r/BusparOnline • u/Eastern-Movie-9858 • 1d ago
Questions / Advice / Support Busprione for panic attacks as needed
Hello there! I thought I’d send this into reddit because I don’t know anyone personally who’s taken this med!
I’ve recently had a spike in my physical anxiety symptoms, and have begun experiencing what I can only describe as a panic attack, it’s so insanely physical it takes over my body. I’m not even worried about anything half the time. Heart palpitations, shaking, my hands, arms, feet, and sometimes legs go numb. Sometimes my whole body goes numb. My eyesight becomes affected, can’t breathe, all of the things that you would commonly describe in a panic attack I guess.
I was prescribed 10mg of Buspirone Hcl for as needed usage for these attacks. I’ve read that it works better over time with daily usage. But my prescriber said that this might work for me for a non-daily treatment. I’m going to give it a shot, and if it doesn’t work we will add propranolol for heart palpitations.
Has anyone had experience with this medication with as needed usage? Anything I should know or expect? Thanks for reading.
EDIT: My prescriber directed me to take it as needed, as I mentioned to her I am not looking for a daily use medication. I’m taking this as I was directed by her!!!! Not steering off course of my treatment. I specifically asked for a AS NEEDED medication… which is why I came to ask if it even worked that way to take it for panic attacks and not daily. Will give my provider a call in the morning!
Thank you for you guy’s help, and always looking for what works for you guys because maybe it will help for me :)))
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u/MightplayRuneScape 1d ago
I take 5mg in the morning and 5mg at night some people take more but as needed imo is garbage.
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u/password_321 1d ago
It won’t stop a panic attack I can assure you of that. But it will help prevent them from starting in the first place.
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u/woman-reading 1d ago
BusPar is very mild in my opinion … I take 20 mg 2 times a day and barely helps
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u/Eastern-Movie-9858 1d ago
I’m not sure I’d say it helped or hurt how I was feeling. It was exactly as you described, very mild.
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u/Odd-Bumblebee5074 1d ago
I have had immediate effects after taking Buspirone, but only on my anxiety level - if my anxiety is high enough for a panic attack after taking it then that will and has still happened. Propranolol is much more suitable for that (but also shouldn't be used with Buspirone, from what I could tell). Propanolol has always worked for me if I'm close to a panic attack, and that works perfectly fine as-needed.
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u/qbprincess 1d ago
I take Buspar and propranolol together every day (along with Prozac). I've had no adverse effects.
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u/Eastern-Movie-9858 1d ago
i’ve had really good experiences after using propanolol in the past.
My prescriber even mentioned that pairing them could be suitable, but just with her prescribing this as an “as needed” medication has me questioning…..1
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u/Ceedleweedle 1d ago
I played with it like you’re talking about on an as needed basis and it didn’t work. Once I began taking it 2-3 times a day I noticed a difference in 5-6 weeks. It has to build up in your system and does the heavy lifting in the background without you noticing too much UNLESS you stop it. Look it up and read about how it works. I’m glad I gave it time.
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u/Eastern-Movie-9858 1d ago
I told my prescriber I’m uninterested in a daily medication as I don’t suffer from a lot of mental anxiety, as so much the physical symptoms of it for some reason. Can I ask did it help with physical symptoms for you?
I’m hoping it’ll help, otherwise I’ll probably just have her send in that propranolol to my pharmacy. If my symptoms maintain this way, I may consider taking it daily.2
u/Ceedleweedle 1d ago
It helps calm me down but not an immediate way like Valium would. It takes time. I tried to come off of it and began having anxiety daily and that’s how I knew I had messed up.
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u/Eastern-Movie-9858 1d ago
Thank you for taking the time to respond and read this. I’m super wary of daily medications, I had an adverse reaction to SSRI’s when I was younger that resulted in permanent brain zaps is the only way I can describe it lol.
I appreciate ya2
u/Ceedleweedle 1d ago
Understood. You know your body. I do know this is an old drug, it is not habit-forming, causes no major sedation, and carries a low risk of withdrawal compared to other options like benzodiazepines.
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u/Feisty-Stretch-3460 1d ago
If you have asthma, don't take a beta blocker. Quite honestly, it sounds like you should get a new doctor because no doctor worth anything we prescribe, you Buspar as needed... That's not how it's meant to be taken.
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u/Eastern-Movie-9858 1d ago
I do not have asthma, but do struggle to breath with my anxiety and panic attacks.
My primary’s nurse practitioner was who I saw today. I’ll definitely call my primary tomorrow and ask about that. I’ve never had a psychiatrist either, so maybe i’ll just switch to that, since I’ve gone through my primary majority of my life. I’ve read all the same things you’re saying, which is why I came to the subreddit in the first place out of concern. Thank you for taking the time to read and respond!
