IS IT SAFE TO TAKE BUSPAR WITH PROZAC? 
Ask The Doctor Dr. Leland Heller Biological Unhappiness 
IS IT SAFE TO TAKE BUSPAR WITH PROZAC? 
Question: Dear Dr. Heller, After reading and enjoying your book ‘Biological Unhappiness’, I was left a little confused about the use of BuSpar and Prozac to treat GAD and Dysthymia (aka ‘Fractured Enjoyment’), respectively. Can you please let me know from your medical experience if you have had patient complaints of side-effects from the use of BuSpar and Prozac in combination? If so, were these side-effects severe? The below link to the Access Med Net website has made the following statement about the combined use of Prozac and BuSpar:http://www.AccessMedNet.com/prescription-drug-information/buspar-side-effects.html “Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Celexa (citalopram), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Luvox (fluvoxamine), or Zoloft (sertraline) may increase serious side effects, possibly even serotonin syndrome, when used with BuSpar. The combination may need to be avoided, or your doctor may need to carefully regulate your dosages.” The above statement greatly concerns me, as I am considering treating my Dysthymia using Prozac while maintaining my use of BuSpar at 15mg, taken 2 times daily. The BuSpar has been working very well and I do not want to stop using it. Your professional opinion would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Sydney, Australia. Dr. Heller’s Answer: I’ve never had a significant problem with the combination. In fact, I had a patient take an overdose of 250 15mg BuSpar pills and 350 20mg Prozac pills. Nothing bad happened to her. I probably have 500 patients on the combination. If the patient needs BuSpar and takes Prozac first there is usually a significant increase in anxiety. Most patients who have trouble taking BuSpar do extraordinarily well with the temporary addition of Remeron (mirtazapine). Rare side effects can happen from any medication. Serotonin syndrome is extraordinarily uncommon and usually requires the mixing of an SSRI antidepressant with a tricyclic antidepressant. I have no problem with loved ones or friends taking the combination. In fact, a number of them do. Being chronically depressed increases the odds of a heart attack by 600%. Anxiety and depression increase the risk of cancer and infections. As with every area of life, one has to balance the extraordinarily tiny risk of a significant side effect with the potential benefits. 
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Ask the Doctor Home 
MENU: 
Screening Test “Ask the Doctor” (BPD)Borderline Personality Disorder Annual Updates Biological Unhappiness Disorders & Official Criteria Dr. Heller’s C.V. & Picture How Dr. Heller Got Involved If You Want to See Dr. Heller as a Patient Testimonials Table of Contents for the Book ‘Biological Unhappiness’ How to Order “Life at the Border” Why Read ‘Biological Unhappiness’? Goals AD(H)D and Relationships BPD, Bipolar or ADHD? Suicide What if BuSpar makes me anxious or ill? A Suicide Attempt Per Minute in the US Grandparents raising Grandchildren Information About Children What Signs are there that Someone May ‘SNAP’? TV & Cartoon Characters with Depression & Other Disorders Dr. Heller’s Office Website Dr. Heller’s Lectures Mentally Healthy People Retraining the Brain Today is a Gift Reviews Links Webrings Site Index Home 
Video DVDs now available! You can watch and listen to Dr. Heller in the comfort and convenience of your own home. Provides full explanations and treatment descriptions of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) – 90 minutes, other Biological Unhappiness disorders – 90 minutes. Click here to find out more about Dr. Heller’s educational videos. “Biological Unhappiness” “Open this book and it will open your mind. By combining proven medical procedure with hope and inspiration, Dr. Heller has made a significant difference in thousands of patients who had little hope for recovery. “Biological Unhappiness” contains critical information for those who have lost hope.”Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker, author, See You at the Top, Over the Top, Success for Dummies, Raising Positive kids in a Negative World. 
Dr. Leland Heller Dyslimbia Press, Inc. 1713 US Hwy 441 N, Suite E Okeechobee, FL 34972 863-467-8771 Email:
Hours: M-Thu. 8:30AM-5PMFri. 8:30AM-12 Noon*(*During November through April, the office is open until 3PM on Fridays.) All material not explicitly credited otherwise is copyrighted © 1999-2011 Dr. Leland Heller. All Rights Reserved. May not be duplicated without the permission of Dr. Leland Heller or Dyslimbia Press. Biological Unhappiness, BiologicalUnhappiness.com, & Dyslimbia Press are trademarks of Dr. Leland HellerDesigned and/or hosted by the webmasters at: US-Webmasters.com (TM) Start here to find it FAST!(TM)
Skip to content