BuSpar^® and Alcohol: What Are the Side Effects?

If you’ve been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder — like generalized anxiety disorder — your healthcare provider may recommend using the medication BuSpar^® to reduce the severity of your symptoms, and to make living with anxiety easier.

One of the most common concerns when beginning a new medication is how it might interact with alcohol. So, if you’re here, you might be wondering, Can you drink on BuSpar?

While some medications are safe to use with alcohol, BuSpar isn’t one of them. Combining buspirone and alcohol can increase your risk of experiencing adverse effects and may amplify the effects of alcohol.

Ahead, we’ll explain what BuSpar is and how it works as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and other forms of anxiety. We’ll also go over why combining BuSpar and alcohol is discouraged and provide tips for minimizing your risk of alcohol-related side effects while using BuSpar.

Read on to learn more about buspirone and its interactions with alcohol.

BuSpar is a brand name for the active ingredient buspirone, a prescription medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat generalized anxiety disorder and manage anxiety symptoms long term. BuSpar belongs to a class of drugs known as anxiolytics, and it’s available in oral tablet form and is typically taken two or three times daily.

The names BuSpar and buspirone are interchangeably used to refer to this medication, so we’ll do so throughout this guide, too.

Most often, it’s prescribed as a second-line treatment when anxiety medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or benzodiazepines cause too many side effects or are ineffective. BuSpar is also prescribed to alleviate side effects caused by other anxiety medications, such as sexual side effects from antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs, although not all studies have found it to be effective for this use.

Researchers don’t fully understand how buspirone works as an anxiety treatment, but they believe it targets receptors throughout the brain and body to regulate levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. These naturally occurring chemicals influence aspects of thoughts and moods, including feelings of anxiety.

BuSpar differs from benzodiazepines, like alprazolam (Xanax^®) and diazepam (Valium^®), by not acting on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors — a chemical that helps regulate the central nervous system and calms your body down. As a result, BuSpar isn’t habit-forming like benzodiazepines can be, and it’s also associated with fewer withdrawal symptoms.

It generally takes two to four weeks for BuSpar to start working, with gradual symptom improvement during this period. In contrast, benzodiazepines can provide more immediate relief, kicking into effect within an hour or so of taking them. 

For more detailed information about how BuSpar and similar drugs work in the treatment of anxiety, refer to our complete guide to anxiety medications.

So, can you drink while taking buspirone? You shouldn’t drink alcohol while taking BuSpar or generic buspirone. Alcohol consumption while taking Buspar can lead to an increased risk of side effects.

In other words, drinking alcohol may make the side effects of buspirone more severe and debilitating, potentially increasing your risk of injury or other health issues. 

Common side effects of BuSpar include:

• Dizziness

• Confusion

• Drowsiness

• Excitement

• Headaches

• Abnormal dreams

• Ataxia (reduced coordination and/or balance)

• Diarrhea

• Nausea

• Sweating

Using BuSpar and alcohol together could also make the effects of alcohol more severe because the two substances impact your central nervous system in similar ways.

Specifically, many of the potential side effects of BuSpar, such as dizziness and drowsiness, are similar to the effects of alcohol.

Can Drinking Alcohol Make Anxiety Worse?

Over the last few decades, numerous studies have explored the relationship between alcohol use and anxiety. Overall, the findings are mixed.

Like most substances, alcohol may affect everyone differently. But, in general, alcohol can produce temporary feelings of relaxation partly because of its influence on GABA receptors and dopamine. That’s also one of the reasons alcohol lowers social inhibitions.

That said, the effects of alcohol may also exacerbate anxiety symptoms, particularly the day after drinking. One study found this correlation to be especially strong for shy social drinkers. Hence the phenomenon known as “hangxiety,” a term that blends “hangover” and “anxiety.

Some research also indicates that anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorders — such as alcohol addiction or dependence — co-occur at higher rates than would be expected by chance alone.

Put simply, while drinking alcohol may temporarily relieve anxiety, it may also increase symptoms of anxiety for some people. Further research is needed to better understand the complex relationship between anxiety and alcohol.

How Long After Taking Buspirone Can You Drink Alcohol?

It’s best to seek medical advice from a healthcare provider if you want to stop taking BusPar and also want to know when you can start drinking alcohol again.

 A healthcare professional can help you come up with a timeline and also discuss any concerns, like how drinking might impact your well-being.

If you’re prescribed BuSpar, making a few simple changes to your habits and lifestyle may help you stay safe and get the optimal results from your medication.

Use the following tips to keep yourself healthy and safe while using BuSpar to treat anxiety:

• Try to avoid drinking alcohol. It’s best to completely avoid drinking alcohol while you’re using BuSpar. Try to replace beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages you typically drink with water, soda, juice, or other alcohol-free alternatives. If you were to have a single drink on a special occasion, it would most likely be fine. But such occasions should be infrequent and you should never drive after drinking any amount of alcohol if you’re taking BuSpar.

• Let your healthcare provider know if you have an alcohol use disorder. If you have an alcohol use disorder, it’s important to inform your healthcare provider before you start treatment with BuSpar.
  
  Your healthcare provider may adjust your therapy to help you find a more effective treatment for your substance use disorder or recommend using a different type of medication while undergoing addiction treatment.

• Inform your healthcare provider about any other medications you use. In addition to buspirone interactions with alcohol, other medications — including numerous common antidepressants and opioid drugs — can also cause issues when used with BuSpar.
  
  To keep yourself safe, inform your healthcare provider about any other medications you currently use or have used within the past 14 days.

• Avoid grapefruit juice while using BuSpar. Drinking grapefruit juice can increase the concentration of BuSpar in your blood, which may increase your risk of developing side effects or drug interactions. Try to avoid consuming grapefruit juice while using BuSpar.

• Don’t stop BuSpar without talking to your provider first. Although BuSpar generally doesn’t cause withdrawal symptoms like other types of anti-anxiety medication, it’s best to first talk to your healthcare provider before you stop taking it.

Stopping BuSpar abruptly or reducing your dosage could cause your anxiety symptoms to return.

BuSpar is generally a safe, effective anxiety medication when it’s used as prescribed. However, drinking alcohol while you’re using BuSpar could increase your risk of adverse side effects and make your anxiety symptoms worse. 

Here’s what to keep in mind about buspirone and alcohol interactions:

• Alcohol and BuSpar — and alcohol and mental health disorders in general — aren’t usually a good combination. Not only can mixing BuSpar and alcohol increase your risk of dealing with side effects or feeling more intoxicated, but the effects of alcohol may make your anxiety symptoms worse.

• Some of the potential side effects of BuSpar, like dizziness and drowsiness, are similar to the effects of alcohol. Using BuSpar and alcohol together could also make the effects of alcohol more severe, and vice-versa.

• If you’re prescribed BuSpar, try to avoid drinking alcohol. If you have a history of alcohol abuse or if you currently have alcohol cravings or an alcohol use disorder, it’s important to inform your healthcare provider before using BuSpar or any other anti-anxiety medications.

If you think you may have an anxiety disorder and you’re ready to take the next step in your mental health journey, we offer access to prescription medications via our online psychiatry service.

You can also learn more about coping with anxiety and improving your quality of life using our free mental health resources and content.