How long does it take for Buspar to alleviate anxiety?
Question posted by Anonymous on 18 Feb 2012
Last updated on 2 July 2019 by charli84
I've been on 15 mg of Buspar for 8 days now. Some days I feel more calm. Some days I feel very irritable/aggressive. Mostly I feel I am in a fog, and absolutely exhausted. I do think I am a bit less anxious overall, but more irritable, some depression bouts and very low appetite/unhappy stomach. I wake up very early in the mornings from it, but so tired. I also get brain zaps and physical disorientation for about an 1 1/2 hours after I take it. Taking 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night. If I take 1/4 at a time I just feel out of it, not strong brain zaps or confusion. I am wondering if I should stay on it and the side effects will go away and it will work better or just throw in the towel.
I've tried Paxil, Celexa, Cymbalta and Lamictal. No good results with any of those. Xanax and Klonopin work, as does Propranolol (beta blocker). I would like to be on just one medication that works on an overall, regular basis. I was diagnosed panic disorder, OCD, social anxiety/phobia, agoraphobia and GAD about 10 years ago. Did CBT therapy for 4 years and now just talk therapy. The agoraphobia/panic are much more controlled (ie only a big issue if flying/traveling/public speaking/job interview etc) but social, OCD and GAD still major issues. I do not want to be medicated but I do want to be able to achieve my goals in life and not be stuck at home afraid of the world. Anxiety sucks.
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12 Answers
CH
charli84
2 July 2019
Hey! I have been on buspar for 7 years. The first month I felt amazing. I must also tell you I take clonazepam. With the buspar, my initial side effects were zero, I did take with food. My anxiety was relieved kind of. The side effects were as most people say... brain zaps. However, I now take without food and it helps a lot more to take it that way. My anxiety is decreased. I will say within the first hour or so I would feel really warm. Other than that I don’t experience much.
Votes: +1
HA
Happinessrocks
2 July 2019
Hello. I am completely new to Buspar. I was just prescribed this med as I started taking Zoloft and had anxiety with it as well as a few episodes of my breathing stopped at night time, which I believe from the research that I have done, can be a side effect of the Zoloft or SSRI. I have never taken a preventative medication for anxiety. I have only taken Xanax which I really love having on hand. I try not to take man made meds as I am now trying CBD and other natural supplements but my anxiety has increased in the past 6 months, and it's truly scaring the crap out of me. So, my new DO has prescribed the Buspar.
From all of your responses ,I am assuming that the side effects are definitely something everyone experiences. Is this correct? I so wish there were none, but I guess that is not so with Buspar. I will make sure to take the medication with food, as you have mostly said that it lessens the side effects if you have food in your system, correct? Also, it stated on some of the medical sites that Buspar takes 2-4 weeks to fully work. Has anyone actually felt better after this time? I just don't want to start a medication and then go through all of those side effects if it doesn't help with the panic and all of those horrible feelings i get when I take it. I assume that I can also take Xanax while on the Buspar?
Thank you for the help. I am happy that we have this blog to talk with others about the reality of the medications we take. I am also utilizing therapy, getting outside to walk and garden more and yoga/breathing to help with the anxiousness.
Peace-
Votes: +0
WA
WarriorNotWorrier
4 June 2019
Started Buspar 5mg 3xday 6 days ago and the first two days my anxiety was even worse. Fear, increased panic, sweating, palpitations, etc. On the third to forth day I felt a heavy black cloud lift and things started to ease up. Yesterday was the best day I’ve had in a very long time. I was laughing with my husband and son, finding joy in little things for the first time in forever. What a wonderful feeling that was! Now today was fairly good for the most part, but towards the afternoon I felt my anxiety creeping worse for about two hours after my second dose. Calmed back down this evening so we will see what tomorrow brings. Praying this is my answer to finding life enjoyable again.
Votes: +1
CI
Cicadia-322
19 April 2019
Generally, it takes little over a month for everything to stabilize. I've been on Buspar 60mg for over 5 years. I've just lowered my dose from 60mg to 30mg after experiencing extreme drowsiness, loss of apetite and panic attacks coming back.
