Buspar Cat

Buspar Cat Information

Questions and Answers

Buspar and cats? My neutered cat, Shai, has been spraying. The vet has recommended Buspar. Has anyone used that before for feline anxiety? Was it effective? How much do the pills cost? Is the transdermal one more effective/expensive? Thx. also considering Feliway

❀Bugsey❀ replied: "I found this: although, it doesn't say how much it is ..."

old cat lady replied: "I just received an email newsletter from Max's House Feline Heath & Behavior this morning. It is about that spraying problem. I printed it out and haven't had time to read it yet so you might want to check it out. I don't have the direct site link and I am sure a google search will bring it up. Hope it will be helpful for you."

Debbie Jane (after Jack and Dann replied: "I was given Buspar in the late 1990s for Meepums who sprayed and it was supposed to work, but did not."

♪ Seattle ♫ replied: "Hi Rosie...we tried Buspar for one of our cats who had an elimination disorder, however it failed to work and at times made him worse. There are other antidepressants available for elimination disorders and your veterinarian can help you find which may be quite helpful. In the meantime Feliway is a good product, but it doesn't always work with severe elimination disorders. More on elimination disorders:"

cat help please!? i was reading someones question about their cat peeing on the floor and someone answered and said that their cat was doing the same thing and that the vet put the cat on Buspar. I was wondering if anyone knows what all Buspar is used for and if there are side effects and maybe even around how much it would cost.

Stimpson J. Cat replied: "Buspar is a psychotropic drug. That is, it is used for psychiatric disorders in humans. I have no idea how much it costs. You could call a CVS pharmacy and ask. That would give you an idea, a vet would probably charge less."

♥Pretty♥ ♥Kitty♥ replied: "Buspar is an anti-depressant. It's used in cats to mellow them out and stop aggressive behavior. I've taken the human form and it wasn't that expensive. As for side effects, it's supposed to make cats really affectionate. "

Sarah H replied: "It is an anti anxiety medication for people (and cats) and is commonly prescribed to cats who urinate or spraying is due to anxiety ect. heres a website you may find helpful "

rrm38 replied: "Buspar is an anti-anxiety medication that is also prescribed for humans. I'm not sure as to the cost, as I've never had it prescribed for my cats. You might get a decent idea by calling your vet. Of course, you would need to take your kitty in for a checkup to rule out any medical cause and be sure that Buspar is what your kitty really needs. If the cost is outrageous at the vet's office, you could check what strength the vet is prescribing and see if he/she will write you a prescription to have it filled at a pharmacy. It's often less expensive, and the meds are the same. I did this when my cat was on a hyperthyroid medication. The link below has quite a bit of information relative to the veterinary use of Buspar. "

Maximus replied: "BuSpar is for anxiety disorders. So far as I know it's only for people. Side effects: dizziness-drowsiness-headache-nervousness-insomnia-light headedness-fatigue-numbness-tachycardia(really fast heart-rate) non-specific chest pain-blurred vision-dry mouth-nausea-diarrhea-abdominal distress So as you can see it's a pretty serious drug. My advice would be to go to Petsmart and tell them the trouble you're having with your baby. They might recommend some sprays or other less invasive ways to control kitty's bad habits. Good Luck."

wpgeezer replied: "Check out this site."

New cat biting older cat's fur? I took the time to introduce my new cat to the old cat by keeping the new one in a room by himself and slowly bringing in things with the other cat's scent and vice-versa for 2 weeks. Then I introduced them and everything seemed more or less ok for about 3 days. Now the new cat has started to bite my older cat's fur, like mouthfuls of it. When you look at the fur, it actually looks like it was cut with scissors (not pulled out at the roots, but cut with his teeth!) I'm not sure what to do or why the new cat is doing this? I realize it's a form of aggression, though the new cat has his ears forward and acts like he thinks it's play, but obviously it's not. It's very weird behavior I haven't come across before. I'm not a cat expert, but I have had cats all my life and have never encountered this before. The new cat is an F-5 bengal I adopted, if this makes any difference in your answers. Squirting water, reprimanding with a loud "no" or other loud noises, doesn't distract the new cat one little bit. He's extremely self-assured and fearless of everything. The new cat was nuetered about 2 months ago and is almost 3 - could he still be working out some of those hormones? Has anyone ever pursued/used vet prescribed drugs like BuSpar to make a more submissive cat more assertive or some of the other drugs they recommend to calm down overly-aggressive cats? Which ones did you use and to what effect? I look forward to the help.

