Question re lorazepam versus Buspar in Support Forum

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Question re lorazepam versus Buspar

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pears43	Question re lorazepam versus Buspar	Lead	[-]
Posts: 644 01/26/09 10:11 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : ativan, buspar Hi-- I've been taking 1/2 mg lorazepam (Ativan) daily for a few months now. Recently split dose--1/4 mg in am, 1/4 mg in pm. Had a bad day Sunday, so think I took 1/2 mg twice that day (trouble with lorazepam is it affects the memory). Today, Monday, the t is still bad. I'm applying all the good advice I've gotten from you folks and trying not to let it take over--but just popped another lorazepam. Had a great day Saturday--went out with hubby and friends, and was feeling so good and t so quiet I stayed up till 2 a.m. watching TV. Think that was my undoing, as Sunday the t came back and bit me in the a**. I know Rob says not to monitor t this way, but I'm going to watch my sleep habits now and not push it. Went to psychiatrist last Friday to assess meds for anxiety, which seems to be what kicked off the tinnitus when it started last August, and address loss of appetite and 30-pound weight loss from anxiety. She prescribed Buspar--but I just found out it's $200 per scrip, so I'll take the generic, which is $19. Haven't gotten it yet as doc has to call the pharmacy and okay the generic. I'm hoping that after the Buspar kicks in, I can get off the lorazepam, as Jastreboff says benzos are not good for habituation. I'm not knocking benzos--the lorazepam has gotten me through some tough days--but it does make me sleepy and less apt to get out and keep busy. Anyone had experience taking generic Buspar? The doc told me it takes a while to kick in. I realize there are big individual differences in reactions to drugs. I think if I can get my anxiety down and focus on keeping busy, I'll be able to sideline the t. The doc also told me to take B12 complex containing 800 micrograms folic acid and 1000 micrograms B12, also omega3s containing 600-700 mg EPA and DHA. Also a book called The New Science of Breath with CD Respire 1--breathing exercises that are supposed to be good for anxiety.
sim1		#1	[-]
Posts: 17 01/26/09 8:38 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi, Pears I wish I had some information for you on Bespar, but I'm not familiar with it. I've responded well over the years to Xanax, another Benzo, which I've taken from time to time to combat many episodes of anxiety (not related to t, which has become a new addition to my anxiety repertoire, grrrr....). I'm sure there are plenty of resources with information on the drug, and perhaps others on this site or elsewhere can chime in. As you so wisely counseled me on my post, anything that quiets the anxiety helps the t. So if Bespar works, great. If benzos work better for you, use them. Whatever it takes to pull the plug on your brain's emergency response system. In my short experience with t, I've also noticed - and been so encouraged by - how distraction can make it disappear. Not noise distraction necessarily, but interaction and the experience of doing something "normal" - like the fun day you had last weekend. It helps me reinforce the fact that the t is only intrusive when I let it be so. I'm struggling too with the "re-awakening" to the t after those good experiences, but the more good experiences I have, the more I can train myself not to regard the t as an all-powerful, destructive force. I think Rob is spot-on about minimizing the energy we put into the t. Anxiety of course fuels that. I hope the medication works well for you. Best, Sim1
peachoid		#2	[-]
Posts: 172 01/26/09 10:29 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Pears, it either works really well or doesn't work at all. You will be able to tell if it's working. It is very dose-dependant. You need to have enough. If the dose you take doesn't work, upping the dose might work. The one big side effect is a dizzying headache. If you don't get a dizzying headache within an hour or two, you will be fine. If you do, you will need to drop the dose and then decide if you want to titrate up very slowly.
pears43		#3	[-]
Posts: 644 01/27/09 9:49 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks, Sim1 and Peachoid. The generic of Buspar is buspirone, as far as I can tell (don't have scrip yet). I did habituate to t--a different sound--some years ago, but this time I let the anxiety get way out of hand, so it's more difficult. I know the right things to do, and mostly they're working (except I'm not getting enough exercise), but some days are trying. I'll watch for those headaches, Peachoid. By the way, I'm going for PT twice a week for my neck problems, and after all the massaging of trigger points, I tend to get a headache the next day. Take a couple of Advil, which don't seem to up the t.
marko	re	#4	[-]
Posts: 1229 01/29/09 6:48 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	pears43, I have no personal experience with "BuSpar" (buspirone hydrochloride) but I can give you the stats on it. The therapeutic Class is Anxiolytic and it's Pharmacologic class is called "azaspirodecanedione". The half life is 2-4 hours. Recommended starting dose is 5mgs, 3 times a day for Anxiety. The usual maintenance dose is 15-30 mgs daily and maximum is 60mgs a day. Onset once taken is 40-90 minutes. The Action and Chemical effect is "unknown" although it's believed to inhibit neuronal firing and reduce serotonin turnover in cortical, amygdaloid and septohippocampal tissue. The therapeutic effect is to relieve anxiety. Adverse rections include possible dizziness, drowsiness, nervousness, excitement, insomnia, headache, fatigue, dry mouth, nausea and diarrhea. This is a pretty short list compared with some benzo's and antidepressants.
