Thank you so much for all this good information about an alternative to SSRI medications which are being too easily prescribed by both doctors and N.P.’s everywhere. A family member had an adverse reaction to Lexapro and the prescriber just kept adding other medications. He changed providers and is slowly tapering off. Buspirone sounds like something that could actually help him!
Dr looney your videos are amazing and so helpful!! Im not sure why so many doctors say its useless? For horrible GAD I have had for 5 years im definitely going to give it a try. Does this medication cause insomnia at all? Also is this the only medication you can take for anxiety long term that doesn't cause withdrawl? Thank you for your caring demeanor!
So sorry about the GAD. It certanly can be horrible. I have some patients find significant decrease in anxiety with lamotrigine, but not as predictably. Klonopin works well and is also mood stabilizing, but it is addictive. Nonetheless. some do well on it for years. I think the reason most doctors don't use buspirone is that they don't go high enough with the dosage or they or their patients are not patient enough. Like all meds, though, side effects can cause problems. If so, I usually go down to the lowest dose - 5mg twice a day, and gradually work up. I hope it works well for you!
After trying almost all SSRIs and loathing them due to the sexual side effects, excessive sweats, nausea, sore tummy...I finally gave up on them forever. I then saw your video pop up randomly on RUclips and now my doctor is prescribing me with Buspirone for my anxiety. Thank you so so much! I wish I had known about this option earlier. Subscribed! :)
So glad you saw it. Praying for the best possible outcome. I usually start with 7.5mg twice a day and go up to 15 twice a day after a week if no adverse effects. The medicine should dial down your anxiety, but be patient. You won't get the full effect for a couple of months. It works better if you take it three times a day, but hardly anyone can remember a mid-day dose. Go up to a total of 60mg a day if you need it. Best wishes!
@paullooney Thank you :) my doctor wanted to start on 5mg 3x a day and then work up to 30 a day and then 60 if I need it. I will be patient to see the improvements :) haha.
Dr Looney you are Amazing ! please keep these videos coming .I got off lomictal because it caused sexual side effects .Mainly Premature ejaculation .very embarrassing.I just started Buspar my Doctor says this should help
So sorry for the side effects. SSRI's often cause delayed orgasm, so some guys take a small amount to slow things down. I hope you find the best solution!
Alot of great information! I had started on a 5mg dose twice a day. Only had a slight headache the first week but by the second week I had increased anxiety and stopped taking it. I feel as though I may have not given it a chance to work properly & may possibly give it another go.
Great video. I’ve tried Buspar a few times. My initial anxiety went up substantially. Do you think the increased anxiety would subside over time? Thanks.
Effexor didn't work for me and gave me a bunch of side effects including total removal of my sex drive. But I'm not convinced depression was ever my biggest issue. Lack of motivation and persistent mid-grade anxiety are. My anxiety is probably 4-6 out of 10 on most days and never dips below a 4. I don't recall the last time I felt truly relaxed. It's really only recently that I've realized how abnormal that is. Starting buspirone monotherapy soon. I'd never ever heard of this drug until a few weeks ago. Nobody suggested it!
So sorry no one suggested it. It is underutilized because most doctors don't gradually increase to a therapeutic dose. My target is 15mg twice a day, but start lower. Some need more than that. Once at a good dose, it will take a couple months to get full benefit. Best wishes to you!
I started buspirone 10mg twice daily since last 5days. So far no positive or negative effect. I suffer from insomnia since 10yrs. Want to get rid of ssri and benzo due to side effect.
Without side effects, I would immediately go to 30mg total daily in two or three doses. If you still are not getting relief, gradually titrate upward to a total of 60mg a day if needed.
Most people are able to quit without any withdrawal syndrome. Of course, it is almost always best to taper off a psychiatric medication, just to allow your brain chemistry to reequilibrate.
Finally a truly honest psychiatrist!
Thank you. Doing my best.
Thank you so much for all this good information about an alternative to SSRI medications which are being too easily prescribed by both doctors and N.P.’s everywhere. A family member had an adverse reaction to Lexapro and the prescriber just kept adding other medications. He changed providers and is slowly tapering off. Buspirone sounds like something that could actually help him!
