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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tina on April 12, 2001, at 20:52:50
Pdoc just gave me it today. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
love to all
Tina
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 13, 2001, at 2:20:58
In reply to Desperate for advice about BuSpar, posted by tina on April 12, 2001, at 20:52:50
BuSpar is a viable option for you, because:
*At the higher doses it is just as effective an antidepressant as the SSRI's.
*It has no anticholinergic effects.
*It has no sexual or weight-gain side-effects. In fact, it is sometimes used to restore sexual function.
*It is not addicting.
*It does not cause as much drowsiness as the benzodiazepines.
*You can add just about any antidepressant or anticonvulsant to it except for MAOI's.So if it does work for you in a few weeks, then it will be a good deal.
> Pdoc just gave me it today. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
> love to all
> Tina
Posted by Susanl on April 13, 2001, at 11:07:31
In reply to Desperate for advice about BuSpar, posted by tina on April 12, 2001, at 20:52:50
> Pdoc just gave me it today. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
> love to all
> TinaTina-
I haven't tried Buspar, but a friend of mine did and had
great success with no side effects. I hope you have the
same experience.Susan
Posted by Joy on April 13, 2001, at 12:54:49
In reply to Desperate for advice about BuSpar, posted by tina on April 12, 2001, at 20:52:50
My understanding is it works best combined with an antidepressant and not alone, but you don't know till you try. Good luck.
Joy
> Pdoc just gave me it today. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
> love to all
> Tina
Posted by tina on April 13, 2001, at 18:59:07
In reply to Re: Desperate for advice about BuSpar, posted by Joy on April 13, 2001, at 12:54:49
The thing that confuses me is that my doc told me to take it only when i need it. it is my understanding by reading about it that I have to take it on a regular basis to derive any success from it. Is this not so?
I'm taking in combo with elavil(amytriptiline). The elavil is controlling the depression but the doc thought the anger outbursts would be controlled by the buspar. what do you all think about that? I know my mileage may vary.
thanks so much for your responses above. I really appreciate the advice.
Hope everyone has a great easter!!
Tina> My understanding is it works best combined with an antidepressant and not alone, but you don't know till you try. Good luck.
> Joy
>
>
>
>
> > Pdoc just gave me it today. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
> > love to all
> > Tina
Posted by JohnL on April 14, 2001, at 4:24:08
In reply to Desperate for advice about BuSpar, posted by tina on April 12, 2001, at 20:52:50
> Pdoc just gave me it today. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
> love to all
> TinaI don't want to sound discouraging, but the fact is you would have to search this board real hard going way back in the archives to find anyone who has done real well with Buspar. It seems to me to be one of those drugs that looks good on paper and in clinical trials, but in the real world isn't all that great.
My pdoc has tried Buspar with many patients and has never had any success stories come from it. He doesn't prescribe it anymore.
Of course, we all respond differently, so give it a few weeks. You may be one of those people who responds well to it. But like I said, such people are hard to find. My own trial of Buspar was lousy. It just made my ears ring, my knees weak, tired, and very foggy headed. It is also a very expensive medication. I would think any med that costs that much had better be darn good.
John
Posted by KarenB on April 14, 2001, at 12:00:00
In reply to Desperate for advice about BuSpar, posted by tina on April 12, 2001, at 20:52:50
> Pdoc just gave me it today. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Dear Tina,
It is my understanding that you must take it on a regular basis for it to work, not "as needed," like a benzo. I was told by my doc that it is not fast acting and you may have to wait three to four weeks to see results. It seems to work best for those with mild symptoms of anxiety and not for those with, say, panic attacks.
It is effective for some but as John says, good response is rare. I have heard it descibed by one doctor as "the world's most expensive placebo."
Good luck. I hope you are one of the few.
Karen
Posted by vlvtelvis on April 14, 2001, at 15:55:28
In reply to Re: Desperate for advice about BuSpar--update, posted by tina on April 13, 2001, at 18:59:07
This is my understanding as well, based on reading and my experience taking it. It did little until after several days of use. While it's often presented as such, this is why I don't conisder it a useful alternative to benzodiazapines. If you only take it when you're having a bad attack, it won't do much of anything, or so I understand.
I've found that celexa does a pretty good job of keeping my anxiety in line, but when stuff get real rough, benzos can be a lifesaver.
> The thing that confuses me is that my doc told me to take it only when i need it. it is my understanding by reading about it that I have to take it on a regular basis to derive any success from it. Is this not so?
> I'm taking in combo with elavil(amytriptiline).
This is the end of the thread.
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