As you can see esikora what you are experiencing in the early AM hours is not unusual by the responses to your question. If fact, this phenomenon is gaining more attention since it is so common. I too suffer exactly what you do. Quite awful. I have a severe panic disorder, on medications and been in therapy for years. And yet, it still happens almost every AM, just like yours. My (yours ?) nervous system is out of whack and "on alert" (PTSD) and waking up in the early AM hours is part of this. The anxiety, fear, vigilance immediately gets activated via our adrenal gland and the adrenaline starts surging through our bodies. Thus, the pounding heart, fast rate, possible sweating. All related to "fear" of the upcoming day which begins in the mind, the body gets the clue & is off and running. I also tried Buspar and found it to be useless. What I do is immediately start to pray or say my mantra to "try" to calm myself down. I then roll out of bed and take my "go-to" anti-anxiety medications, sit down for the AM news with my first cup of coffee. Unfortunately I must take my medications but thankful they exist! I can't tell you the number of times I had a severe panic attack at 6 AM! To the point I thought I was dying and asking my husband to call 911. Now this rarely happens...but the upon waking anxiety shows up just about every AM - around 5ish like you. I have accepted it. Know exactly what it is. Strong prayers/mantras do help and I do try to fall back to sleep, sometimes I do...but I am up usually around 6ish and must do my morning medications routine to break this awful cycle. The cards my body have been dealt. Talk to yourself...saying things like "OK, I know what this is, etc. etc." and try not to be frightened by such feelings. It will and does pass. The best of luck to you and know you are far from alone in coping with Morning Anxiety.

Doctors now prefer antidepressants to any Benzo drug. I don’t really see the difference as both are addictive and can be hard to discontinue.
I have been fortunate to find a doctor that will prescribe Klonopin. I try to use it sparingly because I hope to keep it working without increasing dosage. I usually split a .5 to take the “edge off”. That is a tiny dose but helpful to me.
Effexor did not help me.