Military gal replied: "I had the same problem. Got a new cat in the house and she used to attact my older cat. I tried different medicine's but she just got sick from most of them. We ended up having to separate them when we were not home After a long time (around 10 months) they finally got a long along."

The right side of my throat feels weird and the right side of my neck and shoulder feel tight. Any ideas? I've gone to the doctors multiple times and had blood test done, along with a CAT scan done on my head. They said it was possible acid reflux and/or anxiety. I'm on omeprazole and Buspar and it seems like I still have the problems. I think the tightness in my neck and shoulder comes from the tightness in my throat, which is only on the right side. Is this possibly a symptom of acid reflux?

.... replied: "Try sleeping with a extra pillow stacked on top of the single one and sleep mostly on your left side.It could be a combination of acid reflux and a bacterial infection of the throat caused from abscessed teeth.You may want to stop eating a little earlier so the acid reflux is not so bad."

My cat won't stop peeing and I'm about to breakdown.? I took in my cat over 2 years ago as a stray. The neighbors in the area where he was found said he was abused as people would spit on him and throw things at him. I have found he is very friendly, just doesn't like to be held. The vet said he is around 4 or 5 now. My problem is he will not stop peeing. I try to accommodate him, but it is getting out of hand. I change/scoop the litter box an unreal amount of times,changed the litter to see if that helps even Dr. Elsely's cat attract littler, bought a new box, cleaned the box with lysol, feliaway, buspar from the vet, he is fixed, aluminum foil, changed food, he gets attention and he tested neg for urinary tract twice. I'm having concerns because I will be renting a new house w/ new carpet and my deposit is over $1000 and I cannot lose it. I may lose my deposit for the apartment because he sprayed it everywhere! He lives with another cat, but they get along great.Vet said it is most likely behavioral, but I can't live like this. Yes, my cat is fixed and no it isn't that he pees too much. It is that he pees behind the TV, behind the couch, on the kitchen tile, outside the box, in the pantry, on my clothes. I find it odd though he likes me the best and he will not pee in my bedroom or on my bed, but will pee on the carpet elsewhere. He didn't pee in my room at my parents house either when I used to live there. To answer, yes I use Nature's Miracle by the gallon lol to remove the odor. It works great. I am more concerned with how to stop the behavior. I don't know if this helps, but if I'm watching TV and my cat goes for "the corner", I say his name and he looks at me and walks to the box or won't soil. At least usually not in front of me. So, I think he knows he isn't right. I am going to get another box and try Rescue remedy. Also, I moved the box and tried different litters at my vet's request not to cause him stress.

Kitty Cat replied: "The peeing might be because of the way he lived before, he might of just peed any where. But maybe it is because he is afraid."

steve h replied: "I cant help with the question, but will make a Note to self.....never get a cat!"

Sean K replied: "The operative word it "HE", most male cats mark their territory. Make sure no other male cats cme sneaking through the window at night cuz this would cause him to do it even more, its a dominance thing. Im sure you get some tipe of spray at the vet to stop him from doing it."

natalie replied: "It sounds like youve done all that you can, you can't let a animal ruin your living space like that. Maybe you should consider turning it over to the animal shelter or try to find it a new loving home with people who understand cat's with behavioral problems. Anyway it's a sad situation and i wish you the best of luck."

lou replied: "now that you are moving to better area hopefully let him lose there to be a stray and put cat food outside so the cat can eat"

