Buspirone and Panic Attacks: What Users Say (Page 3)

• It...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 10, 2017

For Anxiety "I've been taking Buspar in differing doses on and off for over a year. I was prescribed it and 0.5 mg Xanax for severe anxiety and panic attacks. Taken together, it was helping, only I couldn't function or take care of my daughter while taking both. Since moving to another state, I stopped taking the Xanax and then got pregnant, so I can't take it anyway. My anxiety and panic issues got better after moving to the new state. But getting pregnant again, my anxiety came back. I was started on a slightly lower dose than I was taking before, and it was too much for me, so my OB and I decided on a lower dose, but I upped it due to it not being helpful. I will be upping it again, and hopefully, it helps... It's a good medication if the right dose."

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2012

Buspirone for Anxiety "I have been taking Buspar for almost a year now, 15 mg, 3x daily. I think my anxiety is a bit more severe, but this medicine has worked wonders for the majority of last year for me - I had only a few times where I would have to take 1/2 of a 0.25 mg Xanax for breakthrough panic attacks. Lately, though, I've had a number of additional stressors added to my life and noticed a great deal of additional panic attacks, causing my doctor to request that I add an SSRI to my current Buspar intake. I haven't started the SSRI yet, and surprisingly today, since I kind of made a mental decision that I have absolutely no control over the things in my life that are stressing me out, and had a good cry yesterday, my anxiety level seems back down to normal."

• ebu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2025

For Anxiety "This medication is wonderful. I have panic disorder and GAD, but have previously had bad reactions to SSRIs and didn't want to try another. I tend to have high reactivity to most substances (everything from caffeine to Prozac to anesthesia), and I really desperately wanted to avoid negative side effects. This was perfect. On a dose of 5 mg 2/day, I went from three panic attacks a day to none or one. The only other medication that has been as helpful as this for me was Xanax, and I worry about benzo dependence; I was grateful to try something else. It takes about a week to set in, but I did feel relief even the first couple of days; there were also some moments of intense fatigue (still have those occasionally) and some moments of panic, but hard to tell if those are from the medication itself or just the same issue that was happening before."

• Air...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2022

Buspirone for Anxiety "So far, so good. I've been on this drug for almost a month now, and I say it took a week and a half to kick in. I hit max dosage by the end of week 2, and I must say it's great. I take one when I wake up and another one 8 hours later. I wish they had an XR version of this baby, then I would give it a 10/10. FAIR WARNING: When I took this before, it gave me HORRIBLE NIGHTMARES and panic attacks in my sleep. My wife told me I was shaking in the middle of the night, and I told her I remembered everything, except I was too sleepy to do anything about it. Summary: Great drug! Take it upon wakeup, and don't take it right before bedtime, and you'll be good to go."

• Ban...
• August 9, 2021

Buspirone for Anxiety "I suffer from moderate social anxiety and severe GAD. I have struggled for years and have tried just about any SSRI and SNRI that is on the market, and none of them worked for me. My doctor finally decided to try this. I work in a pharmacy and see very few patients that take this drug, so I never really thought much of it. She started me at 15 mg twice a day. I've been on it for a few months now, and I've increased my dose to 30 mg twice daily, and the world of difference that this drug has made is life-changing. I used to get so upset, angry, and overwhelmed over the smallest things so suddenly and have panic attacks. I could never shut off my brain, this has changed my life. Just like any other drug, it may work for me and not for others. If nothing else has worked for you and you feel like you've lost hope in finding something that can help, this drug is more than worth trying."

• 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."

• bet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 16, 2016

For Anxiety "I've been on this going on four months, and I am a big fan. It has greatly reduced my anxiety, at only 10 mgs a day. I rarely have to take an Ativan. I've always been anxious, but things got much worse when I tried different stimulants for my ADHD. Even with a low dose of Lexapro, I started to have dramatic panic attacks. It was awful. I went off both with the help of Ativan, but I didn't want to become dependent on the benzo, so I took them as infrequently as possible (1/2 or 1 per day). I was still really suffering and asked my doc about Buspar. I am so relieved that something works, and that it isn't something I'm afraid of."

• Whi...
• November 26, 2013

Buspirone for Anxiety "This replaced benzodiazepines and sleeping pills, gives better rest, improved sex drive, decidedly improved social life. I'm 46m, prescribed 15mg x2 daily. Others noted the improvements first. I had no untoward side effects other than dry mouth and a few lingering panic attacks per month easily handled by low dose Xanax 0.5 mg. Various SSRIs along the way didn't help with depression this much. 5 years running. It works well."

• Thi...
• June 18, 2010

For Anxiety "I have been taking buspirone 15 mg for a couple of months now. My doctor prescribed the medication to help minimize my anxiety. I must say that the medicine has been somewhat of a lifesaver. Before buspirone, I was anxious, and I also suffered from occasional panic attacks. Like someone else mentioned, I can't imagine what my life would be like if I had to discontinue taking the medication."

