Posted by zeugma on November 30, 2004, at 16:20:31
In reply to Re: Does BuSpar ever work?, posted by linkadge on November 30, 2004, at 14:39:36
> Buspar would be more SSRI like then Benzo like.
>
> It has no anticonvulsant properties. It basically acts as a serotonin agonist, meaning it activates a single serotonin receptor (as opposed to SSRI's which activate every serotonin receptor)
>
> It can actually have some AD properties as well.
>
>
> LinkadgeI would say that buspirone is an AD instead of anything resembling a benzodiazepine. But it can be unpredictable due to its many CNS effects (besides stimulating the 5HT-1A receptor, it is a weak D2 antagonist, and its metabolite 1-PP is an alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist, similar to Remeron). It was first investigated as a neuroleptic, and I experienced a neuroleptic-like lethargy when I tried to go above 30 mg/day on it. I currently use it to stave off cataplectic attacks at night, at a dosage of 15 mg (that's not a usage in the PDR, but I discovered this on my own). It is a very imperfect drug, but it 'works'- it's a blend of weak AD and weak AP. Unfortunately, that's not what most people are looking for, least of all the severe anxiety patients who are most likely to be prescribed it.
poster:zeugma
thread:422039
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041128/msgs/422477.html