Buspirone and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Lov...
• June 27, 2015

For Panic Disorder "Ok, I've been having panic attacks since I was in middle school, and I'm 29 now. Over time, they have gotten worse. It feels like I'm dying, and I can't do anything about it. I also freeze in one spot and have some type of seizure where I can't move, and I don't remember what happens. It's very scary! So, I was given Xanax to help, but it made it worse. When I turned 20, I was given 5 mg 2x a day of Buspar, and it had me in a corner feeling miserable. I wish everyone the best of luck because living like this is hard. Currently, my new doctor upped my dose to 15 mg every 12 hours. I'm not saying it's better, but it has been helping. The only problem is I'm starting to feel dizzy when I first take it, then sleepy, also detached, alone. Only time will tell."

• bba...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2020

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I've been on buspirone for a little over a month now. My doctor prescribed it to help with my anxiety and BPD in addition to lamotrigine (which I've taken for months). After about a week, I started to notice my mood shifting more but brushed it off, thinking it was just me adjusting to the new medication. However, as time went on, I became less and less stable with little to no change in my anxiety. I was suddenly feeling more irritable, hostile even, in addition to worsened depression and dissociating again (despite not having an episode for months prior). I would definitely make sure to discuss any possible side effects or drug interactions if you're on any mood stabilizers before taking this medication, and if you feel your depression or anxiety worsen within the first week, don't ignore it."

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

Buspirone 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."

• 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."

• Tes...
• October 17, 2018

For Anxiety "After starting buspirone, I didn't pay much attention to it. But I have noticed that after I skipped several days of dosing meds, my thoughts were getting too intense about the problem that I was going through - to the point where you get very angry, depressed, almost suicidal. That state lasted for more than 20 hours until I realized that I had to take the med again. After I took 10 mg of buspirone, my brain started to not get into much detail about what I was thinking. Just loses focus, sharpness of mind, like you are losing extra short memory where all thoughts are starting. It will help in keeping your mind from worrying about something, but it costs you the price of memory and concentration."

• cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2022

For Anxiety "Be careful before starting this medication. I have learned this the hard way by not doing my research before starting a new med. This medication is powerful and has terrible side effects that I am still dealing with while trying to wean off of it. Mood swings, severe panic, depression, intrusive thoughts, trouble sleeping, disassociation, and hopelessness. I was put on 60 mg when I started having severe panic that would not go away, and it lasted for weeks before I decided to start weaning myself off of it, and I am still working to get off. Do yourself a favor and do your research before starting with this drug, it's not as innocent as it may seem."

• cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2022

For Anxiety "Be careful before starting this medication. I have learned this the hard way by not doing my research before starting a new med. This medication is powerful and has terrible side effects that I am still dealing with while trying to wean off of it. Mood swings, severe panic, depression, intrusive thoughts, trouble sleeping, disassociation, and hopelessness. I was put on 60 mg when I started having severe panic that would not go away, and it lasted for weeks before I decided to start weaning myself off of it, and I am still working to get off. Do yourself a favor and do your research before starting with this drug, it's not as innocent as it may seem."

• Lop...
• November 19, 2016

For Anxiety "Was on this for a month... I went mental!! I was less anxious, but the side effects were really... really bad. I was extremely depressed and aggressive! I was itchy all over, but no rashes, and I had an awful headache that tramadol couldn't even touch!!! Went to a wedding and spent most of the time in the bathroom just to avoid people. Personally, if a GP suggests this drug to you, I would say no, GOD NO! But this is only from my own experience. I'm now on Prozac and diazepam because it messed me up so much. Looking forward to some normality in my head!"

• Flo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2018

For Anxiety "Since I started this medication about 4 months ago, my depression increased dramatically. I went to several different doctors because I knew something was seriously wrong, but I didn’t know what it was. I couldn’t stop crying and couldn’t function at work. Over the last week, I tapered myself off of Buspar, and today I didn’t take any. I gradually started feeling less crazy and today felt great! I’m sure this med works for more people than it hurts. But, believe yourself even if the doctors don’t. If you feel worse, it may just be the Buspar!"

• Roc...
• January 18, 2012

Buspirone for Anxiety "Taking this medicine, I began to feel despair on and off, and suddenly, after 30 days, it hit me very, very hard with heavy despair thoughts. I had to hold my head for an hour or two, waiting for the BuSpar to dissolve completely. I had to stop taking it. It's sad because I needed this medicine."

• Gee...
• January 28, 2018

Buspirone for Anxiety "I've struggled with anxiety all of my life. I am also about to get tested for ADHD in my 40s. The BuSpar has stopped the constant worry, but the focus issue and being scatterbrained hasn't changed. My anxiety is definitely better. But it's all at a price. I feel emotionally numb. I don't really feel much of anything. I could just sit and stare watching everyone’s life go by except for continuing to fidget and tap my feet constantly. I'm on 5 mg twice a day for two weeks now. It's nice to have relief from the anxiety, but my fidgety mind is trapped in this sluggish emotional state. My heart and my head feel like two separate entities strangely. And my dreams are so vivid I feel like I'm in something as real as when I'm awake. I dreamed I was in an earthquake, tsunami, and I saw my dog get bitten in the face by a gigantic snake. I almost would rather deal with the anxiety. At least I felt normal."

