Buspirone and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• January 12, 2010

Buspirone 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

Buspirone 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

Buspirone 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."

• CKa...
• August 8, 2019

For Anxiety "Was on a low dose of 5 mg of buspirone twice a day, then increased to 10 mg, I never actually took the 10 mg because my side effects were too bad. First of all, it did nothing for the anxiety, but it did make me more moody and irritable (probably because it made me feel so crappy). Had vivid, terrible lucid dreams at first, but that went away after a week. I had a constant headache that didn't go away, was more tired, very dizzy, nauseous, yet had cravings, had to pee all the time, hot flashes and sweating, insomnia, also felt achy. Doctor wants to prescribe this instead of benzos, but I don't have any of those side effects with benzos, and they actually do something for the anxiety!"

• Swe...
• March 23, 2013

For Anxiety "Saved my life. So thankful. Noticed that it's important to take buspirone either on an empty stomach or with food. Otherwise, you will probably notice dizziness for 15-20 minutes. My mind is completely calm, and you feel normal. Life is wonderful!"

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

Buspirone 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

Buspirone 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."

• Anonymous
• August 21, 2009

Buspirone 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."

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

Buspirone 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."

• Mir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2023

For Anxiety "On this for OCD/GAD/Depression. I wanted to share this experience hoping it will help others. In April 2007, I had horrible intrusive thoughts from stopping drinking, drugs, etc. Could not sleep, panic attacks, negative thoughts, self-harm, etc. Started exercise, probiotics, diet, no sugar, no caffeine, and prayer the rosary every day for help. God answered my prayers and started to get a little better, but it didn’t fully go away. Finally, in Nov I had to get help, and my doctor told me to avoid SSRIs at first and try this, and I am so thankful I listened to her. She put me on 5mg twice a day, but at first I learned you have to eat first before taking it. I also changed to 2.5mg twice a day for three days, then 2.5mg three times a day, then finally moved to 5mg four times a day, and God had blessed me with a miracle allowing me to live my life now. Do not give up please, it will get better, and there is hope. Be sure to eat before every pill or you will get dizzy and throw up. It takes two months to work fully. God bless."

• Kat...
• August 17, 2015

Buspirone 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."

• Tod...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 5, 2019

For Anxiety "For my anxiety, Buspar works better than SSRIs with all their side effects, but it takes a while to kick in. Would never EVER do a benzo again after getting hooked after taking them for 10 months. When I tapered off, I went into a full-blown death spiral, hell's gates opening up, which basically pickled my brain for over a year. 10 mg Buspar, 3 times a day and just get a little dizzy. I'll take that any day over 10-week rehab and a year of feeling brain damaged from Xanax. Keeps me nice and mellow."

• bel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2021

For Anxiety "I have mild (sometimes severe) anxiety. I’m a college student, and I work in the medical field, so I wanted something that could cure my anxiety but not change me as a person and make me become someone I wasn’t (drowsy, lethargic, inattentive) like I've heard many anxiety medications can make people. I needed something to keep me calm but clear-minded. I’m taking 10 mg. I am a relatively small female, so I was a bit worried it might make me dizzy or tired, instead, it truly saved me. My anxiety and worry and overthinking were really taking over my everyday life. Now I feel clear-minded and calm without feeling like I'm drugged up. It feels genuine. This is the help I needed. Anyone who has rated this drug poorly, it’s because they wanted something harder like alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam, diazepam, etc. which sometimes is needed for people going through more traumatic experiences like PTSD. But if you have pretty general anxiety, this will 100% help you."

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

Buspirone 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."

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

Buspirone 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

Buspirone 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."

• abc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 19, 2023

For Anxiety "I have OCD and anxiety (specifically health anxiety). I took this med for about 9 months, then had to stop due to constipation. Then my mental health once again went downhill, so I restarted taking it about 4 months later. I feel so much better, and I will just put up with the constipation if it happens again. This med makes me feel normal. Other minimal side effects: dizziness if I take more than 5 mg per dose. The dose that works best for me is 5 mg, 3 to 4 times per day (approximately every 4 hours). The anxiety was like a really loud radio playing in the background of my mind all day long: anxious thoughts, worst-case scenarios, etc. This med turns that nonsense radio off, so I just feel like myself and I don't have as many OCD thoughts and behaviors. I also like that it's not addictive and it doesn't have an increased risk of dementia the way that SSRI meds have. I felt it working from day 1. It takes about 30-45 minutes to take effect."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2023

For Anxiety "I was hesitant to start any medication for a whole year, anxiety is awful. My anxiety was based on my fear of driving, bridges, overpasses, and tunnels. I got to the point where stop lights were a problem also. It was getting worse when I finally said enough when I couldn’t drive to work anymore. I started buspirone 2.5 mg twice a day, and within the second day, I was starting to enjoy life. Looking at things in a different way, with clarity and open-mindedness. I also drove on the second day. That was a big milestone for me. Give this drug a try, don’t be scared. I was, but I trusted the people who gave it to me. The only side effects I had were headache, dizziness, and a little nausea, but they go away quickly. Give it a try."

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

Buspirone 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."

• Gec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2020

For Anxiety "Been on 5 mg twice a day. I try to take less. So far, it really helps the anxiety, but the side effects of sleepiness and dizziness. And feeling tired. Will hang in there. Only been 4 days. I also use Holy Mama tincture to help. Will give an update after a few weeks."

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

Buspirone 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

Buspirone 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."

• bek...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 11, 2025

For Anxiety "I take 10 mg 3 times a day. This med works for me. My biggest issue is it metabolizes quickly, so I find I need to take it throughout the day. I also need to take it with a fairly large meal, otherwise, I have dizziness, heart palpitations, and increased anxiety. I find this helps my anxiety and does give a bit of mood elevation, but that could simply be due to the reduction in anxiety. It doesn’t stop me from having an anxious thought, but it keeps me from spiraling into my anxiety. I also like that it doesn’t have significant withdrawal symptoms that benzos have. This more so stabilizes my anxiety and doesn’t stop an anxiety attack. I also did have to get through the elevated anxiety. But truly, take this with a whole meal. (Literally put my ED into remission by being dedicated to taking medications)"

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

Buspirone 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."

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

Buspirone 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."