I've lowered my dose the second week in March and I still haven't completely leveled out. I feel "mellowed out" I have plenty of energy, I don't feel "horny" but I can get aroused.
It's been little over a month, appetite is coming back.
Votes: +0
TU
TurtleinABQ
20 April 2018
I would like to know how to deal with the restlessness, stomach upset, headache and general anxiety while my body is adjusting to the buspirone. This is only my 3rd day.
Votes: +0
LA
LAJBH42
20 July 2018
Have you been making sure to take it with food?
SP
Specht13
9 March 2019
I am on day 7 and still very anxious after I take the buspar. I'm praying the effects lessen as time goes on. How are you feeling now?
JA
janewendy
15 Feb 2018
please tell me what is a brain zap?
Votes: +0
IN
Inactive
16 Feb 2018
hi jane wendy: If you look up "brain zap" on wikipedia, it will tell you the following about brain zaps as being part of "Discontinuation syndrome" when stopping an antidepressant. ~~~~ "Commonly reported symptoms include flu-like symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, sweating) and sleep disturbances (insomnia, nightmares, constant sleepiness). Sensory and movement disturbances have also been reported, including imbalance, tremors, vertigo, dizziness, and electric-shock-like experiences in the brain, often described by sufferers as 'BRAIN ZAPS' . Mood disturbances such as dysphoria, anxiety, or agitation are also reported, as are cognitive disturbances such as confusion and hyperarousal." ~~~~ I have had these in the past, and it feels like an electric current zinging through your head. Not a good feeling.
JA
janewendy
16 Feb 2018
Thank you. I actually did google it, and what I read scared me. But you got brain zaps while ON the drug, right?
IN
Inactive
16 Feb 2018
I have gotten brain zaps from antidepressants, actually. I never got them with buspar. But I got them while I was both lexapro and effexor, as well as when I was weaning off both of those. Then the brain zaps eventually went away.
IN
Inactive
16 Feb 2018
Yes, I meant to say that I got brain zaps while I was taking both antidepressants lexapro and effexor. There really isn't any way to know which medications will cause side effects until taking it, but we are all individuals, so it does happen to some people but not to others, like any other "possible" side effects.
This is continue from my first comment. I'm using my phone and it's scrolling the message box up & down so fast, making it difficult to type or key in a word/words. Yes,I believed sincerely that Xanax saved my life! I had to stop taking it because of severe breathing problems I was having. Plus I had been taking Xanax n zoloft for many years. I shouldn't of taken it for so long! I've tried Prozac too and it worked well and I took it a number of years but began to have headaches n had to stop taking it. Prozac is good for depression n real good for memory! Zoloft helped my depression a lot n Xanax help tremendously on my anxiety & panic attacks.
Votes: +1
AN
Anxtysux
20 Dec 2013
Dang technology!! Lol! So sorry to hear you have had some adverse reactions to some of your meds. Hopefully you can find some peace with Buspar. Any adverse reactions I've had seem to be just the worsening of my anxiety:( how much Xanax and Zoloft were you taking a day?
FA
fayfaith
20 Dec 2013
I'm sorry I've had to keep adding to my first comment,making it more than One comment, it wasn't my intent. My phone or this page keeps jumping around,messing up. I wanted to add to my comment on taking Zoloft. It does work well but one of the side affects that I had to deal with was... memory Los,forgetting a lot. Not. memories of long ago,just. from one moment to the next. or the day before,not always.You'd have to stop n think ... what did I forget... I've always had a fantastic memory so that did bother me a great deal. If I was taking Prozac it was alright but taking Zoloft alone/by itself wasn't when it comes to memory. Other than that it was still a good antidepressant! I really hate having to go through this trail & error time again,trying to find a antidepressant that works for me. You have to spend days,nights and weeks, possibly several months to not just find what works but to give it time to work.
