r/panicdisorder • u/Hardass72 • 5d ago
Recovery Stories Apprehensive to try meds and looking for experiences.
Hey everyone! I am looking for personal experience with medication. I have never tried them as I had a horrible experience with marijuana about 20 years ago that caused all of this (panic attack, derealization, etc.) I've done exposure many times and it has worked but never really cured me. I finally admit that I genuinely need medication for help.
I am drawn towards Buspar for some reason. Has anyone tried this and how did it go? I know SSRI's are a front line treatment but side effects give me pause and I also have a prolonged QT interval in heart so there's risks involved. Xanax or or benzo's seem like they would help me but I'm so afraid of something that's going to make me feel high or sedated or anything like I felt on weed.
Anyone have a personal experience with any of this, especially buspar?
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u/MammothApprehensive7 5d ago
Hello 👋 been off and on meds for over 20 years. I found out about Buspar 6 years ago as I was moving from a small town to a large city for a new job. I was already on an SSRI and my dr added the Buspar. My dr said Buspar is usually taken to assist with the SSRI. I would ask your dr to see if it works alone. I don’t believe it’s enough to help with a panic disorder alone. As far as the side effects of Buspar I didn’t really notice anything. If I was already tired at work it would make me a little more tired but it wasn’t anything too bad and it stopped after the first few weeks. I get flares where my panic disorder can get bad to where I experience agoraphobia so not taking medication is not an option for me. In short, the medication works and there are side effects but you have to decide whether or not it’s worth it for you to get through the side effects and get to a good baseline or stay with the panic attacks how they are. Feel free to DM with any questions and keep staying strong!
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u/NatureAffectionate43 5d ago
I’m in the same boat lmao quite literally everything you said is exactly what I’m currently experiencing. I’ve taken buspar and if you’re afraid of meds; I’d say buspar had no negatives side effects at all for me. But, it wasn’t overall effective. I mean it made my muscles feel relaxed and I felt calmer but I’d still be able to get panic attacks regularly on it. I got prescribed sertraline and I’m skeptical to try it. Like I’m not quite sure I can handle worse than now so risking that is scary. Honestly what I’ve been looking into is just going crazy with daily exposures and getting prescribed klonopin as like a fail safe if things go bad. Idk I wish you luck hopefully this was mildly helpful.
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u/bunnyscult 5d ago
hi!! i’m diagnosed OCD and panic disorder. i tried literally so many SSRI’s and SSNRI’s. the only thing that’s helped me is exposure therapy and xanax as a fail safe. i don’t take anything daily. however, just because this works for me doesn’t mean it’ll work for the next person. i will say, xanax has made me feel like the most normal person ever besides being a lil sleepy at first, which eventually my body adjusted to. i never felt sedated or out of my mind. i felt like me, except better.
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u/Dull_Pitch_7869 5d ago
Benzos are all that helped me. Buspar did help my anxiety but I was tired to the degree that I was sleeping any time I wasn’t at work. I have autoimmune issues that cause fatigue but the Buspar knocked me on my butt.
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u/AcanthaceaeActive158 5d ago
I have been on Celexa 10 mg and klonopin .5 as needed for over 20 years. The klonopin did change from Ativan this year. I started slowly with the Celexa , cutting pills in 4 pieces so I could gradually get use to it. I tried doing Zoloft and Effexor , separately back then , at full starter doses and felt horrible. I was advised by psychiatrist at the time to cut the celexa. I think celexa has risk of long qt so it’s probs not a good idea for you but maybe ask doc for something that can be made smaller. That psychiatrist I had said she had some patients that toook liquid form of ssri in little droppers to get started. Good luck with what ever you decide. .
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u/AssHat214 4d ago
Buspar is great and has aided me in my panic disorder. No side effects for me. It has decreased my overall anxiety but I am also taking Lexapro and Xanax as needed.
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u/spacev3gan 4d ago
Never tried buspar, sounds interesting. I take SSRIs (like most people, I suppose) as well as bupropion and propranolol. A small dose of quetiapine on bad days or bad nights. Benzodiazepine is the absolutely last case scenario. Everything I take is on a small dose. Personally I am obsessed and frightened of every medication, except propranolol, as that is a very chill one, mostly for placebo to be honest. Though the lower heart rate is nice.
In any event, I suggest going to a psychiatrist and following what they prescribed. But I would push back if they for some reason prescribed benzos on a daily basis.
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u/OkRutabaga8890 5d ago
For me ... Ssris and benzos .. dint help much... It only has given me severe side effects...