Buspirone and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Roc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 28, 2017

Buspirone for Anxiety "I was on 15 mg of buspirone for many months. I recently lost my job and have a lot of anxiety and depression. I am seeing a psychiatrist who said my dose was too low and upped it to 60 mg a day. I still don't feel like it is working. I am also on Zoloft. I still am having a lot of anxiety. Years ago, I was on Ativan, and it was a miracle drug for me. I would like to stop the buspirone and just take the Ativan as needed. I see my psychiatrist in a couple of weeks and am going to suggest that. I also have the feeling of a huge lump in my throat that I know is stress-related."

• Kin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2020

Buspirone for Anxiety "After reading all the negative reviews, I feel relieved to know I'm not alone. A few days ago was the three-month mark of when I started BuSpar for anxiety. I've been on Wellbutrin, Zoloft, and prescribed Lexapro, and that was a big no (I didn't even take it after reading reviews). All SSRIs affected my mind in weird ways, and I never knew if my feelings were my own or from the drugs. I stopped everything except Xanax, as it works miracles. However, it's hard to get a hold of Xanax anymore. I started BuSpar, and the last three months I have not slept once unless I had a drink or smoked. I would not even sleep for 10 minutes on days on end. My anxiety was worse, barely felt any emotions, had no motivation for anything, and was always tired with a foggy mind (feeling of not being present). I just stopped cold turkey, so I'm hoping BuSpar was the cause and things go back to normal. I recommend finding a psychiatrist who will prescribe Xanax."

• Syd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2021

For Anxiety "A very strange drug. I have been on this drug for about a week or so, and my conditions have gotten worse. When I started it (10 mgs, two 5 mg pills a day), I didn't feel any different, although I noticed I felt 'foggy' and not present. Around day 4 is when it started to bother me, so I boosted my dose to 15 mgs, but it made things a lot worse. I feel anxious, extremely confused, and extremely foggy, almost near fainting 24/7. I just feel weak and not alive, like I am piloting a body in a dream. My doctor told me to continue it, but I am afraid of things getting worse as it does every day, so I am going to start weaning myself off it in hopes of making things better. I was already foggy before taking this, and I understand most anti-anxiety drugs will make you feel worse before feeling better, but this is truly the worst thing I have experienced."

• tra...
• November 30, 2015

Buspirone for Anxiety "This is the first anxiety medicine I have ever been on, and it is by far the worst experience ever. My moods are anxious, depressed, and irritable. At first, I thought I was just overwhelmed with school and work, after reading some other reviews, I realized it's the BuSpar doing it to me. If I take one due to an anxiety attack, about an hour later I am crying and talking about how much I hate myself, then about 30 minutes after that stops, I get extremely irritable and everything makes me mad. I've quit taking it until my follow-up appointment, and I can get it changed. I will never try this again."

• Gol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2021

Buspirone for Panic Disorder "I struggle from PTSD, Panic Disorder, and Bipolar I Disorder. I am on Prozac and Zyprexa for my other disorders, but continued to have panic attacks. I started BuSpar about a week ago, and so far I do have daily anxiety, but haven't had a panic attack since the second day I was on it. I understand it takes time to build in my system, so I'm excited to continue taking it in hopes it'll continue to improve my quality of life. I highly recommend it, my doctor put me on 10 mg 3x a day."

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2022

For Anxiety "Took a half pill of the lowest dose and had the worst side effects ever. It caused brain zaps, and it messed up my mood. I had increased anxiety, and I was just angry about everything. Then I got itchy, prickly skin, which has not gone away. I would use this medicine as a last resort. I do know people that have taken it, and it has helped."

• Cal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 5, 2020

For Anxiety "I was on this for half a year, and it did nothing for me. I have bipolar II, this medication made my depression worse and anxiety so high. Whenever I tried to nap during the day, my heart was racing, it felt like I was having a panic attack. The doctor put me at 15 mg 3x a day, I only took it once. I felt it wasn’t working. Then today, I just stopped, I can feel the difference-so much happier, less anxiety, not depressed as much, or hopeless. It works for some people, but to me, I felt this medication was a huge scam. I was so lightheaded I had to lay down and had a panic attack at the same time-never trying this again. Terrible medication trying to act like a benzo."

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

Buspirone 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."

• BuS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2022

For Anxiety "I started taking buspirone for anxiety, and within a few days, started experiencing worse anxiety attacks, dark existential thoughts, and feelings of impending doom. I genuinely felt that the world was ending, and intrusive thoughts about death took over my mind. I would cry for hours, have panic attacks, and would wake up multiple times a night in extreme panic and fear. I stopped taking buspirone after a week and started taking lamotrigine. These feelings went away about three weeks after discontinuing the medicine. It has been two years since, and I have continued to have less anxiety with lamotrigine. However, I still fear that I will have the same awful experience when I take any new medications. I know lots of people have positive experiences on the medicine, so this review is not meant to scare you, but rather to share my experience with those who felt similarly on this medicine."

