Buspirone (sometimes known by its brand name BuSpar) is mostly employed in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, also known as GAD. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration and effective for short-term anxiety symptom relief specifically, and also the long-term use and management of anxiety disorders. The effects of buspirone are similar to other anti-anxiety medications. Unlike some anxiolytics, it does not have muscle relaxant effects.
Interestingly, there’s some evidence to show that buspirone can be used alongside SSRIs — if employed correctly, it can reduce the sexual side effects sometimes associated with the other medication. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical advice before beginning any new over-the-counter prescription drugs.
How buspirone works is a bit complicated, but in the simplest explanation, it’s in a class of medications called azapirones, which affect serotonin receptors in the brain.
From the way the NIH explains it, buspirone seems to thread the needle in the world of neurotransmitters: it weakly affects certain dopamine receptors, avoids the receptors affected by benzodiazepines, and targets the 5HT2 and 5HT1 serotonin receptors, both of which seem to make it effective in managing anxiety.
In other words, buspirone tends to affect a lot of things a little bit. Since everyone’s brain chemistry equilibrium is a little different, this medication has significant value — it’s great for people for whom the undesirable effects of other medications are a little too much, or not quite enough.
Buspirone should not be taken by people with hypersensitivity to buspirone hydrochloride, by people taking an MAOI (monoamine oxidase or mao inhibitor)or within 14 days of discontinuing an MAOI, or by people with severe hepatic or renal impairment. You should always talk to your healthcare provider about possible drug interactions when taking buspirone—drugs such as rifampin, diltiazem, erythromycin, itraconazole, trazodone, verapamil, and others may have effects. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult with their healthcare provider before starting buspirone as risk to the fetus or infant cannot be ruled out. Taking buspirone while breastfeeding may also result in low levels of breast milk. You should also not take buspirone if it causes you to have an allergic reaction.
It is advised to avoid drinking alcohol while taking buspirone tablets. You should also not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are taking this medicine. Additionally, wait to drive a car, operate potentially dangerous machinery, or perform other dangerous activities until you experience how this medication affects you. Avoiding these, storing it at room temperature, and taking your prescribed dose will help the effectiveness of this medication.
Buspirone is not a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Common SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft) etc. It is an anxiolytic, a separate psychotropic agent used to treat symptoms of anxiety.
A missed dose is not uncommon when taking a prescription medication, especially if it’s new to you. Talk to your healthcare provider about when to take your next dose if you miss a dose of buspirone or have a question about the correct use of buspirone.
The side effects of buspirone can vary greatly. Diarrhea, nausea, blurred vision, tinnitus, chest pain, tremors, confusion, dizziness, headaches, and other adverse effects occurred in between 1 percent and 10 percent of patients, depending on the side effect. Seek medical attention if you see evidence of any of these potential side effects.
Weight gain or loss are not common side effects reported by patients taking buspirone.
Withdrawal symptoms from buspirone are not common but may occur if a patient has been taking a high dose or has been taking buspirone for an extended period of time and then stops taking the medication abruptly. Talk to your provider about how to safely taper off of buspirone if desired, to avoid adverse effects.