J C replied: "Has he been tested for crystals? Those can be very hard to find as they come and go. It's a common cause of problems like yours, and as I said, can be very hard to detect. Worth a discussion with the vet. Another thing to try is a different behavior drug. Buspar is usually the first drug that vets try with litter box issues, but many cats respond better to Prozac. Let's also rule out some of the common causes of litter box issues. Forgive me if you've tried what I'm going to suggest. A dirty box doesn't seem to be the problem. How many litter boxes do you have? Some cats won't share, and want their own box. Adding an additional box - or two - may fix the problem. Is your box covered? Do you use litter box liners? These are very offensive to some cats, and they don't like to use them. Where is your box located? Sometimes moving the box to a "better" location (as defined by the cat) helps. Put additional boxes in different areas of your apartment. Is the other cat preventing him from getting to the box? It can be a dominance thing, and this is also often cured by additional boxes in other places. Good luck with him - cats going outside the box are trying to send us a message. Unfortunately it can be tough to figure it out."

cat replied: "Hi Ajax, I know what you are going through Hon. I have a cat that did this and she was 12 when it started, now she's 14. I got really upset and concerned and the vet checked her for a bladder infection and she had one. But the real problem was she had a thyroid problem. So we put her on thyroid meds and I put her in her CLEAN box several times a day for about a month and that seemed to do the trick. She would pee on my pillow and everywhere, but after we got her on the thyroid meds and she learned by me putting her in her box several times that there is where she was to go, not on my pillow. And if it is just a behavioral problem, this is definately what you have to do even if you have to put her in her box several times a day from now on. Another thing that helped is that I went to our local health food store and got her some Cantharis. It is a homeopathic remedy and it has done wonders. So I would start by getting her thyroid checked as she may be trying to tell you something is wrong just like my little Binky did. You can also get a product called urine be gone and that works very well or you can go to Sam's or Wal-Mart and get you a product called Odaban. They both work very well as far as getting rid of the urine smell. Is your cat fixed? That too could be causing it is she's not. But try these things as it worked for me and I dealt with it for a few years before I did this and now she only goes in her box. Good Luck and have some patience even on days when you think you can't do it anymore. She is trying to tell you something is wrong. Also have the vet check her blood sugar. Diabetes would make her do this too. They also put her on a low dose of valium for about two months, that settled her down too, but don't get rid of him just because he has a problem. If you love him, stick to it and work this out as he needs you Hon. OK"

womanclone replied: "If you have scent on your carpet from where animals have wet on it either your own or others in the past the chances are pretty good that your cat will pick up the smell and spray that area or use it as a litter box. Another thing with older cats that get fixed is they often have already developed the spraying habit and it's hard to break them of the habit once it has began. If you catch the cat spraying then what you might want to try is get a spray bottle that has new been used and put some water in it. Lead the cat back to where it has wet and spray it in the face with some water. Since cats hate water they will get the idea pretty fast that it did something wrong and after a few times it will get the message. There is a product on the market that works very well on removing the stain and odor from the cat's pee and it's called Urine B Gone and it works better than anything I've tried so far. Here is a link to the product. I'm raising 7 cats and out of the 7 there are 5 that started off ferel " born outside or ferel" and most of them don't like to be picked up so I can relate to what your saying about your's not wanting picked up. Mine when they want attention will crawl up in my lap and want to be petted and they are very lovable except for the lifting up part. You have to use the grabbing the neck hold to stop them from struggling to get them into the carrier to go see the vet or to trim their nails."

