I was prescribed buspar for anxiety after getting off of an SSRI. It did not work for me. I stayed on it for roughly four months with no positive results. I didn’t have side effects, but I got MAJOR discontinuation symptoms: I was dizzy, sick, anxious, etc. It was AWFUL.

I’ve been diagnosed as bipolar I, ultradian cycling. The only medication which has had the affect of stabilizing me is lamotrigine. I was prescribed buspirone for debilitating anxiety and it did not seem to help me in the least. Anxiety affects my sense of smell, can cause vertigo, interferes with normal activities like working, conversation with others and reading. It can literally force me to have to lay down in a quiet space.

The only medications (unfortunately) that have helped are benzodiazepines. Because of concerns about addiction (I am a recovering addict), I moved from alprazolam to clonazepam. I didn’t recognize it at the time, but it had a generalized “dampening” effect on my emotional range and my energy levels. I did too quick a taper down from clonazepam and experienced some of the withdrawal symptoms: tremors, sweating, agitation, insomnia and gastric problems.

I have since returned to alprazolam on a PRN basis. I feel fortunate I have no desire to increase the amount or frequency of this medication, as it does alleviate debilitating levels of anxiety. I am currently attempting to deal with the remaining (significant) levels of anxiety through exercise, meditation/relaxation and CBT. I feel like I’m making progress, but it’s slow (to my way of thinking) progress and anxiety is still a significant factor in my day to day life.

I have been through many medications… Im Bipolar 2 and general anxiety. I absolutly love buspar. It helps my anxiety and mood swings. Its calm enough that I don’t feel overwhelmed by medication. I would suggest anyone trying it. Get through the dizziness and stomach irratation that it has the first few days and it’s a miracle drug.

I recently went through a divorce. I thought I was doing well but have found that I cannot finish projects (get started, but find I’m either no longer interested or perhaps, I’m just afraid of failure…. who knows) and recently, I’ve cut back on my hours of work.
I just don’t want to go out, anywhere. I must push myself to take my dog for a walk. I feel like I’m hiding from life and though I’ve never ben a big time social person, I’ve never cut myself off quite as much as this.
Looking at some of the stories, above, I’m wondering if Buspar might be something that I could use? However, I am on a 0.5 mg of Alprazolam, prn, and would be frightened NOT to have that available.
Is it possible to take a prn benzodiazipine along with the Buspar?

I have PTSD one of the things tryed was buspar. For me it was awful, it seemed to increase my anxiety, it felt as if I had burrs in my blood stream. I became very irritable, fidgety, and unable to sleep. I was on an antidepresant also but can’t recall which.

I have had terrible problems with anxiety since I was 16. I am now 24 and have been recently diagnosed as Bipolar Type II. I have tried Zoloft (with and without Wellbutrin) and Abilify (don’t even think of trying it). Recently, my campus psychiatrist wrote me a Rx for Buspar.

In 4 weeks of taking Buspar twice daily, I have gotten life changing effects from it. The anxiety, especially the first thing in the morning anxiety, has almost completely subsided. It is certainly manageable and I feel FANTASTIC.

I would recommend Buspar for people who deal with regular anxiety that is prolific despite rational thought and therapy. It has given me that edge to get back at every day tasks, to the gym more often, more regular consistent sleep, etc.

As a disclaimer for those of you suffering from Bipolar, especially type II that I am familiar with, this drug HAS NOT helped me with mania. I am still manic on a nearly regular basis, but it doesn’t interfere with my abilities to be productive (quite the contrary). But the nasty depressive anxiety & anxious depression has subsided. Give it a try!