Hi I want to ask my doctor about a drug called buspar. Is it effective for anxiety?
and can you take it long term?. I do not tolerte ssri drugs very well.
Buspirone potentiates the action of serotonin, but has been shown to have limited efficacy. No addiction potential unlike Benzodiazepines, so it's fine long term. Think it takes at least three weeks to notice any benefits from the drug. If you can't tolerate a SSRI long term for anxiety control, then a TCA may be appropriate.
Buspirone was introduced as a non addictive "benzo" type drug. However the only data available was for short courses at the time and in the UK there is little evidence of it's usefulness.
Trawling NICE guidance there is nowhere I can find any positive reference or place in treatment for buspirone. We shouldn't be having this discussion on here as you should be talking to your doctor who will have a full history and have conducted a clinical assessment.
There are alternatives to SSRIs, there are SSNRIs which are recommended if SSRIs cannot be tolerated and also newer drugs such as mirtazepine for which the evidence base is growing rapidly. As Culchie says there are TCAs but they aren't all safe in overdose and most have quite a few side effects in the first couple of weeks.
However I stress you should go and see your doctor who will be familiar with the guidances. The reassurance you have is that there are useful options for patients who can't tolerate SSRIs but I would be amazed if your GP prescribed buspirone.
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