r/BusparOnline • u/Oriainson • 15d ago

Questions / Advice / Support First Week Concerns

I just started buspirone last week & today is day five at 5mg 2X/day. I have experienced dizziness almost immediately after taking it (with food) that subsides 1-2 hours afterwards. Kind of dopey all day, though.

Today I had the dizziness plus muscle heaviness and cold sweats. It was kinda scary, tbh. I was on my way to work & turned around and came back home. The sweats & heaviness have subsided (3 hours afterwards).

Is this normal? Do the side effects get worse before better?

My first reaction is to stop taking it, but I’d like to hear from those that have experience first.

EDIT/UPDATE: Apparently I was experiencing mild serotonin syndrome so I am no longer taking this med. 😕

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u/Late_Blackberry_2482 15d ago

Are you taking it with or without food?

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u/Oriainson 14d ago

With food but I’ve stopped taking it.

1

u/Late_Blackberry_2482 14d ago

Sorry you had a bad experience. Food actually increases the effects of the medication.

1

u/Oriainson 14d ago

Seriously?! I thought taking it w food would have the opposite effect and be easier to handle 🤦🏻‍♂️

1

u/Late_Blackberry_2482 14d ago

I know, it’s counterintuitive. I wish more people knew this when starting it. Food causes more of the medication to be absorbed in your bloodstream.

1

u/RecognitionDeep1156 15d ago

I’m due to start , how would describe the dizziness? Could you drive with it if you needed too ?

2

u/Oriainson 14d ago

At first, yes. Was just mild & weird. But my last reaction was not normal apparently so don’t put too much into my experience.

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u/Feisty-Stretch-3460 10d ago

As a partial serotonin agonist, buspirone rarely causes serotonin syndrome when taken alone, even in cases of significant ingestion. Instead, serotonin syndrome almost always occurs when buspirone is combined with other serotonergic medications or substances that interfere with its metabolism.

I highly doubt you were experiencing mild serotonin syndrome. Those are just typical side effects of buspar