Medicines for anxiety and sleeplessness 22

22
Medicines for
anxiety and
sleeplessness
Buspirone (Buspar)
Why has
temazepam been
prescribed for me?
Buspirone is primarily prescribed for the relief of anxiety. It was first marketed in the
mid 1980s. In normal doses it does not usually have a marked sedative effect, and
people are thought to be less likely to become dependent on buspirone than they are
on benzodiazepine medicines. Its action is not fully understood, but this drug appears
to work via effects on serotonin receptors in the brain. In this respect it is like an SSRI
antidepressant, rather than a benzodiazepine.
How much
should I take?
Initially, adults will normally be prescribed 5 milligrams two or three times a day.
The dose can be increased or decreased according to the individual’s tolerance
and response. It may take a little while to find the best dose. However, if your
anxiety or depression is a problem it could prove well worth persevering with this
treatment, particularly if others have failed to relieve your symptoms.
What will
happen when I
start taking it?
The therapeutic effects of buspirone normally take a couple of weeks to appear.
Side effects can appear well before any reduction in experienced anxiety
or depression.
What are the
side effects of
this drug?
Buspirone seems in recommended doses to be better tolerated than many other
psychotropic medicines. But it can still cause side effects:
•
more common adverse reactions to buspirone include: dizziness; drowsiness;
headache; and nausea.
•
other possible side effects include: insomnia; decreased concentration and
physical coordination; excessive sweating; blurred vision; chest pains; loss of
sexual desire and sexual dysfunctions like problems ‘coming’.
Contraindications to its use include epilepsy and severe liver or kidney impairment.
Although buspirone appears less likely to be addictive than many other anti-anxiety
drug treatments, withdrawal symptoms can occur on discontinuation. They include
irritability, tremor, vomiting and flu-like symptoms.
What should I do
if I get any side
effects?
If you begin to experience side effects, including phenomena such as – say – skin
blotching or abnormal emotional feelings, contact your doctor or pharmacist. You
are probably best advised to talk through with him or her about whether you can
cope with the side effects and stay on the medication, whether the dose you are
taking needs to be altered, or whether you would like to try a different treatment.
May 2004
What will happen
if I don’t take the
medicine as
recommended?
As with other treatments, exceeding the recommended dose brings with it an
increased risk of side effects. Not taking the treatment might mean that you miss out
on the possible benefits. Nothing that bad is likely to happen if you do not take your
buspirone. But you might as well take control and make the best informed decision
you can, especially if other treatments have not worked for you.
Is there
anything else I
should know?
Taking buspirone does not alleviate benzodiazepine or alcohol related
withdrawal symptoms. If you decide that you want to stop taking buspirone it is
sensible to talk this option through with others, including not only health
professionals but people who have experienced mental health problems and
whose judgement you trust, before taking action.
Are there any
additional
therapies that
may be able to
help me?
There are many other therapies or activities which can relieve anxiety.
Counselling or psychotherapy may be useful for those who find that talking
through their problems and feelings helps.
Questions you
might like to ask
about your
medication
include:
•
Why have I been prescribed buspirone?
•
Why is it the best option for me?
•
How long should I take it for?
•
What happens if I still don’t feel any better after that?
•
What else should I be doing to cope with my anxiety?
•
What other services are available – for example, can I see a psychologist?
Taking exercise can decrease feelings of anxiety. Some people find it also helps
with relaxation and sleeping. Even moderate exercise, such as walking or cycling
for half an hour a day, can produce benefits. Yoga and other forms of meditation
can also be relaxing. Additional forms of therapy which might prove helpful include
taking herbal or homeopathic remedies, and acupuncture.
For help lines and other information sources see the Contacts and Resources Information Sheet. This guide cannot provide all the facts
you may need to know about your medicines – it is a starting point, not the last word.