Having a hard time

[ksquig]

I started a new medication 11 days ago (buspar) and I’m having some really unpleasant side effects. I’m constantly thinking about being dead. I wouldn’t act on the feelings, but they are really unpleasant thoughts to have. It feels like my fearing of dying has been magnified. It feels acute and very intense. I don’t know what to do. It’s terrifying!

[foxglove_pnw]

Hi Ksquig , I am so sorry ! I can totally relate to how you are feeling ! I have been there several time .

Medication will take a few weeks to work ! Did your doctor gave you anything to close the gap and help with the anxiety until the new medication start working ?!

Fear of dying is my main reason for all my problems ! I am current taking Lexapro and it has been so helpful !

What medication are you taking ?

Wishing you better days ! ❤️

[ksquig in reply to foxglove_pnw]

I was on lexapro until December. I regret going off of it.

Right now the only med I’m on is buspar. And, I just got off of the phone with the doc on call. He recommended that I stop taking the buspar because it’s making me feel this way. Now I feel even more confused because I know these meds take 4-6 weeks to work. If it’s going to work, I will power through. But now I feel like I shouldn’t.

[foxglove_pnw in reply to ksquig]

I did that last year in November ! I stopped lexapro and went on Zoloft . I skipped 2 days of 100 mg of Zoloft and I had a horrible discontinuation syndrome episode that I ended up going to the ER

I don’t know about Buspar ! I take lorazepam for my anxiety attacks kind of like Xanax on top of my Lexapro .

Is Buspar in the same category of Xanax or Lexapro ? What was your dose on Lexapro ?

Stopping medication without tapering off can cause horrible side affects but you should trust your doctor !

Keep me posted and good luck !

[ksquig in reply to foxglove_pnw]

Buspar is an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), which is different from SSRIs (lexapro) and different from benzodiazepines (Xanax). I’m currently taking 1/2 a pill three times a day. Or, I guess I was, given the doc recommended I stop. I am going to see my therapist on Monday and hopefully I’ll be able to see my psychiatrist soon (maybe next week).

[Jeff1943]

Ksquig, it's still too early for you to feel the benefit of Buspar, it can take about a month before it fully kicks in. Buspar is not noted for giving people strange thoughts about death, if they reach the level that they disturb you do go and talk to your doctor about it. Did you have these thoughts before you stsrted on the Buspar.

We are allowed to have strange thoughts and so long as they do not lead us into harm they should just be accepted for the time being. Accept the thought is there, do not try to block it out, but do not obsess about it.

We all have strange thoughts, why not fill your mind with more positive thoughts based on what interests you most? So just accept them for the time being and get on with your life, in time they will become less intrusive and pass.

[ksquig in reply to Jeff1943]

I didn’t really have the thoughts before taking the meds. I just got off the phone with the doc on call (who isn’t my doc) and he recommended that I stop taking them all together. I feel really confused. I just want to feel better.

[Jeff1943 in reply to ksquig]

Best advice is to do what the doctor said but make an early appointment to see your usual doctor to discuss this with him or her and decide on an alternative medication. I hope you will find the relief you're looking for soon.

[Tech4hokies]

I'm so sorry but I would call Dr. Those feeling and thoughts shouldn't have increased. It may not be the right meds or it's being affected by other meds. It really sucks but it is a trial and error process, but once you get the "recipe" of meds right, I feel it is worth it, it was for me. I understand having the bad thoughts. I have had a couple periods were I felt the same way, even though I would never act on it either

But, I still wanted to be gone. Hugs!! Hope you are feeling better!!

Darla-VA