Buspar and Vyvanse

[snaggs77]

So, I am currently taking 15mg x2, twice daily of Buspirone, as well as 70mg of Vyvanse, among a couple other things in my med. cocktail. I was researching, and found that Buspar has a secondary trait of being a Dopamine D2+ receptor antagonist. Wouldn't this fact lead one to believe that the Vyvanse can not not work up to it's full potential, barring any tolerance? Does anyone have any insight on this matter? I am to be stopping Buspar soon anyways, as 120mg of Cymbalta and 600mg of Gabapentin do far more to combat my anxiety. The question stand, though, and any help would be welcomed :D

 

[snaggs77]

Anyone?

 

[Refluxer]

Buspirone antagonizes postsynaptic D2-receptors at high doses. At low doses it seems like it primarily blocks the presynaptic D2 autoreceptor, which is important in regulation of synthesis and release of dopamine.

Judging from the article below, it would seem that low dose buspirone (as in your case) might enhance the dopaminergic effects of amphetamine rather than decrease them. However, buspirone also increases the density of d2-autoreceptors in certain areas of the brain after some time, so the enhancing effect may decrease with the time buspirone has been used if no dose increases are made.

Effects of buspirone on dopamine dependent behaviours in rats.

 

[snaggs77]

So what you are saying is that in the beginning, dopaminergic effects may have been amplified, but as time goes/went on, and DA D2 receptors increased in density, the amplification effects diminished, if they were even present in the first place? So a plan of action might be to be on it for 2-3 months, then abruptly discontinue usage for the purpose of optimization, by continuing on later by ramping up after a starting dosage(to avoid the wicked bad headaches inherent in Buspar dosage increase)?
I was planning to talk to my Dr. to get off of it altogether, as it seems to not be helping that much for anxiety, and now that I have max dosage of Cymbalta and 600mg of Gabapentin, my anxiety is well-controlled compared to what it was.
Thank you for taking the time to post!:D

 

[Refluxer]

So what you are saying is that in the beginning, dopaminergic effects may have been amplified, but as time goes/went on, and DA D2 receptors increased in density, the amplification effects diminished, if they were even present in the first place?

Something along those lines. As the D2 autoreceptor is upregulated, the maintained levels of buspirone will not be enough to block the autoreceptors to the same level as before. The effect of this would be that the non-blocked D2 autoreceptors will sense dopamine in the synaptic cleft and exert their action (regulating DA synthesis and release).

So a plan of action might be to be on it for 2-3 months, then abruptly discontinue usage for the purpose of optimization, by continuing on later by ramping up after a starting dosage(to avoid the wicked bad headaches inherent in Buspar dosage increase)?

No. 2-3 months is too long. The eventually enhancing effect of buspirone should be most noticeable during the drugs acute effects and then gradually decrase as upregulation of D2-autoreceptors happens. So the timescale is rather days/weeks. If a subject does not take amphetamine daily, the modus operandi would be to take buspirone 1-3 hours before the amphetamine is administered. The effects of that experiment should be more pronounced than single amphetamine.

When amph. is used daily over extended periods, there is so much going on, so the effects are hard to judge for me. Perhaps someone else on this board is more aquainted with long term neuromodulatory effects of amphetamine?

I was planning to talk to my Dr. to get off of it altogether, as it seems to not be helping that much for anxiety, and now that I have max dosage of Cymbalta and 600mg of Gabapentin, my anxiety is well-controlled compared to what it was.

If the cymbalta and gabapentin is sufficient, there's no need to use more meds. If there is no significant benificial effect or synergy from adding another med, it should be avoided.

What different drugs are you on, if I may ask?

 

[snaggs77]

Vyvanse-70mg for ADD(much needed)
Cymbalta 120mg for anxiety and depression(much needed)
Gabapentin 600mg for anxiety(works well)
Abilify 10mg for augmentation of the above(mehhhh)
Buspar 60mg for anxiety(More MEH!)

That's it, but I would like to nix the abilify and Buspar and add something for the ADD, or change the stimulant to a different one.

I don't use recreational drugs or alcohol(anymore), and I do take a few supplements, some of which may be getting the axe.