pears43		#5	[-]
Posts: 644 02/03/09 5:26 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks, Marko. I've been trying not to spend so much time on the board in an effort to focus away from the t--but here I am again. Glad I did today, as that New Yorker article by Dr. Jerome Groopman was very heartening--he's a bestselling author, and this is great publicity. I've been taking the buspirone with no real side effects, apart from slight dizziness once in awhile. Too soon to tell if it has any benefit.
marko	re	#6	[-]
Posts: 1229 02/04/09 2:19 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Pears43, Please keep us posted on this med. Buspar isn't a med you hear much about and at least in my eye's and it's very unusual in it's chemical makeup. Marko
SteveG	BUSPAR - NECK PAIN	#7	[-]
Posts: 4 05/21/10 2:27 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I just joined this Board - and will post a lot more detail about my T elsewhere. But your comment about seeing a PT for Neck Pain rang a bell (pardon the pun) for me. I just recently read that neck pains/neoropathy (which I have, and which developed around the same time that my T did) - sometimes has tinnitus as a symptom!. (Stands to reason with all the nerve bundles located there which no doubt could be 'exiting' the auditory nerves). While I have not personally correlated my tinnitus with a 'bad neck pain' day - or the stress related to all of this - it may in fact be at the root of the 'T' I and some others have. It would seem wise to see a Dr. who specializes in neck/spine problems for a real assessment. If the 'pain in the neck' can be fixed - it may just eliminate the T. This is just 1 avenue I intend to pursue.
victin		#8	[-]
Posts: 1892 05/21/10 3:36 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	hi steve, welcome, I too have the neck thing going on which could also coincide w/ allergies, sinuse,circulation and such, I see you are looking for the source of the t, all well and could, but sometimes it can be an uphill or downhill trip, as I recetnly learned... I wish you well and success in your quest... recently i had MRI which revealed arthritis in neck and discs, is it the source of my t, dont know... but happy hunting....vic
SteveG	NECK AND 'T'	#9	[-]
Posts: 4 05/21/10 4:34 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I suspect I have arthritis as well - 'crunching' sound when turning/moving my head - and many years of back problems at times. That said - I have a very unusual form of 'T' based on 2 years of of researching and Dr visits. Unlike most cases - my tinnitus changes 'character' and intensity daily - and almost always upon waking in the morning. If I wake up with it, it is with me all day - and usually gets worse as the day progresses. Typically, the next day, after waking upo it is not as bad - (maybe 'half or just a third as loud) - and on the third day - total, blissful silence! It doesn't always follow this exact patgtern - sometimes I end up with 2 or 3 days of ''not bad' followed by a very bad day. But I have also had 2 days in a row of total silence. (Never 3). Bizarre example was just last night. After 2 days of silence, I dozed off in the evning while the TV as still on. I awoke 30 minutes later to shut the TV - and my head was ringing! Went back to sleep, and awoke to my typical 'bad day'. Something is going on with my sleep cycle that is either silencing or re-triggering the 'T'. Try and get a Dr. to understand and find some real answers to this 'type'. TYhere seems to be a fair amount of research being done - either directly related to 'T' - or in other 'brain related' areas that very possibly relate to 'T'. But because it is spread around the globe - (and not much money flowing into the research) - there is no concerted effort (apparently) to bring together all these studies. Maybe I haven;'t seen it yet - but I have not seeen any posts on 'TMS' - a recently approved pro=cedure to treat depression using transcranial magnetic stimulation. According to the ATA - there has been some positive results using TMS for tinnitus. But since it is not approved for such use - it is not easy to find a provider. This could be another 'solution' for some types of 'T' - that are more neurologically based' versus 'loss of hearing' types etc.
victin		#10	[-]
Posts: 1892 05/21/10 5:53 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Interesting steve, there are couple of us here on the bd w/ not the same of course but similar t... also related to sleep, I am going to reserach more this TMS, sounds hopeful, although I cannot fully grasp my ts pattern, I do see some connection now to sleep,definitely.. thanks, vic...( the crunching sound is definitely arthritis related),also have back problems.umm
JuliannM		#11	[-]
Posts: 97 05/21/10 9:24 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hello Steve, I just recently developed T myself and it seems very similar to yours. I can have a really good day or a really good couple of days and then I get the bad day. At any rate, I developed the T the same week I had dental work (2 crowns, 2 root canels). I sort of blame it on the dental work, but I do also have a bad neck (MRI 4 yrs ago), which showed a couple bulging disks. My neck is always sore and cracks when I turn my head, but it is from my work, as a hairstylist we are brutal on our necks and backs. But I never had T, until now. I meet and talk with alot of people, many have bad necks/backs you name it, but many also don't have T, so I think it has to do with something specific to the ear or jaw? Well, regardless, we are stuck with it...could be an age thing also for some of us. I've never had ear problems or allergies, so what the heck? Does it run in family history? My older sister has it, and my nephew. Last Edited By: JuliannM 05/21/10 9:48 PM. Edited 1 times.