• Cic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 4, 2020

For Anxiety "About 2-3 years into taking buspirone, I started to experience weird side effects. My judgment was clouded. Very impulsive. My sex drive exploded and wanted to be naked all the time. Anxiety was horrible, I was experiencing panic attacks regularly. It all culminated in me losing 25 lbs and taking a trip to the ER because I simply couldn't eat. I kept getting nauseated all the time! I was also in a mild depression. This lasted until I finally withdrew from it. (Spent 12 days in a behavioral health unit) from trying to manage the withdrawal. It even prompted my septum to deviate, which I'm dealing with now. (Extremely frustrating.) I'm off all psychiatric medication now. I'm the happiest I've ever been, my appetite is the best it's ever been, and my weight is normalizing. My anxiety is normal. I've learned to manage my feelings through sleeping, eating well, and being sociable. This stuff is highly dangerous, it's at the point now where I'm considering a lawsuit over emotional pain and suffering."

• Use...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2017

For Anxiety "Not sure about this one yet. I have been on it for only five days now, and it's a roller coaster ride. Sometimes I feel okay, and other times I feel like I'm going crazy. My doctor prescribed me to take 15 mg twice daily, which I think was way too much to start out with. I literally felt like I was going to lose my mind because of the thoughts I was having. I also think this has increased my depression and feeling of isolation. I know that this medication takes time to work in your system and that it can make symptoms worse while it is working, so I'm going to try and ride it out a little longer. I've cut my dosage in half to 7.5 twice daily, and I'm going to see if that helps."

• Anonymous
• September 2, 2011

Buspirone for Anxiety "Peaks and Valleys: I felt like I had peaks and valleys of its effect (and side effects). I would feel its effects one hour after I took it, and they would be mostly gone six hours after the dose. So even taking it four times a day did not provide stable relief. Effects: It cut my anxiety down by about 40%. Benzodiazepines cut it by about 90%. Side Effects: -I felt a roaring sensation in my head. -It also made me feel depressed sometimes. BuSpar side effects aren't too bad, but it doesn't provide that much relief either."

• Wil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2019

Buspirone for Anxiety "I always have a lot of anxiety, and was optimistic about BuSpar. Lately, I've been taking 10 mg 4 times a day (as well as Ativan and Seroquel to help the insomnia), and I feel depressed and no less anxious. Last night, I dreamt that one of my cats fainted. I'll be talking with my doctor about getting me off this. I feel no benefit whatsoever."

• Cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2021

For Anxiety "I took buspirone for two weeks for GAD. I experienced some constriction of my pupils in my eyes periodically soon after taking it, but it did help me to be calmer overall. After the first week of taking it, I started to have panic attacks, which I hadn’t had in months, and issues with my breathing, which exacerbated the panic. They were getting worse, and I told my doctor, who promptly told me to stop them, which was around two weeks after I started. It is now three days since I stopped, and the panic and breathing issues have gone away, but I am experiencing some depression, irritability, and sensitivity."

• Kan...
• March 29, 2018

For Anxiety "I've been on Buspar for 5 months. My doc gave me 15 mg. After a week, I couldn't even describe how great it felt not to be so constantly worried about everything. I did end up getting depressed (but that had already started due to other things), and my anxiety seemed to get a bit worse for a couple of months. Doc then put me on 150 mg of Wellbutrin, which takes 4-6 weeks to kick in. During that time (1st 4 weeks), I was VERY depressed & anxiety & panic attacks were very bad (had my worst panic attack ever), but then she upped my Buspar to 25 mg, which helped calm down the anxiety and panic attacks. 4 weeks after starting Wellbutrin, she upped that to 300 mg. In a week, depression disappeared & anxiety calmed down and it's been 4 weeks since. I think it takes the right dose and combo of meds as well as continuing for a bit through the rough patch that sometimes comes with new meds while trying to get the dose right. Don't give up too soon."

• jon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2021

For Anxiety "I have been taking this a week now at 7.5 mg twice a day for anxiety, and the side effects are awful. My short-term memory is declining, I'm even more anxious and depressed, have major brain fog, and bouts of bad anxiety. Hopefully, just strong side effects that will go away soon, but I'm in major doubt. I don’t recommend taking this medication at all, absolutely the worst experience I’ve ever had."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 23, 2012

For Anxiety "I have GAD and Panic Disorder going on 10 years. I've been on Zoloft the entire time. I had a relapse this year and went on Buspirone. It worked for several weeks but didn't hold up. I steadily went all the way up to the max of 60 mg/day, but this wasn't for me. I did have some anti-anxiety effects, but it made me feel empty, and I didn't enjoy doing things. I eventually got off of this. I'm now taking Gabapentin (in addition to Zoloft 200 mg), and I like it a lot better so far."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2012

For Anxiety "I felt compelled to update my experience with Buspirone after first reviewing this medication over 4 weeks ago now. My initial review was a positive one, after only 3 days, the mental fog had disappeared, but the anxiety still remained. Unfortunately, this has remained the case up until now, therefore, I'm going to try some Prozac with this to help with the depression it causes."

• Bop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2021

For Anxiety "I started buspirone at 7.5 mg for a week, then 15 mg. At first, I liked it because it did a good job of dissolving that ever-present knot in my stomach. I started taking it before bed because I didn't like that dizzy/drunk feeling it causes (taking it with food helps). However, I struggle a lot with feeling numb, and I suspect that this medication made that worse over time. We increased to two 15 mg tablets a day, but I started waking up with horrible anxiety again, so I just quit after 3 months. No withdrawals except for feeling slightly 'off' for a day or two."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2023

For Anxiety "This medicine caused me to have tremors, increased anxiety, insomnia, and worsening depression with suicidal ideation. Never. Freaking. Again."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2020

For Anxiety "Increased: my anxiety, heart racing, weight gain, insomnia, anger, jitters, and sadness."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2015

Buspirone for Anxiety "I took this medication for around two months, and it helped with my anxiety, but caused me to become apathetic. I simply couldn't be bothered to do anything! It was horrible!"

• KMa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2016

For Anxiety "I experienced suicidal ideation during the week that I was on this medication. Significantly increased those thoughts as well as my depressive symptoms."