Buspar Experiences please

Has anyone here tried Buspar for anxiety? My anxiety is eating me alive and my doctors won't prescribe benzos unless it's that or hospital. I'm getting close to it being a "that or hospital" place but not there just yet. I need help with this anxiety however or the hospital or much worse will occur. Anyone try Buspar or have any experience with something non benzo that works GOOD for anxiety? What side effects have you gotten from Buspar? Weight gain would be a no go for me but I'm willing to deal with SOME side effects IF IT WORKS. Thanks.

Hi ElsaMars, very sorry to hear of your present condition. I'm taking buspar -- which the doc rx'd "for anxiety," about 3 weeks ago, but I don't have anxiety. I have rages, and need prn. I wish I could tell you more....I also take Latuda, and am not sure which or both cause me to be 100% dulled out. I'm changing pdocs and hope to get some relief.

For me buspar might as well have been a tic tac. It's a shame you can't get benzo's nothing works better for panic. I am glad I have a doctor who believes in the power of benzo's.

It didn't do anything for me, but it might work for you. All it did for me was make me nauseous half hour after taking it.

Hope my new pdoc (whom I have not met yet) believes in the power of benzos. You are lucky man, to have a reasonable doctor who actually rx's what you need!

Hi guys. Thanks for your replies. The anecdotal accounts I've read on Buspar aren't very encouraging but perhaps it's at least worth a try for me.

Flowerbell, my anxiety is causing anger and rages too. I get so overwhelmed I can't make even the simplest decision. My life is greatly effected by this. PM me anytime. (((Hugs)))

Guinness, I'm glad you have a smart doc. I agree with current ideology that benzos should be used sparingly....but they SHOULD be used when the situation calls for it. It's sickening to know something is out there to help but being denied it. I'm not functioning at all and that is just not right. I'm not asking for 10mg a day or anything outrageous....but 2mg a day until my life stress eases a bit and I can use coping to manage.

I'm sorry it caused Nausea Raspberry.....nausea is anxiety inducing for me so that wouldn't be too helpful.

I've found that 2 blood pressure meds and 2 atarax can bring me down and help me sleep. My doc said it's ok to take these as long as my resting heart rate stays above 60.....it was 90 after taking these meds last night. Problem is I can't be sleeping all day so need something to help anxiety during the day without putting me to sleep. Ugggg.

Buspar didn't do a thing for me, one way or another. You might ask your doc about gabapentin. I take it for a physical issue, but barely need my Klonopin script with having it on board.

Buspar was great for my night time anxiety. My night time anxiety was crippling but the Buspar pretty well stopped it, just a few breakthrough nights but nothing I can't handle.

Buspar didn't help me at all. I wish more doctors would quit being so afraid of benzos. Fortunately my pdoc believes in them. Elsa, I hope you find something that helps you.

Flowerbells, I wrote back to your PM but it said either you've chosen not to receive PM's or are not allowed to receive them. I would love to have a phone chat with you someday but right now I need to be VERY careful not to talk with people who don't know my personal triggers. I'm in a very sensitive state right now but not always so bad so perhaps someday we can chat. (((Hugs)))

Buspar didn't help me. Vistaril and Neurontin did.

Buspar did absolutely nothing. I went up to the max dose and still nothing.

For me buspar is garbage, sorry I cannot be more encouraging. I was given in while IP and all it did was give me headaches that lead to me spending more time in my room and therefore longer at the facility. I am on benzos now and I understand they are not an option for you, I have had to change doctors many times because of their opinion of my use of benzos. Atarax worked better for me than buspar and it is only a step above taking a couple Benadryl. You shouldn't have any trouble getting a prescription for atarax, I am actually thinking of asking for it again to help with extra anxiety I have been having. It is very safe and non addictive, it is just an anti-histamine.

Hope you get what you need Elsa!

Buspar actually caused physical anxiety for me. I don't like benzos but propranolol works great.

I'm going to try doubling up on the propranolol. My doc said this is safe as long as my resting heart rate stays above 60 which doesn't seem to be a problem. As I suspected, my doc offered me Buspar or Gabapentin. gaba can cause weight gain and since weight gain can cause increased anxiety for me it seems counterintuitive. Buspar has very poor anecdotal reviews so I'll try doubling up on what I have and hope I don't end up fainting again. I may need to get a lawyer if it doesn't work and I'm made to suffer without relief much longer. Benzos don't even work 100% but it's the principle of the matter as well as the fact that every little bit helps. I think I just need to get back on cannabis and risk federal prosecution I guess. What's the likelihood I will be prosecuted anyhoo....not high I imagine. If I can get over my paranoia about being judged and prosecuted it's majorly helpful and really improved my overall functioning when I used it in moderation. I just need to learn to grow it cause it's so darned expensive!

Hi EM, I'm just now seeing this post. Buspar never helped me, but my (adult) daughter has severe GAD and Buspar works really well for her.

I guess Buspar is worth a shot. What do I have to lose? I just want to be functional......anxiety is eating me alive and has held me back so much. I just need help. I know I can't ask my doctors for Benzos or they will think I'm drug seeking but I'm dying over here and wouldn't be so frustrated for relief if I didn't need it so darned badly. Uggg. I'm truly stuck between a rock and a hard place here.

Thanks for weighing in everyone.

in bold in between your lines

Buspar did nothing for me. The only thing that helps is a PRN benzo. Gabapentin did help with the generalized anxiety but over time it crapped out.