Comparing BuSpar vs Escitalopram

For Anxiety This medication has been a godsend for me. I'm unable to take SSRIs or SNRIs and had recently increased my dose of Wellbutrin XL (which had driven up my anxiety). The Buspar has significantly improved my anxiety symptoms and I find myself happier and more outgoing since starting it. It has mild sexual side effects on me but they are quite tolerable compared to what I have experienced in the past (if there's any chance a med like this will cause sexual side effects on somebody, I seem guaranteed to have them, no matter how small the chances). Buspar has also caused exertional headaches for me. I'm not a fan of needing to take it twice per day but it is a small tablet and easy enough to keep with me in a key fob.

For Anxiety So, I give this 7 out of 10. I'd give it 10 out of 10, but the first week on this was really uncomfortable. I almost stopped using it. I started out at 10 mg buspar once a day and then after a week increased to 10 twice a day . The first week, I won't lie, was a doozy. My psych said that her patients either love it or hate it and it's pretty much 50/50 with little gray area. But since it's inexpensive, been around for a while, and is pretty safe, she likes that to be the first option when dealing with GAD. Fair. The first week, I was really, really dizzy. Felt a bit fuzzy in the head. kind of jumpy. I had to pull over while driving and sit down for a bit. BUT after about two weeks. Whoah. My life is changed. I'm no longer so anxious!!

For Anxiety I took my first dose and the next day I experienced severe anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, loss of appetite, brain and tingling sensations in my neck. The next day I took my 2nd dose I thought I was losing my mind still didn’t sleep, still was not eating, extreme agitation, night sweats, shaking, my body would not relax or my brain. Couldn’t think. My pupils were dilated and I had diarrhea, I went back to my family dr she told me I would start to feel better after the first two weeks. She gave me clonazapam short term for sleep and Ativan for the first two weeks. The first week was very difficult but as the days passed I started to get my appetite back and could feel the nervousness and anxiety lifting. The last 3 days I felt back to myself, I haven’t had to use any Ativan but I still use the clonazapam at bedtime for sleep. The only side effect I have after 17 days is insomnia. Will update in another 4 weeks.

For Anxiety I had anxiety most of my life but a series of traumatic events (family death, divorce) made it unbearable and I had extreme insomnia. After therapy and trying natural things that weren't completely helping, my dr prescribed this. I was scared to take it (side effects, mind altering) but was desperate 2 months in and it’s made a big difference (along w/ therapy, exercise, etc). My insomnia improved a fair bit w/in 2 weeks, anxiety decreased. No significant side effects (though a few to start). I was worried about deadened emotions but it hasn't happened. I feel more like myself/calmer. I still get anxious, sad, happy, where its called for but don't have all consuming anxiety Startup was bad, I had extreme increased anxiety w/ the initial 5mg but it went away w/in 4 days (and didn't increase when upped to 10mg). I had stomach issues for 2 weeks but it was tolerable Overall, w/ other positive changes I’ve made, this has made a world of difference compared to how I was feeling before