![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bruce99 on August 19, 2001, at 13:44:50
Anyone know if Buspar can increase anxiety?
Pdoc prescribed Buspar for depression (Over the past 7 years I've tried several SSRIs that worked, but all caused lots of weight gain and sexual side effects so we are just trying to find a med that works). I started at 30mg/day for two weeks and have been at 60mg/day 18 additional days. I've lost weight BUT:
No antidepressant effects and my anxiety has been agonizingly high. Please note that my current life situation (job loss AND computer injury that requires me to seek new career at 50, etc) would make me highly anxious right now regardless of whether the Buspar exacerbates it.
If the Buspar were NOT increasing the anxiety, wouldn't it have begun working to ease the anxiety after more than 4 weeks? My situation is critical enough right now that we started me back on Effexor yesterday because weight gain is a low priority until I get this anxiety and depression under control. PDoc suggested staying on the Buspar too because it might augment the Effexor and lessen the side effects. I agreed, but after two more days of this intenxe anxiety I'm really tempted to stop the Buspar.
Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thank you.
Posted by Mitch on August 19, 2001, at 16:24:46
In reply to Can Buspar increase anxiety?, posted by bruce99 on August 19, 2001, at 13:44:50
> Anyone know if Buspar can increase anxiety?
>
> Pdoc prescribed Buspar for depression (Over the past 7 years I've tried several SSRIs that worked, but all caused lots of weight gain and sexual side effects so we are just trying to find a med that works). I started at 30mg/day for two weeks and have been at 60mg/day 18 additional days. I've lost weight BUT:
>
> No antidepressant effects and my anxiety has been agonizingly high. Please note that my current life situation (job loss AND computer injury that requires me to seek new career at 50, etc) would make me highly anxious right now regardless of whether the Buspar exacerbates it.
>
> If the Buspar were NOT increasing the anxiety, wouldn't it have begun working to ease the anxiety after more than 4 weeks? My situation is critical enough right now that we started me back on Effexor yesterday because weight gain is a low priority until I get this anxiety and depression under control. PDoc suggested staying on the Buspar too because it might augment the Effexor and lessen the side effects. I agreed, but after two more days of this intenxe anxiety I'm really tempted to stop the Buspar.
>
> Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thank you.
Bruce,You could be having a paradoxical reaction to Buspar. It caused a hostility reaction with me. Other possibilities-the dose could be too HIGH. Some meds have "therapeutic windows" where below or *above* certain levels they just don't work.
You also might be going through a *withdrawal* reaction from the SSRi's you were taking previously. It is probably best that you restarted your Effexor. If you stop the Effexor later you might have to withdraw it very gradually. Another alternative is to switch to Prozac (which has a very long half-life) and then gradually taper that med.good luck,
Mitch
Posted by JohnL on August 19, 2001, at 17:42:02
In reply to Can Buspar increase anxiety?, posted by bruce99 on August 19, 2001, at 13:44:50
> Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thank you.Buspar can indeeed increase anxiety. The reason is because when it breaks down in your system, one of its metabolites stimulates norepinephrine. It also has indirect effects on dopamine. Both of those factors can cause anxiety. Buspar has to be one of the most worthless and most overpriced drugs I've ever encountered, sorry to say. It's a weird one. My psychiatrist never had any luck with it. I can't even recall anyone who has tried it and liked it. A couple years ago there was someone here who did well with it, but the problem was it kept pooping out and they had to keep increasing the dose, until finally they couldn't increase it any more and had to stop it.
John
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.