Lexapro w/ Buspar [First Time]

[Stazmatix]

So, today I was prescribed Lexapro (10mg) and Buspar (10mg 2x Daily). This is the first time I've taken any sort of medication to deal with my anxiety, depression and obsessive thoughts.

I've had a friend who has been seeing doctors for similar things since her early teens tell me that this combination right off the bat seems like jumping the gun. I even got the impression from the doctor (a physician) that she wasn't too familiar with mental health, but has a basic understanding. Upon looking into the interactions with these two, it seems that there's a risk of serotonin syndrome?

Should I go ahead and give both meds a go at the same time? I was leaning toward trying Prozac, but opted for this combo since I was told it would take effect quicker. After my prescription was issued, I found that my father has taken Prozac in the past and worked well for him.

Should I call and try to switch? Take as issued? Try just taking the lexapro?

[MyNameIsTerry]

I would suggest having a chat with Genoire on this thread:

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=175927

She was switching to Prozac as well as adding in Buspirone. Due to her concerns over side effects of 2 meds plus a switch she decided to embed the Buspirone first. This is a good strategy in my opinion as that med helps control symptoms and SSRI's are known for their 4-6 week start up side effects so any help is useful.

There is a Major drug interaction warning against using these together due to Serotonin Syndrome but it is stated as rare and as some people on here would tell you, this can range from milder forms, it's not always the most severe end that someone will experience although quick treatment is always advised.

The interaction warning also states:

Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications.

So, a doctor can choose to treat because the benefits outweigh any increased risks. The same can be said for other scenarios.

It does sound concerned though if this is a general doctor, not a psychiatrist or specialist of some kind. I know some add Buspirone as an adjunct because it can alleviate the sexual side effects of some of these meds but certainly over here I wouldn't have expected a GP to have that kind of knowledge but you never know. If they sound like they have used combinations before, it's possible, but I always thought thats more a complex form of treatment for a psychiatrist to initially prescribe for the GP to take over with the repeat prescriptions. It might be worth getting a second opinion on this. Over here a GP would use Diazepam to help with the start up side effects as it works, whereas Buspirone is hit & miss by comparison (or I thought it was, can't be sure on that) and over here it's only licensed for short term use anyway.

[Carolin]

Hi
Just wanted to tell you I take those two meds together.

I take a much higher dose of Buspirone though (45 mg ) daily. This was prescribed initially by my GP, and then later by a consultant psychiatrist. There is an interaction , but the specialist told me he has never seen anyone who has developed problems taking the two together.

Buspirone is a good alternative to taking benzodiazapines, as they can be addictive. Unfortunately it doesn't work for everyone, but it is well worth giving it a try. It helps me, but I needed to take maximum dose to get the full benefit.

Hope this helps.