SSRI to Buspar? Opinions please!

Hey,

Want some input from people on here that have done the switch from a SSRI to buspirone (Buspar), have you had any significant improvements as a result? Energy levels? Sex drive?

Spoke to my psychiatrist about changing over but he wants me to try and up my SSRI dose first .. plus hes also not too keen because its not specifically indicated for BPD therefore i'd have to pay more for the script.. but thats not a problem for me..


Thanks all xx

bsl9408 wrote:Hey,

Want some input from people on here that have done the switch from a SSRI to buspirone (Buspar), have you had any significant improvements as a result? Energy levels? Sex drive?

Spoke to my psychiatrist about changing over but he wants me to try and up my SSRI dose first .. plus hes also not too keen because its not specifically indicated for BPD therefore i'd have to pay more for the script.. but thats not a problem for me..


Thanks all xx

Buspirone is a good potentiator of SSRI's but is he just wanting to take you all the way off the SSRI without weaning you off?! Buspar is a common option for GAD I know too, but an entire switch from one to another would scare the hell out of me. My ex was on SSRI's, and the Dr said they weren't addictive. Well, he switched her to Valium and did no taper. She went through hell. Not just for days but weeks.

Anyway if there was a taper I feel you would have higher energy levels on buspar. SSRI's get worse in time according to my observations. My ex had brain zaps for like months, even on a taper when she finally opened the doc's eyes.

Just don't know if he wants you on both or if he wants a taper and then a switch. The downside to Buspar is its low half life. That can make you more dependent on it and help build tolerance levels quickly. Good for the short term, but please consider the long term effects too.

Good luck.

Hi bsl,
I have no idea, sorry. You were a bit quiet so I did a search to find you. Glad to see you doing pretty okay.
Jade

bsl9408 wrote:Hey,

Want some input from people on here that have done the switch from a SSRI to buspirone (Buspar), have you had any significant improvements as a result? Energy levels? Sex drive?

Spoke to my psychiatrist about changing over but he wants me to try and up my SSRI dose first .. plus hes also not too keen because its not specifically indicated for BPD therefore i'd have to pay more for the script.. but thats not a problem for me..


Thanks all xx

Hey. I recently--in the past month or so--came off of benzos (Ativan) and went on Buspar (Buspirone). I had terrible withdrawal side effects from the benzos, including significant rebound anxiety and pervasive nervousness. However, although the Buspar takes a couple of weeks to kick in, it really works for me. It affects serotonin to some extent and can be an aid to SSRIs. Anyway, I love this medication and can imagine that it might be useful for you in replacing SSRIs. Note that I'm still on SSRIs (Luvox) while also on Buspar. However, I'm pretty sure it will work for anxiety by itself. Best of luck with it.

Here's my cocktail:

20mgs of Lexapro
60 mgs Buspar
.5 Klonipin BID
40mg Strattera (about to be weaned off)

I don't know if Buspar can particularly take the PLACE of SSRI's, but it does work REALLY well with the SSRI's. If you find that you're doing quite well, maybe you would want to continue on a low dose of the SSRI in conjunction with the Buspar? Only my opinion.

I myself am not ready to give up on the Lexapro, because I'm scared crapless about falling into another major depressive episode.

Meds are EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!


And BTW, I've missed you, Brooke!

AMP

I've been on Busparone for several months now, if not a year. I don't notice any difference at all since I've been taking them. I even stopped taking them for like a week and didn't notice any difference at all. Personally, I think buspar is a waste of money and I'm going to be talking to the psych about it this week. xD But that may just be because it doesn't affect me. I hope it does some good for you. (:

They make me tired, even on a low dosage (7.5 milligrams) I don't notice any significant improvement.