Thanks for the comment. As you know, I am not a big fan of SSRI's. If anxiety is the main symptom, I would definitely encourage a trial of buspirone.
Dr looney your videos are amazing and so helpful!! Im not sure why so many doctors say its useless? For horrible GAD I have had for 5 years im definitely going to give it a try. Does this medication cause insomnia at all? Also is this the only medication you can take for anxiety long term that doesn't cause withdrawl?
Thank you for your caring demeanor!
So sorry about the GAD. It certanly can be horrible. I have some patients find significant decrease in anxiety with lamotrigine, but not as predictably. Klonopin works well and is also mood stabilizing, but it is addictive. Nonetheless. some do well on it for years.
I think the reason most doctors don't use buspirone is that they don't go high enough with the dosage or they or their patients are not patient enough. Like all meds, though, side effects can cause problems. If so, I usually go down to the lowest dose - 5mg twice a day, and gradually work up.
I hope it works well for you!
Thank you sir
After trying almost all SSRIs and loathing them due to the sexual side effects, excessive sweats, nausea, sore tummy...I finally gave up on them forever. I then saw your video pop up randomly on RUclips and now my doctor is prescribing me with Buspirone for my anxiety. Thank you so so much! I wish I had known about this option earlier. Subscribed! :)
So glad you saw it. Praying for the best possible outcome. I usually start with 7.5mg twice a day and go up to 15 twice a day after a week if no adverse effects. The medicine should dial down your anxiety, but be patient. You won't get the full effect for a couple of months. It works better if you take it three times a day, but hardly anyone can remember a mid-day dose. Go up to a total of 60mg a day if you need it. Best wishes!
@paullooney Thank you :) my doctor wanted to start on 5mg 3x a day and then work up to 30 a day and then 60 if I need it. I will be patient to see the improvements :) haha.
@@Kayz_90 That sounds great if you can remember a third dose. Good luck!
Good info! I started it this week. No major side effects besides a little dizziness that passes after like 10 mins, and some brain fog.
Often those side effects will go away. Best of luck!
Dr Looney you are Amazing ! please keep these videos coming .I got off lomictal because it caused sexual side effects .Mainly Premature ejaculation .very embarrassing.I just started Buspar my Doctor says this should help
So sorry for the side effects. SSRI's often cause delayed orgasm, so some guys take a small amount to slow things down. I hope you find the best solution!
By the way, thank you for the kind words!
Alot of great information! I had started on a 5mg dose twice a day. Only had a slight headache the first week but by the second week I had increased anxiety and stopped taking it. I feel as though I may have not given it a chance to work properly & may possibly give it another go.
Thanks for the comment, Melissa. Sorry for the anxiety and the headache. I hope you do try again and let us know your experience.
Great video. I’ve tried Buspar a few times. My initial anxiety went up substantially. Do you think the increased anxiety would subside over time? Thanks.
I certainly would hope so, but there are always people for whom medication has a paradoxical effect. So much of what we do is trial and error.
It worked for me.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Cheryl. Glad it helped!
Effexor didn't work for me and gave me a bunch of side effects including total removal of my sex drive. But I'm not convinced depression was ever my biggest issue. Lack of motivation and persistent mid-grade anxiety are. My anxiety is probably 4-6 out of 10 on most days and never dips below a 4. I don't recall the last time I felt truly relaxed. It's really only recently that I've realized how abnormal that is. Starting buspirone monotherapy soon. I'd never ever heard of this drug until a few weeks ago. Nobody suggested it!
So sorry no one suggested it. It is underutilized because most doctors don't gradually increase to a therapeutic dose. My target is 15mg twice a day, but start lower. Some need more than that. Once at a good dose, it will take a couple months to get full benefit. Best wishes to you!
I started buspirone 10mg twice daily since last 5days. So far no positive or negative effect. I suffer from insomnia since 10yrs. Want to get rid of ssri and benzo due to side effect.
Without side effects, I would immediately go to 30mg total daily in two or three doses. If you still are not getting relief, gradually titrate upward to a total of 60mg a day if needed.
How easy to withdraw?
Most people are able to quit without any withdrawal syndrome. Of course, it is almost always best to taper off a psychiatric medication, just to allow your brain chemistry to reequilibrate.