Unicornrider replied: "That kind of thing can be because of a number of mental por physical causes, I would get a second opinion. If however it is spraying you are refering to, not weeing, what you are going to have to do is have him fixed, it may stop after that.. Ordinary housecleaners won't eliminate the smell to a cat's nose, even if humans can't smell it. You will need to use a specific enzyme cleaner like Nature's Miracle or Simple Solution. Follow directions carefully, saturate the area and allow to air dry. There is a link to stress, so try to not stress your cat out at all. Things You’ll Need: * Cat Foods * Litter Boxes * Carpet Cleaners, such as OXY Woolite or Stanley Steemer * Furniture Cleaners * Sandpaper * Scat Mats * Two-sided Tape * Lemon Scents * Cat Litters * Fresh Step brand kitty litter Getting Your Cat to Stop Spraying Step1 Have your veterinarian screen your cat for any medical conditions. Step2 Place litter boxes in the areas where your cat sprays. Step3 Put down plastic, two-sided tape, food, sandpaper or a lemon scent in areas where cat sprays. These will discourage spraying. Step4 To divert your cat from spraying in sinks and bathtubs, fill them with a little water. Step5 Confine your cat to a clean area with a litter box, food and water. Step6 Block visual access to outside areas if your cat is stressed by something in the outdoor environment (for example, a new cat in the area). Step7 Use an abundance of positive reinforcement messages. Getting Your Cat to Use the Litter Box Step1 Place a number of litter boxes in different areas of the house to increase the chances that your cat will use one. Step2 Use various types of litter boxes and litter materials to entice your cat (see related eHow on cleaning litter boxes). Step3 When your cat finally adjusts to using the litter box, keep it in the same place for four weeks. Step4 Move the box 1-foot or less per day to the area you want it to stay permanently. Step5 Praise your cat when it uses the litter box. Step6 If the cat continues to spray, consult an animal behaviorist and your veterinarian. Some cats need temporary antianxiety medication."

Ken replied: "I want to make sure I understand. He is peeing too much, correct? Is he drinking excessivelty? Are you feeding dry foods? Any weight loss? If this is the case then most likely your cat has diabetes (read my profile) This is not a death sentence and is very treatable, not hugely expensive if you take charge and once you start treating the inappropiate peeing should stop. You can go to the pharmacy and get some ketodiastic strips to see if sugar is spilling in the urine. If you need help, you are welcome to contact me"

