Can I Get Addicted To Buspar?
QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
First I want to thank you in advance for your time and dedication to something so important as getting things in perspective for many of us who can't do it.
These are my questions:
- I was on Prozac and I got a Panic attack, according to your test
I'm possibly GAD (always worry and with anxiety, my head does not know peace).
Is it possible that there is a connection between being GAD and my panic
attack with Prozac???
- I'm a 30-year-old woman diagnosed with BPD. I have history of ranges
attacks, very heavy ones follow by euphoria and of course dysphoria. I've been
in therapy for three years and finally I gained enough trust to start again
on medication. After the experience with Prozac I was scared!!!! I'm on a
medication called ORAP, it helps me with my mood swings, but not much with
my stress of anxiety. Is it possible to be on Orap and maybe BuSpar at the
same time????
-
- Would I get physically addicted to BuSpar??
- Is there any other medicine that I could use only in stressful situations of anxiety?
- Is it better to be on a constant medicine for GAD and for how long???
Thank you very much for your help!!!!!!!!
ANSWER:
- It's virtually certain. Prozac raises the serotonin 1 receptor,
which will aggravate the GAD. Increased anxiety causes dysphoria (anxiety,
rage, depression and despair) in borderlines and can also cause panic. Once
you've successfully taken BuSpar you should be able to take Prozac without
difficulty. If BuSpar worsens your anxiety, you'll likely temporarily need
Remeron to deal with the elevated serotonin 2 receptor commonly found in
those with PTSD.
- Orap is an antipsychotic. I generally try to keep my BPD patients off
chronic antipsychotics due to the potential long-term risks. Orap can be
taken with BuSpar. The euphoria is probably due to bipolar disorder.
Patients with both the BPD and bipolar respond very well to the combination
of Prozac and Tegretol with antipsychotics as needed.
- BuSpar is NOT ADDICTING! Keeping the GAD under control is crucial. Not only does it make one's life difficult and prevents taking important medications, but the GAD places the individual at a much higher risk of cancer and other diseases. Most patients need to take BuSpar long term.
