Buspar Vs. SSRI
When buspar vs various selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are compared, buspar is celebrated for its advantages. Prescribed to combat anxiety, buspar is not related to benzodiazeprines and other sedatives that act as tranquilizers.
Buspar ApplicationsMost effective in the anxiety disorder management regimens or in short-term treatment of anxiety symptoms, buspar is useful in treating various levels of tension and anxiety. Furthermore, buspar is proven to be an excellent anti-anxiety agent for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Symptoms of GAD include motor tension issues, autonomic hyperactivity, worry and apprehensive expectation. difficulty concentrating, insomnia, edginess, irritability, and impatience. Buspar is very effective in treating these symptoms over short terms, but buspar's long-term effectiveness over such symptoms has not been proven yet. While the long-term effectiveness of buspar is unproven, studies show that for durations as long as one year has no ill effect.
The recommended initial dose of buspar is 15 milligrams (mg). This dose should be used for the first two to three days. After that time, doses may be increased by 5 mg daily to reach the desired effect. Daily dosage should never exceed 60 mg. Commonly, daily dosages are divided to provide 20 to 30 mg per day.
Effectiveness of BusparBuspar is often used in conjunction with an SSRI for treatment of anxiety depression. Buspar's usefulness as an SSRI agent is simple. It is proven to stimulate seratonin receptors. In this capacity, buspar acts as an anxioylitic to target a specific seratonin receptor to increase the effects of seratonin in the brain. This makes it a perfect partner for many SSRIs, which are used to increase the brain's production of seratonin. Studies show that SSRIs coupled with buspar are more effective than SSRIs used alone in the treatment of anxiety and depression.
While SSRIs are sometimes credited with causing sexual dysfunction in their users, buspar is actually useful in combating SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction. Increased seratonin levels are necessary to fight depression, but over stimulation of seratonin can cause a decrease in libido and an inability to sustain an erection. Buspar can be used to augment seratonin levels to counteract sexual dysfunction. In rare cases, buspar may actually cause sexual dysfunction in users. If buspar is suspected of such symptoms, its use should be discontinued.
Advantages to SSRIAnother advantage of buspar over SSRIs is that it can be prescribed for pregnant sufferers of anxiety disorders. There are no studies demonstrating that buspar affects unborn or nursing children. However, no pregnant or nursing mother should use buspar without explicit instructions from her doctor.
Buspar's primary advantage over benzodiazeprines and SSRIs is that does not exhibit any addictive effects. Benzodiazeprines are known to be addictive, and patients sometimes experience various withdrawal effects. SSRIs, while not clinically addictive, can be perceived as addictive as rapid withdrawal from them sometimes results in seratonin discontinuation syndrome.
Seratonin discontinuation syndrome is not life threatening, but it certainly can lead to many uncomfortable symptoms, such as headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, chills, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, agitation, lack of focus, vivid and fitful dreams, depersonalization/derealization, irritability, and suicidal thoughts. Because buspar acts as a stimulus to seratonin receptors, its application as transistional therapy during SSRI withdrawal may act as buffer against the undesirable effects of seratonin discontinuation syndrome. | |||||
