Learn how BuSpar (buspirone) can help treat anxiety
Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of The Anxiety Workbook and founder of the website About Social Anxiety. She has a Master's degree in clinical psychology. air insulated busbar trunking system
Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.
BuSpar (buspirone) is a medication used to treat anxiety, particularly generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Its effectiveness has been well established for this purpose. BuSpar works by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain to help control symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing heartbeat, sweating, jitters, and trouble sleeping.
This anti-anxiety drug was originally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1986. The name-brand BuSpar has since been discontinued. It is important to note that BuSpar was discontinued because the generic form became widely available and not due to safety or effectiveness reasons.
The medication is still available in its generic form (buspirone). Since many people still use the brand name BuSpar and the generic name buspirone interchangeably, this article will use both terms to refer to the medication.
If you have an anxiety disorder such as generalized anxiety disorder, your doctor may recommend BuSpar as a treatment option. Buspirone has been shown to be effective for relieving anxiety, but it is important to know that it may take a few weeks before you start to notice these benefits. There are also side effects and potential interactions you should be aware of before you begin taking this medication. Keep reading to learn more about how BuSpar is used, how it works, and what you can expect when taking it to treat anxiety.
Buspirone is used for the short-term treatment of anxiety symptoms and the longer-term treatment of anxiety disorders.
Buspirone is typically used to help treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Some researchers have set out to see if it can help people with other types of anxiety, such as social anxiety disorder (SAD). So far, however, it appears to have minimal effects.
For instance, one review of studies involving medication-based anxiety treatments noted that buspirone had not demonstrated effectiveness for social anxiety disorder. Plus, the doses needed to possibly make it more effective would also increase the drug's side effects, limiting its use.
BuSpar is often less effective for disorders that involve episodes of severe anxiety, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder.
Buspirone is from the azapirone class of medications, which includes other anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and antipsychotic medications. It is most often prescribed for generalized anxiety disorder.
BuSpar impacts neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine. Specifically, it is a serotonin receptor agonist, which means that it increases action at serotonin receptors in your brain. This, in turn, helps to alleviate anxiety.
Buspirone is commonly used as an add-on to other medications—such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSIRs)—for the treatment of depression or anxiety, rather than a first-line treatment. BuSpar may also be prescribed if other medications have been ineffective or resulted in too many side effects.
This video has been medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD.
Before you start taking BuSpar, it is important to understand how to take your medication, including how much to take, when to take it, and what to do if you miss a dose. Buspirone can be taken with food or without, but it must be taken consistently—usually two or three times daily.
Buspirone tablets come in a variety of doses, ranging from 5 mg to 30 mg each. Additionally, both the 5 mg and 10 mg tablets are scored so they can easily be split in half, dropping the lowest available dose per tablet to 2.5 mg.
The maximum daily dose is 60 mg. However, most patients respond to a dose in the range of 15 mg to 30 mg. This dose can also be increased by 5 mg every 2 to 3 days if needed. Your prescribing doctor will determine the appropriate dosage for you.
BuSpar is slow-acting, so it may take a few weeks to feel the effects. Your prescribing doctor will evaluate your situation regularly, including how you respond to the medication, to determine the optimal length of time you should take BuSpar.
Typically, the medication is taken for several months up to a year. When your doctor decides that you should stop taking BuSpar, the dose will gradually be reduced to help avoid the potential effects of withdrawal.
If you miss a dose of buspirone, take it as soon as you remember. The one exception is if it's almost time to take the next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose (don't try to double up), and resume your normal schedule beginning with the upcoming dose.
When taking buspirone, you want to avoid drinking a lot of grapefruit juice. The reason for this is that grapefruit juice can change the way the drug moves through the body, potentially increasing the amount of buspirone absorbed.
In addition, it is best to avoid using alcohol while taking BuSpar. Mixing alcohol and BuSpar can lead to increased drowsiness and feeling lightheaded. More severe implications of this combination include problems with muscle control, memory, and breathing.
You should not take BuSpar (buspirone hydrochloride) if you have a hypersensitivity to the drug. In cases of hypersensitivity, your prescribing doctor will discontinue the medication treatment.
Drug hypersensitivity refers to immune-mediated reactions to drugs, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
Buspar should also be used cautiously by people with compromised liver function or pre-existing medical conditions. Liver enzymes play an important role in removing buspirone from the body. If the liver is not functioning normally, there may be increased concentrations of buspirone in the blood. Buspirone can also affect blood glucose levels, which may be a problem if you have diabetes.
Buspar is not recommended for people who are breastfeeding as there is evidence to suggest it may be secreted into breast milk. Its safety during pregnancy has also not been adequately studied.
BuSpar can potentially interact with numerous medications. For example, if you take buspirone along with amonoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), you may experience increased blood pressure.
There are also medications that can affect how BuSpar is metabolized in the body, which can impact the effectiveness of your medication. Medications that affect liver enzymes may increase or decrease concentrations of buspirone in the blood, which can lead to more side effects or decreased effectiveness. For example, erythromycin can increase concentrations of BuSpar.
For these reasons, it is important that your prescribing doctor is aware of all medications that you are taking before being prescribed BuSpar. This includes vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products.
Side effects experienced with buspirone can be split into two categories: those that are common and those that are less common but very serious.
A range of adverse effects is possible when taking BuSpar—especially within the first few weeks of taking the drug. Some of the most common side effects of buspirone include:
Dizziness is perhaps the most common, appearing in more than 10% of people taking buspirone. However, this effect may lessen after a few weeks.
Other more rare but potentially serious adverse effects of buspirone include:
If you experience any of these effects after taking buspirone, seek medical attention immediately and alert your prescribing doctor.
BuSpar tends to be less sedating than many other anxiety medications, but you should use caution if driving, operating machinery, or participating in hazardous activities while taking buspirone. There is little risk of physical or psychological dependence on BuSpar, and the risk of overdose is low.
BuSpar is not the only option for treating anxiety. If BuSpar does not alleviate your anxiety or you are not able to take it due to a medical condition or medication interaction, your doctor can determine the best alternative medication or form of treatment for your situation.
Other treatments for anxiety may include benzodiazepines, SSRIs, or therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Other medications can also be effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Other medications used to treat anxiety include beta blockers (such as propranolol), antidepressants (such as Lexapro), and benzodiazepines (such as Xanax).
While these medications also treat anxiety, their mechanism of action differs. For example, where buspirone acts on serotonin receptors in the brain, Xanax affects GABA receptors.
If you have been prescribed buspirone for anxiety, be sure to follow your prescribing doctor's instructions and report any ill effects. If you find the medication is not making a difference in your symptoms after several weeks, it might be worth asking your doctor whether another medication would be a better choice for you.
Buspirone's mechanism of action is somewhat unclear, though it is thought to work by the way it impacts serotonin receptors in the brain. It also appears to have a small impact on dopamine receptors as well.
Unlike benzodiazepines like Valium (diazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam), which take effect almost immediately, it generally takes between 2 and 4 weeks to notice buspirone's effects. Because it doesn't start working immediately, some people may question its efficacy when they first start taking it. If you have these concerns, speak to your prescribing doctor.
Your prescribing doctor will recommend the proper buspirone dosage for you based on the severity of your generalized anxiety disorder. Doses can range from 5 mg to 60 mg. If you're in the lower end of this range and don't notice any positive effects, your doctor may slowly increase your dosage over time to see if it improves your results.
There are several medication options for dealing with anxiety, some of which include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines. Talk to a healthcare provider about which medications may be best for you.
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By Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of The Anxiety Workbook and founder of the website About Social Anxiety. She has a Master's degree in clinical psychology.
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