>'-'< replied: "Well getting a new box and new litter (or moving the box) will only make the problem worse. Remember, cats are creatures of habit, and when you disrupt their habit it can make them confused and annoyed. Also, even if you cleaned the spots where he had urinated (even if you can't smell it anymore) chances are he can, which will make him want to "re-mark" the spot. A cat's sense of smell is about fourteen times stronger than that of a human. So you also need to make sure you have thoroughly cleaned the area. Here are a few suggestions to your litter box problems: - Provide a box for each cat - Change litter daily - Provide constant access to a box - Go back to previously used brand of litter and/or - Discontinue new disinfectant - Move box to where it was previously used - Eliminate new or frightening noise near litter box - Move food and water away from litter box - If cat is only going in one spot, put the litter box at the exact location and gradually move it back to where you want it at the rate of one foot per day - If there are several places, try putting dishes of cat food in those areas to discourage further elimination there - Experiment with different textures of litter (cats prefer sandy litter) - Use a covered litter box for cats that stand in box but eliminate outside of it - Keep in mind that some cats are rather picky, and prefer to have two separate boxes (one to pee in and one to poop in) Problems arise when your cat doesn't like or develops an aversion to the litter box that you have provided. Let's be fair here. There is absolutely no reason to expect every cat to like the same material, or even for one cat to prefer the same material over an entire life span. First lesson learned: You did not train your cat to use a litter box. At best, you offered the cat something recognizable as litter material. If your cat is having litter box problems then you will need to figure out how to make the litter box appealing to the cat. Here are a few options: 1) Pain or illness can cause a cat to stop using the litter box. Cats are very adept at hiding illness, so if your cat is having litter box problems then the first thing you need to do is take the cat to a vet for a medical exam. 2) If you aren't scooping the waste out of the litter every day then you need to start and start now. 3) Perfumes or other odors can drive your cat away from the litter box. Scented litters are unacceptable to many cats, and the leftover scent from a cleaning product could also be a problem. Get rid of the perfumes, and scrub those cleaners away before giving the box back to the cat. Remember that cats have an acute sense of smell. 4) Your cat may feel vulnerable when in the litter box. Is it in a noisy location (such as next to the washing machine)? Is it secure from little marauders like dogs and children, or even other cats? If the box is not semi-private, move it to a better location. 5) Remember those preferences that we talked about earlier. You may need to offer several different types of litter before finding the right one. Strange but true, some cats will not use the same box for urine and feces, in which case you'll have to provide two boxes. The type of box could also be a problem. If the box has a cover, try removing it. 6) Anxiety can lead to litter box lapses. Did some event scare your cat? This could be anything from a new couch to a new cat or even a new person in the house. If you suspect anxiety, confine the cat to a safe and secure place (maybe a bed room) until the anxiety has passed. Cats seem to hang on to their emotions, so the anxiety could last much longer than the actual event. No need to rush, leave that safe haven available to the cat for as long as possible. 7) If you have multiple cats, chances are you'll need multiple boxes, maybe even with different materials in them. There is one more important distinction that you'll need to make. Is the cat refusing to use the litter box, or is the cat spraying? Spraying is a territorial behavior and has nothing to do with disliking the box. For more information on litter box problems or spraying, consult with a trained behaviorist. Correcting the Problem The key to solving elimination problems is to make the litter box more attractive, and the area where the cat is soiling instead, unattractive. Sometimes, just cleaning the litter box more frequently or changing its location will correct the problem. Other times, you may need to experiment with different combinations of location and kitty litter to find a solution. You may even want to offer your cat the choice of several different boxes, each with different kinds of litter, to see which he or she prefers. At the same time, you must break the cat's habit of soiling in the new location. Be sure to clean the soiled area thoroughly with a pet odor remover to get rid of any urine scent -- or your cat may be attracted back to the same spot. It's important to keep the cat away from the area. Try covering the spot with carpet runner, prickly side up, or use a device that delivers a harmless static shock or that produces a loud noise when the cat comes near, to help redirect kitty to his litter box. Adding a room deodorizer with a scent the cat finds offensive - such as a strong citrus or floral - can also keep the cat away from the area. When to See the Vet If your cat continues to eliminate outside of the litter box, a trip to the vet is in order to check for health problems. No behavior techniques will help a cat with a problem that requires the attention of a veterinarian. Urinary tract infections are a common cause of litter box problems, which your pet's doctor can diagnose and treat. A urinalysis can also rule out diabetes. Other conditions that may affect elimination behavior include arthritis - which makes is painful to climb in and out of the box - and constipation. Odor removing tips: To remove the smell of urine from just about anything, first clean it with some sort of soap or kitchen cleaner. Then clean it with lemon juice. If you don’t like the smell of lemon juice follow it up with a little bit of vanilla extract. One of the most effective formulas I’ve found for removing ANY odor was from Popular Science Magazine. Mix 1 quart of Hydrogen Peroxide, with 1/4 cup of Baking Soda, and one tablespoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Saturate the affected area, rinse thoroughly with clean water, and the smell is gone. This is non-toxic and safe for your animals and children, and those with allergies. This is especially helpful for removing skunk odor from your outdoor animals. As always, test a small portion of fabric for color fastness, before treating a large area. What Won’t Work… There are many home remedies for treating pet stains and odors, and let me stress that most of them are not too bad as far as removing odors for humans’ noses. Vinegar, ammonia, baking soda, laundry detergents, lemon juice, fabric softeners, and commercial strength pet stain removers are all great for removing the odors that humans can smell. However; you will need more to remove the odor for your cat’s nose. An enzymatic cleaner is the best answer, but it is slow and may take more than one application. (Nature’s Miracle is one of them.) The Hydrogen Peroxide/Baking Soda combo is fast, but can alter the colors of some fabrics. In the end, you must decide which application is best for your situation. Even if you clean a pet stain with soap and water certain micro-organisms remain behind and your pet can smell them. Enzymatic Cleaners are designed to completely eliminate the source of the odor by using enzymes to eat away the micro-organisms that cause the odor. The one drawback to these cleaners is that they are slow; it could take several weeks for them to completely eliminate an odor. Enzymantic Cleaners are available at most pet stores, organic/natural/health food stores, and even some hardware stores. You can also ask your vet for suppliers."

hudsongray replied: "Is it all peeing or is it spraying--these are two separate issues. if it's a huge amount of pee, that soaks the box, that's a major sign to have him checked for a diabetic condition. If he's scent marking by spraying (that's done horizontally) then it's a completely different issue."