It's so much to go through,on you and your family & friends. What makes it worse is the Ones that doesn't understand. I'm knew here,to drug.com and thankful I found it & all of U. God Bless each & Everyone of U ~ ~ ~
FA
fayfaith
22 Dec 2013
Hi Anxtysux, I was taking 1mg tablet of Xanax 3 times a day as needed. With Zoloft 50mg tablet twice a day. And sometimes I would take Sinequan/Doxepin 25 mg at night,mainly for sleep.
FA
fayfaith
22 Dec 2013
Hi Anxtysux, I was taking 1mg tablet of Xanax 3 times a day as needed. With Zoloft 50mg tablet twice a day. And sometimes I would take Sinequan/Doxepin 25 mg at night,mainly for sleep.
AN
Anxtysux
22 Dec 2013
Hi Fayfaith -
Thanks for telling me what you took and dosage. I am so afraid of meds but know I need them to get through my day... especially lately. I've now been off Buspar for 3 days and am not feeling better. Still taking 12.5 mg of Zoloft and .25mg of Xanax as needed. I know those doses are laughable, but I'm scared to increase. Still having racing thoughts, heart beat, etc. One minute I'm fine, the next min I'm not. Ugh! So frustrating. I hope you are hanging in there!!! Did you start the Buspar yet?
Hi, I just got my prescription for Buspar/Buspirone. I've been hesitant in taking it,but I will. I tried this Btuspar over a decade ago and didn't like it,it didn't seem to do anything for me.I had a couple of small complaints with side effects, nothing serious. Don't really remember now, except maybe keeping me awake and not completely taking the anxiety & panic attacks away. So because of my circumstances I've decided to try it again. I just recently had to get off medications I've been taking a very long time. First it was the Xanax several years ago and now the Zoloft, both has worked wonderfully for me.I called Xanax my miracle drug! I that time,I believed it saved my life.
Votes: +0
AN
Anxtysux
20 Dec 2013
Hi Fayfaith
I just talked to my psychiatrist tonight and decided to go off the Buspar after 3 weeks. I tried... I really did and just can't take the way it makes me feel like I am loosing my mind. Racing thoughts, brain rushes, cotton mouth, cold hands and feet and sweaty at the same time. I'm not sure what's next for me... probably Xanax to cope in the meantime but I hate having to rely on that. I sure hope the Buspar works for you!!! Sending you good vibes!! Please keep me posted.
LA
FA
fayfaith
20 Dec 2013
Hi Anxtysux, I hate having to rely on any of these drugs,it's horrible to me that I have to. Mentally We need this and physically We don't. These drugs actually harms Our bodies! Faith, hope & prayers ~
AN
Anxtysux
1 Dec 2013
Hi anxioushuineapig-
I know it's been a few years since this post but when I read your post I felt like I was reading what I would have written. I just started taking 5mg of Buspar 4 days ago in the am and pm and haven't noticed much change yet in my anxiety, but perhaps a bit more depressed and agitated than anything. I am also taking 12.5mg of Zoloft and have been for over a year without much relief. My psychiatrist thinks the addition of Buspar may be the answer??? What did you end up doing? Staying in the Buspar? Is it working? Hope you are doing better... searching for an answer/relief is so exhausting. Best, LA
Votes: +2
IN
Inactive
2 Dec 2013
Hey LA,
I'm still taking it, 15mg a day. I do feel it helps, but for me works best if I divide it up into 3 doses, about 1/2 hr after each meal. So you might try taking it more frequently (divide your 10mg a day into 3 equal doses). I think it is the mildest of the anti-anxieties and has a very short half-life. I also still take the lowest dose of klonopin at night. For public speaking or big events I'll take 1/4 dose of propranolol.
In my experience you may need to try a variety of different medications to get the right one or combination that suits your specific body chemistry. But if you get strong negative side effects, I would stop taking it or taper off it. And I also think that if it doesn't help, taper off it.
Who needs the extra chemicals from something that isn't making a difference? Propranolol is a wonder drug for anxiety in my opinion, and I would take it every day but I have asthma and it can bring on asthma attacks and negate the effects of the puffer so I don't take it much and only in tiny 1/4-1/2 doses.
