Adding A Second Anxiety Med

[NanaMcal]

I have been taking Xanax for G.A.D.  for 15 months. I take a morning dose (I take half what is prescribed... on my own unless I am really dealing with extra stresses that day;) and an evening (bedtime) dose to sleep as I have suffered with insomnia for twenty years. Recently my Doctor has added Buspar twice daily. Why would he add the second? Is it to wean me off the Xanax when I see him for my one month follow up?
Thank you in advance for a reply...

[NanaMcal]

Well, I am now on an increased dose of Buspar  ( up from 10 to 15 mg twice a day)after the Dr. visit this month.  I told him I do not want to continue to add more drugs and raise dosages. He asked how much of the prescribed dosage of Xanax I was taking  ( I was allowed 1 Mg. twice daily) and said "Well, you're not abusing them"; so I am sure he doesn't feel concerned about that happening. I do know that I tried to skip one bedtime dose of the Xanax and had insomnia that night immediately; regardless of being on the buspar for 6 weeks at that point.  I told him I took half of what he recommended in the a.m . And that I even try to skip a day in between if the day is not too stressful;  then the full 1 Mg. for bedtime.  In the event that I am having a bad day dealing with something that is confrontational; at home or otherwise; and I get the palpitations that start in ; I take  it PRN. I also learned from the ARPN in his office that  my Dr. is using the Buspar to keep my Xanax level under control;  to level me off so as to not need more.  Buspar does not deal with insomnia so most likely I will be on Xanax for the "duration", i.e. for life.  I am not thrilled to hear it. In these critical times; those of us with anxiety issues that go way back; have to view it as an insulin diabetic needing insulin . I try to be balanced.  My friends do see me feeling better from their perspective. sometimes it is hard to look at yourslef and be that way, so when i see the Dr. in November again  will try to stop where i am at with everything and hope it remains stable and effective.  Hope all of you are doing well with your efforts to live a happier life... I sure am trying...

[NanaMcal]

Thanks so much for the feedback. I will research it more. I do believe the Xanax is too  much of a "dependency affiliated" drug; although I do have several friends who have been on it nightly just for sleep. One for 15 years and she has never had a problem with needing a higher dose. I need to know if Buspar will take care of my insomnia problems, mainly as I can't ever go back to the lack of sleep I lived with.  My Doctor of ten years tried many different meds ; but all were anti-depressant meds; even though my diagnosis was Anxiety and I continually was told I am not a depressive personality.  They were useless.  I never got any sleep and my anxiety level never improved. Finally the G.A.D. diagnosis was recognized when I brought up some things from my mid- teens which occurred. Let it suffice to say I lived with a former WWII  P.O.W. father.  I will see what my visit in mid October brings and keep it posted here. I appreciate the support and comments.  :)

[MMahon]

He may be getting ready to wean you off xanax or supplement it with buspar until it takes full effect.   see:

"Unlike the benzodiazepines, buspirone shows no potential for addiction or dependence, and the development of tolerance has not been observed"

"Often patients have to be initially co-treated with a benzodiazepine for an immediate anxiolytic effect."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buspar#Comparison_to_benzodiazepines

[cj29]

I am not really sure what your doctor wants to do, but why don't you ask him?  Xanax is usually prescribed short term and you can definitely build up a tolerance to it, in my opinion.  It could be to wean you off, but he would probably advise you to taper slowly off of it first...keep us posted!