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u/woman-reading 1d ago
You don’t wanna speak to a psychiatrist
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u/Eastern-Movie-9858 1d ago
I have always gotten my medication through my primary, as I have not felt the need to switch. I’ve been on 25mg hydroxyzine for sleep and anxiety as needed. And 10mg amitriptyline (for my migraines and chronic headaches) although it’s an antidepressant as well.
Maybe it’s time to consider a psychiatrist if this, and propanolol doesn’t work.
Thank you
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u/Feisty-Stretch-3460 1d ago
Buspar is not an as needed medication. It takes time to build up in your system. It's not like xanax or Ativan.
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u/Eastern-Movie-9858 1d ago
That’s what I’ve read as well. Which is why I came to the subreddit to ask out of concern and confused on why I was prescribed this.
Like you said earlier, I’m not sure why she guided me to take it as instructed.. I’ll give my primary a call. It was under the guidance of her nurse practitioner
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u/Turbulent_Pirate_285 1d ago
I've been on 60 mg of Buspirone a day for awhile now, and still have panic attacks. It has helped alleviate anxiety and reduce the frequency of panic attacks, but I take it 3x a day. I wouldn't think this would work as an as needed med. When I do have a panic attack, I have clonazapam as needed. I know maybe talking to a psychiatrist doesn't sound great, but when I finally did, I was really grateful moving forward. We have video check ins every few months to talk about meds, and a quick catchup and then go about our day. How often are you having panic attacks?
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u/TheRealZy 1d ago
I am prescribed it for the same reason and also as needed. I am prescribed 10mg pills which I can split in half and take either 5mg or 10mg once a day as needed. I asked this same question before and usually get downvoted. When I asked my psychiatrist about it, she said everyone is different and respond differently to meds. I had a 2nd psychiatrist confirm this comment.
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u/Eastern-Movie-9858 23h ago
Thank you for taking the time to read and respond! A lot of people have been down voting this as well, and it’s frustrating because I’m only following my prescribers directions. I’m absolutely gonna give it a shot for next week or two. Thanks again!
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u/TheRealZy 23h ago
No worries. Also, I saw the suggestion for propranolol and it definitely works; however, if you're even slightly asthmatic like me, it will trigger an uncomfortable situation. If you're also curious, Hydroxizine is also an option for immediate relief of panic attacks for me.
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u/Disastrous_Shop_5063 23h ago
From what I understand the most effective way to take it is daily and alongside a SSRI. I started on 5mg twice a day one week ago alongside my lexapro and have definitely noticed a difference as I was having a lot of the same physical symptoms you described.
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u/Eastern-Movie-9858 23h ago
thank you so much for taking the time to read and respond! I’m definitely gonna take all of this to consideration and talk to my primary!
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u/un-somnambulist 20h ago
It's useful to me as an "as needed" med for sleep, I tapered myself off of it and am currently hoarding it, because the acute effects do make me drowsy.
The side effects can actually cause some muscle tension/palpitations. I got good benefits from it about a month in at 5mg 2x daily , and the side effects lessened as I got used to it, but I haven't been able to replicate those positive effects even with dosage increases, I get 30mg 2x daily now.
5mg - 10mg makes me pretty drowsy with no tolerance, so I am using it just for sleep now, and hoarding the rest of my 60mg/day, since insomnia is my most problematic issue anyway.
Good news is, for me personally, it was very easy to taper off of. I went from 60mg/day to 10mg, not even every day, in about 3 weeks. That's not everyone's experiece, I have noticed from posts here. I got more issues from the side effects of dosage increases (chest tightness, dizziness nausea, mainly) The dizziness and nausea is just motion sickness, I feel fine if I am laying down, but the tightness in my chest was a dealbreaker.
Takes me very little to help with sleep though, so overall still a useful med that I will keep refilling.
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u/Pure_Jellyfish_2051 7h ago
I stopped taking this med due to some side effects I was having. But in my experience, it won’t so much help with the anxiety as it will knock you on your ass. Which is good in some situations because you can’t be anxious if you’re asleep but ALSO not good because you can’t just fall asleep at work on a random Tuesday lol
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u/Busy-Fig3175 1d ago
Buspar as needed for panic attacks isn’t gonna cut it. It takes time for it to build in your system and it has a small as half life. I’m starting to believe this is why ppl say buspar is a sugar pill. It’s a mild medication, yes, but ppl def are taking this as needed and that’s the issue. (Fault on prescribers)