• BuS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2022

For Anxiety "I started taking buspirone for anxiety, and within a few days, started experiencing worse anxiety attacks, dark existential thoughts, and feelings of impending doom. I genuinely felt that the world was ending, and intrusive thoughts about death took over my mind. I would cry for hours, have panic attacks, and would wake up multiple times a night in extreme panic and fear. I stopped taking buspirone after a week and started taking lamotrigine. These feelings went away about three weeks after discontinuing the medicine. It has been two years since, and I have continued to have less anxiety with lamotrigine. However, I still fear that I will have the same awful experience when I take any new medications. I know lots of people have positive experiences on the medicine, so this review is not meant to scare you, but rather to share my experience with those who felt similarly on this medicine."

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 1, 2018

Buspirone for Panic Disorder "Doc gave me this in addition to Ativan for panic attacks. Did NOTHING for my panic attacks! Still felt tense in class and wanted to run out of the classroom on a daily basis. When told to increase my dose, the drug increased my anxiety. Although it didn't do anything for my panic attacks, it sure lifted my depression."

• PTS...
• March 27, 2018

Buspirone for Anxiety "Makes my anxiety tremendously worse, even after months of use! Don't believe the fake big pharma comments. This is not a replacement for any benzo, in any way! It is only 'known' to be 'effective' in general anxiety disorder. After my switch, I couldn't sleep for a week, dehydrated, thought I was going to die, so then they gave me Zoloft in conjunction with the BuSpar that I was already on for 2 months! The Zoloft made it even worse, I am surprised to be alive and writing this today."

• Ale...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2018

Buspirone for Anxiety "This was my first night of taking BuSpar for anxiety, 15 mg, and it made it worse. I am tense, I feel tingly, cold, and jumpy. And I can’t sleep at all. I do not like this feeling at all. Worst feeling ever."

• Lih...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2017

For Anxiety "When I started having severe anxiety and panic attacks years ago, I had a doctor who had no difficulty shoving me on Xanax and Klonopin. I was completely unaware of how addictive and awful these drugs were. I weaned myself off the drugs after years of taking them. After withdrawal, I did fine. About a year ago, my anxiety and panic attacks returned, and I was going to a different doctor. She tried me on Zoloft first and very sparingly gave me Xanax for those 'I'm going to die moments.' After about 3 months, the Zoloft wasn't helping much without the occasional Xanax kick, so she doubled the Zoloft, and I about crawled out of my skin. She asked me if I wanted to try Buspirone. No anxiety and sleeping like a baby."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2019

For Anxiety "I was put on 10 mg of Buspirone twice a day for breakthrough anxiety. I used it only as needed, but my doctor told me that in order for it to help, I had to take it as prescribed. I started taking it twice a day, and at some point thought that it was making me feel worse. About 10 days ago, after a couple of weeks on this dosage, I experienced crippling anxiety, stiff muscles, urinary problems, jerky movements in my arms and legs, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and finally full-blown panic attacks, which I had never had before. From Wednesday to Saturday, I had 3 hours of sleep, no appetite, and my right knee became swollen, red, painful, and I couldn't bend it or my fingers. This was one of the worst experiences I've ever had and the worst reaction to medication: angry outbursts, nausea, and confusion. I think some people can safely take Buspar and others have side effects that are unbearable."

• Her...
• December 31, 2016

Buspirone for Anxiety "I'm a 32-year-old male, and I've been taking BuSpar for about 10 months. At first, it did nothing but make my anxiety worse. I would wake up with full-blown panic attacks and have the worst nightmares ever. However, I'm now taking 40 mg of citalopram a day mixed with the BuSpar 15 mg and 1 mg of Xanax twice a day. And Xanax! I have insomnia mixed with deep anxiety issues. The problem that I have is the BuSpar makes me so fat! I'm literally considering stopping taking it and just see if the other meds can help. BuSpar alone is no substitution for an anxiety drug and wouldn't recommend it..."

• Whe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2018

Buspirone for Anxiety "They recently increased my dosage by only 5 mg. With disastrous results. Big increase in anxiety attacks. Bad drug. Caused me to experience 5 anxiety attacks in 24 hours! A new record for the number of anxiety attacks that I’ve ever had in 24 hours! And they want to slowly increase it to 60 mg a day. No way! Feel like rubbish! And that’s just with a small increase!"

• DJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 6, 2021

Buspirone for Anxiety "Started on BuSpar, I think 15 mg daily (7.5 mg twice daily) in April and had some general side effects with increased anxiety plus nausea. My doctor upped the dose to 3 a day, and that lasted a week. My anxiety went through the roof, so he decreased the dose back down, but I've weaned it further to half a 7.5 mg tab twice a day and will begin coming completely off soon. Since beginning in April (it's now July), I have a marked increase in anxiety, irritability, and perpetual nausea. If you are new and looking to try something new, don't be afraid to try it. This is just my experience with it, there are plenty of others who have been helped by it. I have a prescription for a low dose of clonazepam (Klonopin) that I take sparingly as needed and works for me. I tried BuSpar because doctors are getting skittish about prescribing things like Klonopin and was hoping to find something that would help."

