[boodles]

I started taking Buspar recently, and the other night I became very sick to my stomach and started vomiting. For the prior several weeks, I have had very strong sensitivity to smells and have felt nauseated.

I read the side effects online, but there doesn't seem to be a common nausea/vomiting side effect noted by the pharmaceutical co nor from patients. Most say they have no side effects at all.

I don't believe it's a stomach bug, and the only other thing I can think of is being ill from something I ate. But food ingestion doesn't really fit the profile since this has been lingering.

I drank several glasses of white wine the night I got sick. Could that be the problem? I haven't had any grapefruit.

And I am on a tiny dose to start up...5 mg twice a day. This was one of the first days I upped the dose from 5mg once in the AM to 5 mg TWICE a day (first night dose).

Also, I seem to have a nagging headache, very pinpointed behind my right eye. It's not in the same place where my former migraines have been, nor as painful. It's just irritating. My blood pressure is fine as is pulse rate - no issues there.

Any thoughts from those in the know would be appreciated. I really want this drug to work for me!
Thanks.

[sunrise]

Boodles, when I was on Buspar, my sense of smell was greatly increased. My sense of taste was increased also, but not quite as much as the sense of smell. This is a rare side effect of Buspar. For me, it was harmless. It sounds like you are also having nausea and I don't know if this is related. Do you think your sensitivity to smells is what is making you nauseous? Or is it unrelated?

I am not on Buspar anymore. I only took it for about 4 months. After a few months, my sense of smell and taste were not as enhanced. This was the only benefit the drug was giving me, so I stopped.

Can you call your prescriber to ask about the nausea and headache? Do you think you could have caught a virus, such as the flu?

[boodles]

Sunrise, thanks for that response. I definitely think the heightened sense of smell (it's driving me crazy!), nausea, vomiting and headache are related. It's very similar to getting a migraine during which all those things occur. But it's not a migraine because it's lingering way too long, not as severe, and the headache is in the "wrong spot." I also don't think it's flu or virus because of the length of time this smell sensitivity has been going on.

Interesting that Buspar affected your sense of smell. Thanks for sharing that. I fear this is related to Buspar, but I really really want this med to work out. I am now taking it about a half hour after eating and not on an empty stomach.

I hate to say it, but I am affected by so many side effects to psych meds, and that's probably what's happening here as a "rare" side effect. Grrrr. I need this to work for me.

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by boodles

I also don't think it's flu or virus because of the length of time this smell sensitivity has been going on.

I meant the symptoms of the headache and vomiting--could they be due to flu? Yes, the smell sensitivity is definitely due to Buspar--this is a documented side effect, although rare. But the other symptoms? Have you checked them out on the list of side effects. What does it say?

Originally Posted by boodles

the heightened sense of smell (it's driving me crazy!),

I actually really liked it, and the heightened taste too. I felt like I had superhuman powers of smell and taste, and I am sorry that ended. I think the other senses were affected to a certain extent too, but not as noticeably as smell and taste. I had a rush of pleasure associated with these senses and my newfound powers. Like one time I saw the pink glow of the sunset on the mountain while I was driving and almost ran off the road it caused me such an intense rush of pleasure. Another time, I saw a powder blue Vespa parked along the curb, and that made me feel so good. I think it is a dopamine rush--at least that's my theory. And the smell and taste were even more intensely pleasurable at times.

Here's a question for you. Besides these side effects you don't like, is the Buspar doing anything positive for you? If it is not helping your anxiety, then there is no need to keep taking it, is there? How long have you been on it? Are you monitoring anxiety symptoms? What does your prescriber say?

Caution: I stopped taking Buspar cold turkey as that was what my GP said to do, since it wasn't helping with Anxiety. That was a mistake. Even though it didn't seem to be helping me, it had worked its way into my system and my body had become accustomed to it and somewhat dependent on it for normal functioning. When I quit taking it, I was horribly destabilized and moody. Very up one moment, horribly down the next. Just "out of control" feelings for me, and I am usually quite controlled. Later I came under the care of a PNP and she told me that one should not stop Buspar cold turkey like that, but taper off. So beware! Probably your prescriber knows more than my GP did.

I hope you are finding some relief from anxiety with the Buspar. For some people, it works well.

[yagalada]

for me, buspar was one of the drugs that didn't give me every side effect possible. I took it at night, it helped the agitation that I was having and helped me settle down to sleep. i went off of it when i found out i was pregnant because i wasnt sure if it was safe.