• LIF...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2022

For Anxiety "I had horrible, horrible derealization, panic attacks, paranoia, OCD, and PTSD. I would panic all day long, nonstop, and clean everything, never able to relax or sit down. I couldn’t hold conversations. My doctor put me on Buspirone. Started me out on 5 mg, it helped, but after a month I realized it wasn’t helping enough. Upped it to 10 mg twice a day, helped tremendously, and I was able to relax and go out again, but was still having derealization after 6 weeks of upping my medication. I just upped it to 15 mg (10 mg in the morning and 15 mg at night to ease me into it), and let me tell you, I have never thought more clearly in my entire life. My memory has come back completely. I can think before I do something. I can relax. I hang out with anyone. I am fearless. It’s a godsend. If you have derealization, please try this."

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

For Anxiety "I have lived with anxiety for about 20 years. A few years ago, I discovered that all my previous problems were from anxiety when my doctor gave me a Xanax pill before a flight. That was a moment of truth for me. But I inherently am scared of addictive medication, so my good doctor prescribed Buspar for me, and just a single 5 mg dose each morning made my life a new field without fear. That was 5 years ago. I was able to rebuild my business and thrive. I quit it 4 years ago and have had some anxiety problems again this year. I actually had a panic attack last night. After taking one pill, I already feel better, which is strange because it is supposed to take 2 weeks to start working! In any case, I think Buspar is an amazing medication and will be taking it until I am better again."

• Joh...
• October 8, 2019

For Sexual Dysfunction, SSRI Induced "So, after 10 years of having difficulty in my sex life keeping an erection, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, mania, panic attacks, and insomnia, I was prescribed Buspar, and after just a few days, this is what it has helped my sex life back to how it was in my teens. I’d even say that it has increased and surpassed my functionality. Another thing I noticed immediately was that my dreams were back. The dose that I started with was 10 mg, 2 times per day, but I noticed my panic attacks coming back midday and was bumped up to 3 times a day. I am still taking them to this day. Personal experience shows that tricyclic antidepressants weren't good for me. Over the span of 20 years and multiple diagnoses, I have come to the realization that buspirone is enough on its own to live a functional life, but with the addition of Xanax or Klonopin, I sleep much longer than just the 5 hours I do with Buspar alone."

• Dou...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 28, 2018

For Anxiety "When my doctor talked with me about this medication, I was a little skeptical about the drug itself. But before I buckled down and decided to go see a doctor, about 2-3 months prior, I’d been dealing with a very horrible life experience. At the age of 23 years old, I had just undergone a horrible, very traumatic experience that involved a wreck in a semi-truck that knocked me out stone cold. I was knocked on the left side of my temple and received cuts on my head. I was having bad anxiety, panic attacks after the wreck, and went to visit a doctor who prescribed this medication, buspirone. I gave it a chance, tried it, and stayed on the prescription a little over a year. It was definitely helping me. I unfortunately couldn’t get the next refill of it. There are days I feel as if I know it would help me greatly now, and I could really use it today, and there are days I know it would help me, 100%."

• 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."

• Jer...
• April 28, 2017

For Anxiety "28 female - I was diagnosed with bipolar, manic depressive when I was 14. I have been on and off medication for years. When I approached my PCP for medication for my anxiety, they were nervous about giving me an SSRI due to them making me manic. They tried giving me Abilify, but that landed me in the ER. Buspirone was my last resort. It's been about 4 weeks, and what a difference. I'm enjoying my life with my kids, family, and friends again. I used to go everywhere with no problems, but for the past 7 months, I could barely leave my house. I shut down completely. Buspirone is changing me back to the person I was. My anger has diminished. My paranoia is gone. I can go out in public without a panic attack or racing thoughts."

• The...
• May 28, 2015

For Anxiety "My dear and esteemed friends, buspirone is, in my opinion, the best anxiety medication I have had. It is extremely safe, non-addictive, and has no withdrawal effects. I am 32 and never had panic or anxiety attacks until March of 2014 when I had a kidney stone and was given hydromorphone for the pain, and it messed up my nervous system, giving me pretty bad anxiety/panic attacks and a little depression. First, I tried Xanax 0.25 mg for a while, but it is short-acting, and then I was given citalopram 10 mg, but I stopped it because of concern for possible side effects of SSRIs. Finally, my cousin, who is a wise doctor, gave me buspirone 7.5 mg, and it was great! I took it for 3 months, and there was a total disappearance of anxiety, panic, and no depression. What a blessing it is."

• Pun...
• March 11, 2014

Buspirone for Anxiety "This panic attacks all hit me in August. It was December before they figured out it was anxiety because I had other medical issues, wrong sickness. They started me out on Zoloft, I was allergic. Then some other meds that had bad side effects. Finally, my doctors tried me out on BuSpar. Finally, after weeks of getting the right dosage, I have been awesome and healthy for over a month. This pill has given my life back, I was so bad I couldn't go into stores. Now I go every day and shop. This pill is awesome, it took over a month to build up for me. It was worth the wait, I feel so good, I stopped it for 4 days, had a panic attack, then went back on, and I plan on taking this."

• Cle...
• October 19, 2010

Buspirone for Panic Disorder "I take Xanax 1mg 4 times a day, but I didn't want to up the dose and was prescribed BuSpar; it saved my sanity. No more panic attacks and it made me focus and be able to function normally again."