[T on C]

Hi,
I was wondering if anybody on the site has been on an extended doseage of Buspar. I've been on it for a year now and from what I've read it's supposed to be for short term use...
Anyone doing the same thing?

Thanks

[lambvet]

T on C, on Mar 3 2008, 09:25 PM, said:

Hi,
I was wondering if anybody on the site has been on an extended doseage of Buspar. I've been on it for a year now and from what I've read it's supposed to be for short term use...
Anyone doing the same thing?
Thanks

Hi T on C,
I took busparone for quite a while years ago, I was taken off of it as part of changing directions. But my experience with it was pretty good. It was not unlike taking a small dose of the usual benzodiazepine meds. I was taking it for about 2-3 years along with trazedone and later nefrazedone.

But it was my understanding, that rather than a short term use its lack of addicitive qualities, lack of cross addictive effects and its lack of tolerence made it an excellent choice for long term treatment for GAD. So, from what I have read in the past, it is a med that can be safely used long term. It is somewhat of a benign medication with minimal SEs, no addictive profile that would seemingly make it a long term solution if it was efficacious for an individual.

I have no idea that several information sites say "short term use..." but I suspect that it may be that there hasn't been any long term studies (I found one and it said that there were no appreciable negative effects due to a years use.) And the fact that it really isn't that strong a drug, especially if a person has prior long term benzo use. Also the whole time I was on it, like I said 2-3 years, I almost wondered if it was doing anything. You certainly can't feel any immediate effects after you dose yourself. I did read a suggestion that with longer term use that one should be check periodically for efficacy. Again, I suspect because of its mild efficacy. I doubt one could "get high" on it.

But quite frankly, I don't think there is any reason to not taking it long term if it proves effective to you. Its effects and side effects seem pretty mild comparatively. But I am glad to hear that it works well for you. I think as long as your doctor continues to refill your prescription (you may remind him from time to time how long you have been on them) that they are perfectly safe to take long term.

Peace and Love... wayne

[X-ray]

T on C, on Mar 4 2008, 06:25 AM, said:

Hi,
I was wondering if anybody on the site has been on an extended doseage of Buspar. I've been on it for a year now and from what I've read it's supposed to be for short term use...
Anyone doing the same thing?

Thanks

Hello T on C,

I have been on Buspar for 15 years.
It's a mild drug that has few side-effects.

I think Buspar is underestimated by many people.
The reason might be that this medicine doesn't offer immediate relief.

Best of Luck,
X-ray

[T on C]

Thanks all. So far besides a passing case of the "shakes" I have not had any bad stuff happen akin to when I was on an SSRI. Mileage varies for everyone when it comes to meds...

[Lahta]

I have been given Buspar off and on for a number of years. I agree with information from the other posts about it being a mild and non-addictive type drug. I was/am (supposed to) taking it for anxiety,irritability, anger, as a supplement to the anti-depressant. It never seems to help me much though.

[Chiara]

I'm on sertraline which doesn't seem to be helping my anxiety very much at the moment and have been looking into adding buspar to it. Does this help with GAD well? I also sometimes have full blown panic attacks.

Does it have many side effects?

Perhaps I should just give it a try? Seeing as it's not addictive and I've never used benzo's so perhaps it would work for me? (I read that it doesn't work so well for people who are used to taking benzos as benzos are so much stronger that buspar hardly touches their anxiety)