My Cat Is Leaving Poop Stains On My Sheets!? My cat is 10 and quite anxious. He used to poop a lot outside of his litter box, but after getting him on Buspar and buying good kitty litter and two boxes to put in two locations, it seemed that things had solved themselves. He even took to lying on and in my bed. I thought that was really sweet, a sure sign he was feeling more relaxed. And maybe he is. It's just now, I have noticed he leaves these little poop prints from his paws or butt on my sheets! It's really gross! I actually wiped his butt today when I saw he was lying on my freshly changed sheets and inspected his tail. (I'm almost really embarrassed to admit that, but it was more for making ME comfy, not him!) Anyways, is there anything that can be done? My boyfriend suggested getting his butt area trimmed. I have him on 1/2 can of wet food a day (to mix the Buspar into) so I don't think it's the diet. I closed the door to my room, but it'd be nice to cuddle with the kitty...any ideas?

David s replied: "get he hutt hair cut sound good try it"

manthamom replied: "this is disgusting, get rid of him, I would never have something so unclean in my home or around me. I just can't comprehend filth when there is a way to prevent it."

Mrs. B replied: "Sweety, you don't need to get rid of your cat. (some troll posted that up) Just trim the hair on his butt and perhaps down the back of his legs if it's long and feathery hair. I've had to wipe my cats butts, and my kids butts >.< (would I get rid of the baby because it pooped and needed it's butt wiped? lmao) Pet owners wipe butts, fight the problem of tracked kitty litter, fight with fleas, and do other 'not so fun' things when it comes to owning a pet. You could try knocking his wet food down by half, or mixing it with more fiber filling food (talk to the vet about it or look up a good food online for kitty). Try using a different kitty litter, my cat tracked poopy / wet paw prints all over when he'd come out of his litter box until I changed to that $8 a bag absorbing crystals litter. It cost more at first, but it lasts way longer than cheap litter, hardly sticks to their feet at all, really absorbs wettness (even dries out their wet feces!) SUMMARY -------- Change to crystal absorbing litter, trim butt and paw hair (if long), keep his litter boxes super clean, might need larger boxes so he don't step in his poop, talk to vet about adding fiber to the food or some way to firm up his poop if his feces is loose or wet, buy cheap baby wipes and wipe kitty's butt before cuddling or letting him on the bed. I have a tub of wipes in each room of the house to tackle poopy cats and dirty kids ,,,=^_^=,,, rawwrl *winks* Mrs. B"

Alison S replied: "worm your cat"

Jodie S. replied: "Are you sure your he doesn't have worms? Worms can cause the leaky booty. Cats are usually very clean animals. I would suggest taking him to the vet just to make sure. It may be the diet of 1/2 can of wet food. Try giving him dry food mostly, and then mixing the Buspar with a minimal amout of wet food just so he gets that down. Good luck!!"

frosstybear replied: "I had a cat I rescued once who did that. part of it was they think we was stuck in a area for a while he couldn't get out and lost the skill. also because of its being abandoned the vet thought it might be the fear and no control. was told to work with it. and when they get older they also lose control. if you changed food completely it will have a similar result and they have to build back a bacteria count in there system (thats what the vet told me) the vet said if you change food mix some of the old with the new. but really should have a vet look into it if it do not change soon. had the vet say to help add like a teaspoon of low fat cottage cheese for a couple days. helps build up the system but not for to long. another thing is there are a few types of cats who always have that trouble. you have to watch them and clean them have heard they have like diapers for cats with issues. if you love the cat its an ideal. hopefully this helps a little bit."