I've found that intense, extended exercise (kickboxing 1-3 hrs, 4-6 times a week) combined with rarely drinking alcohol and no tobacco has helped me the most. I think the increase in anxiety in our culture is because we are too busy, the speed of life is too fast, we don't slow down with the pace of the earth and value things like small, local community, ritual, nature and beauty instead of a never-ending to-do list. And then we don't have time to exercise enough to stabilize things.
RO
rocketman81
16 Dec 2013
i've started buspar 2 weeks ago and 1 thing I notice is it has slowly reduced my anxiety ... and since I have started buspar I dont tolerate my propanolol anymore even 5 mg seems to floor my bp ... but in relation to your question ... they tell you to take it same time everyday with or without food ... I didnt practice that at first ... it is important to keep the blood levels of buspar up the half life is short ... currently I tend to get a little anxious 1-2 hours after I take it and after that I feel the best ... oh yeh I went to buspar because zoloft made me crazier than a sack of cats ... stick with it I hope it helps your anxiety !!!
RO
rocketman81
16 Dec 2013
Oh yeh one wierd but acceptable side effect I didnt get at first was ..now when i get hungry I really effin eat alot
I've been on buspar for 6 weeks and 2 days they just increased my dose to 15 mg twice a day, it's definitely help with some of my panic/anxiety attacks but I still have them everyday, I have Xanax that I also take when they are real bad but after about 6 hours it's like the buspar wears off and that's when the panic/anxiety attacks start happening again. I was wondering if it ever fully helped you and if I should give this increase mg a chance to work but I feel that since I've been on it for 6 weeks that the increase should make me feel better and take away more of the panic/anxiety attacks.
Votes: +1
IN
Inactive
19 Oct 2012
I do feel it helps. I guess it took a few months for my system to adjust. I take .5 mg multiple times a day: after breakfast, after lunch and after dinner then right before bed. I have read it has a short half life.
Another thing to try is a different manufacturer. They're all supposed to be the same but I notice a difference between them.
Buspar makes me feel overall more calm and comfortable but it isn't a panic fix.
You could try propranolol for anxiety/panic as well. It has helped me a lot. My understanding is that it is less addictive than benzos.
Good luck!
AL
alwazonmymind
27 Feb 2012
hi ,i was on the buspar for 3 yrs,i come off(for some reason,i cnt remember)but about 2 yrs aftr being off id started havin real bad back pains just in 1 spot of my back,well my huband took me to a chiropractor,he listen to my medical history&all the meds id been on but aftr he had x-ray then ordered some more test,now me w/no ins,im like i dnt have the money for all this i had just come in for adjutment,and he said it was very important for me to get 1 of the test ran,well my diagnosis was tht the pain(starts out as a burning sansation&just gets towhere i couldnt stand anything touchin it when it would start hurtin9uually aftr i was up using my arm in a repeated motion;washing dishes,folding clothe,anything moving my skin,muscles,etc.in my back,&it did start out as a nickel size spot,now its all the way across my back&narcotic kind pain meds do not help at all)had come frm the buspar which is a delayed start b/c it has to buildup ...
in the bodysystem,longacting antianxiety med,at the time it i was on it,it was very new&unlike my precious mom(rest her soul)it was 1 time tht i was a ginnie pig and i paid for it,but im lik alot of people when there desperate for relief,i take it if the doc saz too,thinkin at the time tht they no best,boy have i coem along way frm then but not far enuff to be off all the 9 meds im on now,anyway,it is tht the buspar burnt the nerves in mt central nervous system tht are in tht part of my skin on my back,now tho,my skin all the way across is numb to a point,if u pinch r stickit,it is numb only so far deep,then it burns if u cn go dwn deep enuff to pass the numbness. but anyway,i do so thank you for answering my question. God bless! anytime i cn help,if ever you need anything,oh,gosh! id just realise how much i had typed.sorry sweets,just hadnt had any1 to feel my pain n a long while, sorry again.glad to be here. alwazonmymind.