• Coz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2024

For Anxiety "I have been taking buspirone for 2 weeks tomorrow. At first, I felt a slight feeling of relief and something equivalent to a benzo. My anxiety is terrible, and I've been having panic attacks. I could go through the trouble of explaining how my anxiety is, but just trust me, it's debilitating. I've had depression/anxiety since high school and used to buy Xanax to cope. It wasn't until after my stint with Clonazepam that I've been waiting for a drug like Buspirone. I am a schizoaffective/GAD/PTSD person, and I can tell you that Buspirone is worth a try. I've had a headache from this medication, but every time I take the medication (still not fully kicked in), I can do more and more. Hopefully, in the upcoming weeks, I experience more of what others have described."

• Soc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 19, 2019

For Anxiety "I’ve been taking Buspar for anxiety for almost a year, with an increased dosage from 5 mg to 10 mg twice a day. I’ve tried many medications in the past, including Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Prozac, and Celexa. This medication has helped the most. I still get a little anxious, but not to the point where I’m having chest pains. I’ve also taken Xanax in the past for several years. In the beginning, it worked well, but with continued use, it gradually stopped working for me."

• Ano...
• December 4, 2018

For Anxiety "I live in an area where there are a lot of drug addicts, so they didn't want to prescribe me a benzo. I took this because my PTSD had been so out of control. I was hopeful, but slowly realized my anxiety was 100 times worse on it. I kept taking it, thinking maybe it just wasn't kicking in yet. Next thing I knew, I was scared to go to the store, and I felt like people were watching me when I was alone in my house. I'd check and double-check my windows were closed. My vision would vibrate, and I felt dizzy and constantly dehydrated with a headache. It was absolutely terrible. I weaned myself off of it because I couldn't wait for my next psych appointment. Now I'm back to just taking my Lamictal, and I feel loads better. Did nothing for me when it came to panic attacks. I need something I can take as needed."

• Biz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2019

For Anxiety "I've been on buspirone for about 6 days now, never having been on any other anxiety medicine until now. My doctor recommended 15 mg tablets (half a pill, twice daily...so 7.5 mg each time). So far, I feel more agitated, haven't been sleeping at all, waking up almost every hour with severe muscle cramps in my legs and feet, sharp muscle pains in my side, and still have feelings of worry and stress and mild depression, shaky as if I drank about 5 energy drinks. I'm not sure if I should keep taking them, as my doctor said it could take about 3 weeks to get into my system fully, or if these side effects are enough to call my doctor and see if he should change my dose or medication altogether."

• Biz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2019

For Anxiety "I've been on buspirone for about 6 days now, never having been on any other anxiety medicine until now. My doctor recommended 15 mg tablets (half a pill, twice daily...so 7.5 mg each time). So far, I feel more agitated, haven't been sleeping at all, waking up almost every hour with severe muscle cramps in my legs and feet, sharp muscle pains in my side, and still have feelings of worry and stress and mild depression, shaky as if I drank about 5 energy drinks. I'm not sure if I should keep taking them, as my doctor said it could take about 3 weeks to get into my system fully, or if these side effects are enough to call my doctor and see if he should change my dose or medication altogether."

• Smm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2019

Buspirone for Anxiety "I started taking BuSpar 12/13/2018. 10 mg twice daily, one at bedtime, along with a host of other medications including Klonopin for a chronic nerve pain condition, Percocet for arthritis, fibromyalgia, and a ton of other stuff, Topamax for migraines and trigeminal neuralgia, a muscle relaxer, an antihistamine for my allergies and for insomnia, and I don’t want to forget the stool softeners, of course! Well, I felt like I was gonna lose my mind AGAIN! My skin feels like bugs are crawling all over me, my scalp is a mess with scabs from scratching it. My TN is off the charts again, and I can’t leave the house, I’m so full of anxiety. I have a meltdown at 4:00 every day, followed by 2-3 unscheduled meltdowns every hour until I go to sleep. I can’t stand the face pain, but my doc tells me not to stop because it takes time to work!"

• Sno...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2018

For Anxiety "I currently take 5 mg of buspirone before bedtime. I have taken this drug for about 4 months. After a couple of weeks, I felt it helped with my anxiety. I am now feeling very anxious on a daily basis. I feel unbalanced and unsteady. My blood pressure is good, and no signs of any other medical issues. I feel dizziness daily. I’m wondering if anyone else has had these experiences on buspirone? My doctor ordered a carotid ultrasound and CT scan. She never suggested that it could possibly be the buspirone. I called the pharmacist today, and they said buspirone can be stopped or tapered by taking my dose every other day. I’m sick of feeling anxious, dizzy, and unsteady. Again, has anyone experienced these side effects? Thanks."