UGH. Sertraline to Buspar

Posted , 3 users are following.

Man, have I had a day.

So I called the doctor earlier and told them I don't want to take the Zoloft anymore. I cannot stand the symptoms and I've had basically every single symptom you can have *but* she told me these symptoms were all in my head basically. Increased anxiety, depression, unable to eat (she said I might have an eating disorder, despite the fact that I've been nauseous since starting), racing heart and dread when I wake up, etc. None of this is a side effect and it has something to do with me is what she says. Despite the hundreds (it feels like) of posts that I've read saying the same exact thing. She wanted me to stay on it and I told her absolutely not. I cannot deal with this crap anymore. This is when she said the famous 'it gets worse before it gets better' despite telling me everything I was feeling wasn't the medicine.

Also, my blood pressure and heart rate were through the roof (another thing I've never had issues with) so she upped my propanolol from 10mg 3x a day to 1 60mg capsule in the morning. She even did an EKG but that was normal as well.

I asked her if I should wean off of the Sertraline and she told me no. Just stop taking it and start taking the buspar. It shouldn't matter since they are in the same family. I asked the pharmacist and she thought the doctor was nuts. She told me if I feel too bad to take like 25mg here and there if I need to.

Has anyone went from Sertraline to Buspar? Did you like it? Do you think this doctor is bonkers or am I?

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    I think your Dr is a bit barmy. It's not in your head it is the side effects. Please don't come off them. I felt like a walking zombie and everything around me wasnt real but it does pass. This Dr obviously doesn't know a lot. Can you change to another dr.  let us know howyou get on xx
    • Posted

      Yeah me too.

      I have to come off of them. I have went through pure you know what the last 3 weeks. But I think I'm going to do some type of taper maybe. I have a psychiatrist appointment in April so stuck with these guys until then rolleyes

  • Posted

    Heart racing and elevated BP are symptoms of seratonin syndrome. You may want to google this - perhaps your dosage of sert has been way over what your body could handle - like I said, I couldn't take 50 mgs w without freaking completely. If you were doing well on it at 25, I'd say to wean off it back down to there and see how you feel - believe me when I tell you just cutting it off has not been good for me even with an anti-anxiety backup; I was given Xanax originally with my sert and it helped enormously for moments of anxiety as needed  - I was not on it all the time. I could only take 12.5 or it flattened out my emotions altogether (it does not make me sleepy). 
    • Posted

      I don't know if Buspar is something that can be taken as needed and work, but I'd check out it's side effects and w/d's to be safe as it was prescribed for you - I'm never taking any of these types of meds ever again without doing my own research. Live and learn....

      Good for you, BTW, for going in and making your point to the doctor - based on everything I've read here and on other sites, I'm not convinced the doctors really know what all this stuff does to you unless they've been on them themselves. Which they'll never tell you.....

    • Posted

      Yeah I don't want to just stop it right away. I even asked her 'well isn't that bad' and she said no. Not quite sure how I'm going to do it.

      I've been researching the buspar since I walked in the door. I learned my lesson with the Zoloft! We'll see. My dose is 7.5mg twice daily and then increase to 15mg twice daily after 1-2 weeks. Can't seem to find too much info yet so nervous but still looking.

  • Posted

    Christ. Every thing you are saying is sane.

    I don't have the energy to repeateverything myself and betsey and tezes have.

    Please run through the thread and read our posts if you can.

    If you need advice re: weaning yourself off, side effects and how to combat. All the info is there.

    If feel your pain so intensely and wish you the best but I'm in a super bad place right now and can't give you anymore

    • Posted

      Thank you! I'm glad to know that I'm not absolutelt insane. I mean, I did know that and I've had my anxiety long enough (7 years) to know how it works so I didn't believe her but there is still that small part second guessing. It's nice to just get confirmation.

      I have been going through the other posts for awhile but still haven't decided what to do. Guess I'll decide in the AM.

      Hope you feel better soon. This crap is no joke.

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