Votes: +3
WR
wrink
10 Oct 2013
Maybe that is my problem with all my back pain from the buspar Wow thanks for posting this.
OM
omydang
14 April 2017
I apologize for being so forward, but I think that this comment is ludicrous. Chiropractic medicine is an alternative medicine. They have not gone to medical school, or taken any pharmacology courses. I have nothing against a good chiropractor, by any means. My mother is a physical therapist, even, which is like a chiropractor for the entire body. A good session can alleviate a lot of muscle tension and realign the spine, but there is no way that one would know that Buspar caused your back pain. It even sounds ridiculous. Also, Buspar has a short half-life and is out of your system very quickly. If there is any build up at all, than it is in fat, and would only be released if you rapidly lost weight. Even that is farfetched, honestly. I wish the best for you, but had to speak up so people aren't misinformed and scared into not trying Buspar.
CH
charli84
18 Aug 2017
I have to disagree as well. I'm so sorry. I do however realize and fully accept that everybody is different. I have been on buspar for 5 years now and it has done wonders for me. I see a chiropractor on a semi regular basis and for me, the buspar relaxes me enough that I don't need to go! Chiro agrees that anxiety makes the body tense and with meds, though most prefer natural, it relaxes the mind and in turn, the body!
MA
Mat1
24 Nov 2017
Charli84, do you take anything with the Buspar for your anxiety? I’ve been told to add Buspar to my SSRI. I suffer from the same conditions as you do.
LI
lil_britt29
12 Feb 2018
Chiropractors are not MDs that is correct but many have done more to be familiar with the way things effect the body. Chiropractors are manipulating the spine and the spine and brain is your central nervous system. No MD is going to tell you everything you should know about any med they prescribe, they can't because it would take way to much time. They will tell you a few common effects good and bad. I'm not saying a chiropractor knows everything about meds either but they do know some. Either way, don't blindly trust an MD. Do make yourself an informed patient. Also, look at studies that have been done on what you are prescribed. I didn't do it with the buspirone myself and I took it until it gave me such bad dry mouth that I just had to quit taking it. I will probably never take it again. I will have to do some research on it now despite that it wasn't helpful to me and the terrible dry mouth only made my GAD worse.
There are a lot of older meds still in use so they are probably overall mostly safe but it's still a good idea to make yourself informed. My doctor prescribed Lamictal (not an older drug but a good example) and even it's rarest serious side effect is Steven Johnson's Syndrome. I refused to take it. Anyway, my point was don't discount a chiropractor just because because they don't have an MD. They still have to know how things effect the CNS.
CH
charli84
12 Feb 2018
Matt, yes, I take clonazepam as well. Between the two I stay fairly level. Though I do have panic days every few months or so.
You should notice a difference within the next couple of weeks. Give it some more time. Also, be certain to always take the BuSpar the same way, either always with food or always without food so to keep the blood levels constant.
Votes: +4
IN
Inactive
19 Feb 2012
Thanks for your response Laurie! I will stick with it and try the suggestion about with or without food.
IN
Inactive
25 Feb 2012
Update after 14 days on the buspirone: If I take it with food, about 15 minutes into breakfast and dinner, I don't get intense brain zaps and I feel only slightly disoriented. It does seem to be helping me feel a bit more calm and relaxed overall, with less social anxiety. I am going to continue taking it with the food this way, and hopefully it keeps getting better!
LA
LaurieShay
25 Feb 2012
Excellent!!! Thanks for letting me know.
LA
LaurieShay
25 Feb 2012
grrrr! It posted my response out of order. Anyway, I'm glad to know you are responding to the BuSpar favorably and I suspect it will continue to improve.
IN
Inactive
25 Feb 2012
Darn technology! Thanks again :) Have a great weekend.
LA
LaurieShay
25 Feb 2012
You are welcome and hope yours is a good one as well!!
SP
Specht13
27 Feb 2019
Did this continue to work for you? I'm on day 3 of buspar and having bad panic attacks now. Before was just GAD. I also have tried prozac zoloft lexapro and effexor