RuneAmok cats.com replied: "A kitty brazilian will definitely help. I highly recommend it. The problem could be the medication - which I've never heard of - or it could be the diet. Canned food is great for cats, but they're not all of equal quality. If you're feeding something like Friskies or Fancy Feast, that may be the problem. You could try a different canned food and see if that helps things. I suggest a grainless variety. Or you could try probiotics or digestive enzymes. Or perhaps things will improve once he's off the meds....."

Could my cat have a Nervous disorder? My cat is a bit skittish. She will constantly chew on herself to the point where she will make herself bleed. She also has NO fur from her shoulders down because of the constant chewing and scratching. She doesn't have fleas, because the vet has checked her many many times. They put her on medicine, Buspar 5mg, once a day. It worked for about 2 weeks and she was OK. But then it started back up. She will pick spots where she will not move from for days on end! She eats, and drinks water, and uses the bathroom and then goes back to her spot, but I don't know what could be wrong! The vet is NO help because he doesn't know what would be wrong either. Please help.

levdubya replied: "It's time to see a different vet. One that specializes in skin disorders and allergies. It sounds like she must be very uncomfortable under her current circumstances. Poor thing. She may be suffering from allergies. You can have her tested to see if that may be the problem. Many times cats are allergic to something in either their food, or their environment and it causes skin problems. Hope this helps, and I hope your cat finds relief soon!"

Can an anti-anxiety medication help with pet allergies? Hey this is very weird, but I started a medication called BuSpar two days ago, and ever since, the past two times that I have been around my boyfriend's cat I haven't had the itchy eyes, scratchy throat, and hives that I usually get. I always take benadryl around the cat, but they never really worked this well before. Can there be any connection? I tried to look this up on the internet but to no avail...thanks!

TweetyBird replied: "Very interesting. I'm not aware of this benefit nor have I ever come across any unlabeled uses for buspiradone for allergies. Just relax and enjoy it!"

Left sided face numb, tingle in my body, shooting pain from shoulder to breast area and blurry vision. Help? O.K. all of this is left sided and has been going on for 4 months. Ive been to hospital, neurologist cardiologist and internist. At first it was said to be a VIRAL inner ear infection. Now it has gone on too ;ong to be that. Ive had a CAT of my head, numerous chest x-rays, EKG's, ECHO, and blood work. All normal. Ive been given Buspar and Zanex just incase it is all from stress/ anxiety etc. Even on those I'm having these "attacks". I can go 3-4 days and be fine and then think I'm having a heart attack and dying. i cant even drive and haven't for 4 months because i'm afraid it will happen on the road. Does anyone out there have any thoughts? Thanks!!! Thanks for your answers. and yes, I do the same thing as you and I do talk myself thru thr thoughts of OMG i'm having a heart attack. I tell myself that after 4 months I would already be dead. I will look into the other suggestions. t this point anything is worth a shot. Thanks soooo much!!

ricanbronxbomb replied: "consider an epileptologist, it can be seizures. sounds weird but that is how i was diagnosed with epilepsy. I was also given xanax, and it would help attimes since it relaxes the muscles. clear mri and cat scan only show that there is no physical abnormality in brain. Also see track what you eat, allergies can also present with bizarre reactions."

Steve B replied: "well......sounds like your carotid is blocked......did they check this also........also,did ya have a glucose tolerance test....good luck......"

breeze279755 replied: "This may sound realy weird but I just went to the emergency room 2 days ago for the same thing. When I seen this ..I just had to answer. Anxiety and panic attacks plays a huge role in thinking that something is seriously wrong with you. I have learned that...so the minute I feel like OMG I am goin to have a heart attack for no apparent reason and then I feel those stupid pains in my arm and alongside my breast. I then talk myself out of it and tell myself it is only me worrying myself crazy. However the pains were real. I also had the same test done at 2 different emergency rooms ..first one said..I had a sprained shoulder..I knew that was bogus because I hadnt done anything to sprain my shoulder...my second visit..after having an ekg and an echo...they told me that it was muscle or tissue around my arm or the nerves in my arm and it was the inflammation that was causing the pain. Goodluck to you and when you have those anxiety attacks just tell yourself that is all it is ..and if something was gonna happen like a heart attack..it would happen so fast you wouldnt feel it...it got me through those hardest times...again goodluck"

