Anxiety has become an increasing problem over the last few years due to
circumstances and the depression worsening. Where as panic attacks used to
be just brought on by having to deal with certain situations, (started
taking prn xanax about 8 years ago, mainly take it now just to help me with
my insomnia, unable to kick on over to sleep even if exhausted and try not
to use it for anything else, and watch my dosing so I don't become too benzo
tolerant). I don't want to go into the hospital or something and them not
be able to knock me out with versed because I'm used to taking 4 to 8 mgs of
xanax a day, which I know of people on another forum I go to that do that. I
keep mine to .25 to 1 mg depending on the day trying to not go above 0.5 mg.

The panic attacks have been increasing over the last 16 months, despite
other things tried, even tried hypnotherapy which helped bring my dose down
from 2.5 to 2.0 mg a day down to my current level.

I know buspar takes time to build up where one obtains beneficial effects
from the med, and it doesn't give that immediate relaxation of the typical
antianxiety meds. From my understanding though it's supposed to assist in
keeping panic and anxiety from getting to that out of hand point.

Anyone with any experience, success or failure with the med? I have a pdoc
appointment in a few weeks and have wondered about mentioning it. That
along with tramadol since I read that it has some SSRI properties. I can't
tolerate all the SSRI meds specifically for depression, but have tramadol
around for cramps and it does wonders with limited side effects...headaches
which severe, debilitating headaches were what caused me not able to take
zoloft and a couple of others. I don't know if taken on a regular basis if
tramadol would do the samething, however at this point I can tolerate it
when needed to help with cramps. I'm a chronic pain patient as well,
(screwed up lumbar spine) so don't know if they would be willing to
prescribe that along with my meds for my spine.