with anxiety, and this made me feel like a lunatic! Taking no other meds!"