[healed84]

I am currently taking 20mg of Celexa and Buspar as needed for anxiety. I was started off at 10mg of Celexa and then went up after a month and a half. It has now been almost a month since upping my dose of Celexa and my Dr. didn't want to see me again until June. However, the last week my anxiety has been getting bad again. The panic attacks were slowly going away, but in the last week they are coming back. I am wondering if I should try going up in the dose. I have also been working through some very tough issues in Thearpy and I know that maybe the cause of the increased anxiety. I don't know if I should try to make an appointment with my doctor and ask if I should go up, or if I should just wait until me scheduled appointment in June. I don't know how this situations are handled b/c I am new to this whole process. Any advice?

Maybe the med student will come by to verify this but I'm pretty sure that buspirone is not a take as needed medication. You need to take it on a regular basis in order for it to be effective at alleviating anxiety.

[healed84]

Originally Posted by George H.

Maybe the med student will come by to verify this but I'm pretty sure that buspirone is not a take as needed medication. You need to take it on a regular basis in order for it to be effective at alleviating anxiety.

I have heard that around here, but I have seen conflicting reports on that. I asked my doctor (actually 2) and they seem to be confident that it does work in a fast acting way. My T has said all along that it was more going on the "safe" side when getting something that is fast acting and that I may need a benzo. Although, the label on the buspar says to take as needed for anxiety up to 3 times a day, so I can def. be taking it everyday three times a day if I need. However, I haven't done that. Maybe if I started doing that I would feel more relief. I don't know.

The label on the bottle is going to denote exactly how much and how often your dr wants you to take it. Whatever was written on the prescription will be written on the bottle...only in a language normal people can understand
Sounds like your dr is giving you some leeway in how much you take. That seems a little odd for a med like buspar. Benzos are often prescribed as an as needed med because they are fast acting. I'm 95% sure that buspar needs to be taken every day, and like anti-depressants, it will take a few weeks to reach it's max effect.

[Confusedinomicon]

My boyfriend said immediate release is fast acting.

[zbmom]

I would take the med exactly as prescribed and if it says up to so many times a day as needed I wouldn't take it when I didn't need it. You should call your pdoc and let them know what is going on and see if there is anything they can do in the interim. June is a long way off.

I take klonopin as needed, don't take it everyday, just whenever my anxiety gets too much.

[Freefall1974]

Buspirone will take 6 weeks to reach its maximum effect. It is not a fast acting drug ( as compared to a benzo like Valium or Xanax) and should not be taken "as needed". It is a maintenance drug for anxiety. Perhaps you could call your Pdoc and leave a message asking if you can go up on the Celexa ( avoiding a visit if you have an established relationship) and then see if the combined effect doesn't provide you some relief.