hosslp		#12	[-]
Posts: 2642 05/22/10 5:51 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Pears43..Here's what i can tell you about meds...They are HIT or MiSS.....This med may work good for you for awhile....Then it may leave you like a thief in the nite..This is why you have to work with your doctor...I have had a drug the very first day i took it,,i felt very well...but can you believe it lasted a full WEEK.....As far as generics go,i understand we have to go for the low cost,,but personally i don't think some generics are any where close to name brand...Think of it like this...If you were showed a $50,000 car,,,,then someone offers the same car to you for $50.00.....that makes me wonder..I personally had this problem...My mail order house drug company took me off name brand Ambien,,,and put me on one made from a company from INDIA.......It was like a sugar pill....I have be told the FDA will approve generics as long as they fall in a very large range of the name brand,,,but again i understand,,the cost is the killer.....Good Luck....Layne
SteveG	A DIFFERENT FORM OF 'T' ?	#13	[-]
Posts: 4 05/22/10 12:15 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Vic/Jullian It's not surprising to me to hear that others have found some correlation of T with sleep (solely because I know I'm not imagining this - and there is no way I'm the only one on the planet with this type of 'T '). When you include a family history of it - (but ASSuming family members did not share the same lifestyle like loud music, loud noise without protection, drug use etc etc) - then that too might point towards a genetic predisposition within the various neural pathways - especially if its' onset is around the same age. My tinnitus (which then coincided with the onset of bad neck aches etc) - came on suddenly 2 yrs ago, following several months of EXTREME stress (job & financially related - though compared to the vast majority of people - I have always been and still am, very 'well off' - but such things are always 'relative'. ) It then became a vicious circle, with the 'T' creating more stress, which then made the neck aches worse - and so on. There is a general consensus on the theory of brain 'plasticity'. Thoughts and experiences begin to actually change the physical connections of our nuerons. A lot of research has and is being done that proves this - and offers great hope for people of all ages - that you can in fact change those 'connections' by changing your thoughts and actions. And while much of this has been presented in a postive light (as it should!) - it is in fact, a two edged sword. The often repeated comments about 'habituation' and 'acceptance' of your 'T' - arguably critical for an individual's emotional if not physical well being (some people have ended their lives because their T was so bad) - I've been reluctant to let myself become 'too accepting'. I do not want my brain to think this is normal, or will not 'go away' at some point in time! I walk a fine line doing this, of course, because when I have a bad day - it makes me withdraw from socialization and has a negative impact on my work. Its 'knowing' that I will have a good, or at least 'acceptable' day coming in another day or two that gets me through the 'bad day' without going completely crazy.
SteveG	MEDS - GENERIC	#14	[-]
Posts: 4 05/22/10 12:34 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hossip - re the eff icy of 'brand' name vs generic - a lot depends on who is producing the 'generic'. Generics don't appear until the 17 yr (?) patent runs out on the original brand name MED - and the FDA (yeah - not the most unbiased group of people) insist that generics are identical to the original formulation - both in chemical makeup and dosage. The usually much lower cost for generics simply reflects the fact that the generic (and the brand name!) cost very little to produce on a per pill basis. Original, brand name MEDs typically take years (decades) to develop and get through the approval process before they can be marketed. Those costs have to be made up - and that is done by charging a lot of $$$ for the MED while they still hold the patent on it. Once they come off patent - nolt only do other companies become able to duplicatye the forumulation - but even the ofriginal PHARMA co. starts selling their own 'generic' along side with their branded pill! The price comes down considerably on the brand naame - but not nearly as much as the generic. 'Brand' marketing works all too well. However, keep in mind that 'generics' that originate in places like India (a BIG player in this arena) and are imported into the US (often illegally) - may or may not be truly identical to the original brand name MED. Over the past 30 yrs, my pysician has witten me quite a few scripts - all of which were filled at my local pharmacy or thru the Mail Order firm (MEDCO). Without exception - I have had the original 'brand' name - and in later years - the generic (as Insurance companies began to insist on this - or not pay at all) was every bit as effective as the brand name. Bottom line is to know the true 'source' of the generic. India and Mexico are not to be trusted.
hosslp		#15	[-]
Posts: 2642 05/22/10 5:37 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	You are exactly right.,Steve...My mail =order company is Medco also....Sent me generics from India...Torrent Co...all you have to do is goggle...this brand of AMBIEN generic,,,,,,looks like a class action lawsuit may be forthcoming.....My Docter just told me the other day,,,this lady was getting generic from this co.don't remember the kind of drug....but he sent to to the Lab...came back full of goat mess...This is a very well respected dr.also i called the FDA and was told generics have like a bar scale to hit in,and if they are close ...they are approved.......I don't trust Medco or any drug company....Most of my meds from Medco come from TORRENT.......Layne
hosslp		#16	[-]
Posts: 2642 05/22/10 5:46 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Also like to add..this brand of generic didn't work" Torrent" but was making many people sick with stomach problems,feeling ill,,many,many more bad side effects....not just me...I also belong to other groups.. All were reporting the same side effects....They are listed as TOXIC.... Layne

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Question re lorazepam versus Buspar

Question re lorazepam versus Buspar