I need to have some opinions on this, please. My doctor prescribed buspirone in addition to fluoxetine. He told me that the buspirone should start to work within 40 min. When I spoke with the pharmacist, I was told that it usually takes a week to start feeling the effect. I asked him again about the buspirone and he said that it does not have to build up in your system, like fluoxetine. I don't know what to believe. This is really causing me alot of anxiety. Does my doctor know what he is talking about? I like him as my doctor, but what he told me is not what the pharmacist said. So would you trust him?
Trust Doctor
- Thread starter Missy
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So I should go ahead and trust my doctor and stop worrying about that ? Do you think that is what he meant about SOME relief by starting the medication? I think I am just reading too much into it. This is more my anxiety talking.
Jonathan123
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Oh yes, it sure is your anxiety talking. If engineers build a bridge would you doubt their ability to construct it properly so you would have no fear walking over it? Doctors spend many years in training, and to doubt them is not wise. OK, so sometimes there is a slip up, but rarely. In the UK alone thousands of successful operations are done daily and no one mentions it, But if one surgeon makes a mistake it's headlines! The old journalist's expression comes to mind. 'Good news is not news'.
Thanks Jonathan. I sometimes get caught in the loop of negative thinking.
This is from the Mayo Clinic website:
How long for Buspar to take effect?
I think it is probably different for everyone and it doesn't mean you can't trust your doctor. He probably has patients who feel the effects much sooner. The article does say 1-2 weeks MAY pass before you feel the effects. Either way, it is for anxiety so even if you don't feel it right away just give it a few more days.
How long for Buspar to take effect?
- After you begin taking buspirone, 1 to 2 weeks may pass before you begin to feel the effects of this medicine. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine.
I think it is probably different for everyone and it doesn't mean you can't trust your doctor. He probably has patients who feel the effects much sooner. The article does say 1-2 weeks MAY pass before you feel the effects. Either way, it is for anxiety so even if you don't feel it right away just give it a few more days.
Yes. Trust your Dr. He went to medical school for a reason. He probably deals with similar stuff on the daily with other patients. The pharmacist is going by what is generally known about that medicine, where as your Dr is going by what he has seen work for certain patients. Both is valid.
It's always good to have a healthy dose of wanting to ask questions and feeling anxious about trusting certain things...do your research, ask questions, but also be ok trusting your Dr. He has the experience l, and more than likely just wants to help.
Jonathan123
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I do agree, but it is a sad fact that few doctors have any real training in anxiety problems. I asked my doctor if she had any training in anxiety. She replied very ,little. It's all physical symptoms they are interested in. I am lucky. My doctor had anxiety during her training so she knows what it's like. Understanding in anxiety can be a very powerful tool. Ask questions and look for answers. Knowledge is so important, and it does take the edge off the pain by knowing what is going on, at lest I found it so.
Yes, I know! It often hits us when we least expect it. We may be at a party and enjoying ourselves when WHAM! suddenly we feel anxious and panicky There often no trigger that sets it off, well not that we can see. We need to take deep breaths and maybe go and sit somewhere quiet for a bit to calm down. Acceptance once again comes into play. We will always calm down. Adrenaline is limited in the amount it can send into the body at any one time. We may feel after shocks, but the main feeling will subside if we let it. If we panic because we are panicking that's when it can become a habit. It's our reactions to any anxiety event that causes the problems. Don't react! No comments like 'OMG' or the 'what ifs'. Not easy by any means, in fact difficult, but it can be done given the will and acceptance.
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So Jonathan, I should still trust my doctor? He did tell me that he has limited training in this area but if it something he does not know about, he would refer to a psychiatrist. I think that was a real straight forward response. I liked that.
Jonathan123
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I have a problem with psychiatrists. They may be fine for real mental illnesses, but when it comes to anxiety, being doctors, they reach for the prescription pad instead of looking for real causes. I have found some to be more neurotic than their patients.
Yes, I do think you should trust your doctor. After all, what alternative do we have? These days they see so many patients with anxiety that it must be a common daily event.You are so right. My doctor said the same thing about seeing anxiety in so many patients.I have a problem with psychiatrists. They may be fine for real mental illnesses, but when it comes to anxiety, being doctors, they reach for the prescription pad instead of looking for real causes. I have found some to be more neurotic than their patients.
Dr’s are human and are imperfect like everybody else. They do make mistakes. They are not infallible. What I see is you are relying on this medication to help. It is not a fast acting drug like Xanax or the benzo’s. I’ve been on Buspar for several years now and it does not act like the Benzo’s. It does take time for it to start working, it is a different class of medicine. That said, I have gained more control by using the acceptance method than any pills I have ever taken. Don’t take that the wrong way. Medication does give some relief but it absolutely do not change the way we think, it’s impossible. Our thinking, our core beliefs, is what contributes to anxiety. Real change can only come from within ourselves. There is a brighter side of life once we free ourselves of the anxiety way of thinking. And yes, our thinking becomes habitual. 64 years in the anxiety stink hole and I’ve been able to finally rise above, one day at a time.
Totally agree!
Great reply! When my mind starts to race I need to remind myself, ”is it really worth getting worked up“ or “can I control it”. 99% of the time I can’t do squat about it so I try not to worry or bother with it. This works for me.