I'm considering taking medication for a period as I cope with stress and increasing anxiety related to nurse-to-patient ratios on our med-surg unit and to our hospital going on line with computer documentation in just over a week-- not to mention Christmas being right around the corner. [see thread here:]
My intention is to use the medication for as short a time as possible. I've been doing reserach on the web about Xanax, and it scares me. Reserach on BuSpar makes it sound like something that may be helpful. I wondered if anyone had ever taken BuSpar or had any experience with its use by family/friends and patients. I've taken Paxil in the past for a little over a year and don't want to go back on it because of various unpleasant side effects and problems with weaning off.
I exercise regularly-- recently took up Spinning, and that really sweats out the stress-- try to eat right, have loving relationships with spouse, friends, and family, have a strong faith, able to cry prn, but I'm not coping so well lately. I'm not asking for sympathy or pity, just any ideas concerning meds-- especially Buspar, prn anti-anxiety meds, or other alternatives. (Anyone have success with Kava? Oh forget it-- just did research and FDA says it can cause severe liver damage. http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/addskava.html) I tried Yoga a few times and am considering getting back to that, too.