Question about FAE ( Fetal Alcohol Effect)? I adopted my son when he was 3. He seemed a little bit obnoxious at the time, but we dismissed it as 'being 3'. When he was 4, he was abusing my cat. We didn't ignore the bahaviours, we explained to him that the cat has feelings too, and thought it was just a 'curiosity' thing. As he has been getting older, we have run into major issues, such as vandalism, urinating and deficating in innapropriate areas, physical assult on classmates ( that have involved the police), running away, lying, stealing, and even getting into cars with strangers ( b/c they were smiling!?!). HE even threatened to kill his little brothers and older sister if he has the chance!! We have been seeking out help from agencies, and doctors in our region. He is now 10.5, and has been dx with ADHD, OCD, ODD, Turretts, and an anxiety disorder. He is on Buspar, Adderall, and Rispiradol, to 'help with the behaviours'. (I don't think they are very effective, personally) We JUST found out that his birth mother drank beer throughout the WHOLE pregnancy!!!! Now, I have the suspicion that he has FAE. I have gone online and looked it up, and it does seem possible, but I cant find as much info as I want. I need to know if anyone has a child/family member/ neighbour with FAE... I don't really know what kind of info I want, I just need something that makes sense, I guess... Any input is apreciated. ( No, he was not abused by anyone, and, NO, I do not regret adopting him. I just need resources to help me and my family get through this!!)

Party of 6 replied: "It could be related, but there are so many things that happen to the brain of children by the age of three. It is very important children be nurtured and loved by the age of 4. If not, irreconcilable problems can rear their ugly head later in life. A lot of children in the foster system that are of that age or older will experience these problems. I have no experience whatsoever, but my sister works for the state rehab program and her focus is on these children so I have had many discussions with her relating to that. I also work for an agency that deals with the "aftermath" of these children that are now adults. FAE can be a common denomiator in a lot of our clients. It's great you're seeking help. Please don't take this wrong, but you need it and you need it now. Do what it takes no matter what to help this child get through these issues. Please don't discredit the threats he makes. They are serious and a lot of times they will act on them."

Heather Leigh replied: "Is your son in counseling? A good Therapist can help. My adopted son also has FAE. With him, he has a hard time controlling impulses. While he knows something is wrong, he can't process that there are consequences for those actions. He also has can't control his emotions. One minute he is a loving young man, and the next minute, he hates everyone. At first we thought he was bipolar, but have since found out it is because of the FAE. The hard thing is that many people understand FAS. It is many times a visible problem and people can diagnose it right away. FAE is much harder to diagnose and makes it frustrating for both the parents and the children effected. For the longest time my son thought he was the cause of the problem. He now understands that he has no control over the condition, but he can work to control the outcome. that is where a good Therapist may help your family. Not just your son, but the entire family. Good luck to all of you!"

joe_fleeman replied: "It is NOT FAE. One of the biggest problems in today's society is no one ever wants to believe there is such a thing as evil and free will and that children like adults make CHOICES.They alll want to blame it on a chemical imbalance,gene, or some syndrome so they do not have to say "I was wrong, I was evil I need to change and I can change".They want to say "Well it is a chemical imbalance so I am not at fault or to blame and I can CONTINUE doing whatever because I can not help it I was born that way!" It is the lack of getting his behind tore up when he misbehaves.Take a belt and wear his butt out and let him know THAT will be the unpleasant consequences of bad behavior from now on and if it is a second offense for the same thing ,not only will he get a spanking but grounded as well.Make the punishment worth his while.Make it harsh enough to make him weigh it out before following through with the bad behavior.You are the parents, quit trying to be his friend and psychologist and show him who is the boss and who is the child. It worked for my parents and it will work for you.If you don't then today it is the cat,tomorrow his siblings, then his wife and kids and then his parents when they become annoying in their old age."

Crowfeather replied: "I think its the meds"