Buspirone
About Buspirone
Buspirone belongs to the class of anti-anxiety medication primarily used to treat anxiety disorder. It is used to provide short-term relief from anxiety. An anxiety disorder is a mental condition characterized by feelings of excessive fear or worry that affect an individual's daily activities. High anxiety levels can cause panic attacks, with intense feelings of nervousness, fear, sudden onset of sweating, hyperventilation, fast heartbeat, and skin flushing.
Buspirone contains Buspirone, which is an anxiolytic. It helps treat anxiety disorder by altering serotonin's action, a chemical messenger in the brain responsible for causing anxiety symptoms such as lack of concentration, irritability, sweating, restlessness, fatigue, increased heart rate, and unwanted thoughts.
Take Buspirone as prescribed by your doctor. Depending on your medical condition, you are advised to take Buspirone for as long as your doctor prescribes it. The most common side effects of Buspirone are nausea, dryness in the mouth, headache, vomiting, constipation, sleepiness, dizziness, abdominal pain (stomach pain), and diarrhoea. They do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Try not to stop taking the Buspirone of your own as it may cause withdrawal symptoms. Do not take Buspirone if you have kidney or liver disease, muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis), or glaucoma (high eye pressure). If you are taking any MAO, please do not take Buspirone to cause serious drug reactions. So, a gap of 14 days should be there in the last dose of MAO inhibitor before starting Buspirone. Buspirone may affect your ability to drive a motor vehicle or operate heavy machinery if taken with alcohol. Abrupt withdrawal of Buspirone may cause a temporary increase in the frequency and severity of seizures (fit). So, before stopping taking Buspirone, discuss with the doctor.
Uses of Buspirone
Medicinal Benefits
Buspirone contains an anti-anxiety medication, Buspirone, primarily used to treat anxiety disorder. It is used to provide short-term relief from anxiety. High anxiety levels can cause panic attacks, with intense feelings of nervousness, fear, sudden onset of sweating, hyperventilation, fast heartbeat, and skin flushing. It works by treating anxiety disorder by altering serotonin's action, a chemical messenger present in the brain that is responsible for causing symptoms of anxiety such as lack of concentration, irritability, sweating, restlessness, fatigue, increased heart rate, and unwanted thoughts.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Buspirone
- Nausea
- Dryness in mouth
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
- Diarrhoea
Drug Warnings
Do not Buspirone if you are allergic to Buspirone or any of its ingredients. Buspirone may interact with alcohol, and grapefruit juice, so do not consume them together. If you are taking any MAO, please do not take Buspirone as it can cause serious drug reactions. So, a gap of 14 days should be there in the last dose of MAO inhibitor before starting Buspirone. Buspirone may interact if taken in depression, glaucoma (increased eye pressure), liver or kidney disease, or myasthenia gravis (a muscle weakness disease). Do not take Buspirone if you have had muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis), kidney or liver problems, depression, and glaucoma (high blood pressure in eyes). Buspirone may affect your ability to drive a motor vehicle or operate heavy machinery if taken with alcohol. If you feel excess suicidal thoughts, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances (apnoea), dizziness, or sleepiness, let your doctor know about this. Abrupt withdrawal of Buspirone may cause a temporary increase in the frequency and severity of seizures (fit). So, before stopping taking Buspirone, discuss with the doctor.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Buspirone may interact with MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, rasagiline, linezolid, selegiline, phenelzine, tranylcypromine), NSAIDs (ibuprofen), antibiotics (clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin), anti-fungal (itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole), anti-hypertensive (diltiazem, metoprolol, verapamil), and HIV medications (ritonavir, darunavir, atazanavir, lopinavir).
Drug-Food Interactions: Buspirone may interact with alcohol and grapefruit juice.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Buspirone may interact with disease conditions, including depression, glaucoma (increased eye pressure), liver or kidney disease, and myasthenia gravis ( a muscle weakness disease).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionTaking Buspirone with alcohol can increase the side effects of Buspirone, like dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. In a few cases, people may also experience impaired thinking and judgment. Hence, it would be best if you avoided or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with Buspirone.
Pregnancy
cautionBuspirone is a category B pregnancy drug. Its safety in pregnant women is not known. So, take only if prescribed by a doctor and if risks overweight harms.
Breast Feeding
cautionBuspirone should not be used in nursing mothers unless clearly necessary. So, inform your doctor if you are a nursing mother. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Buspirone.
Driving
unsafeBuspirone may cause sleepiness, dizziness, drowsiness, and visual disturbances. So, it is not recommended to drive or operate machinery after taking Buspirone. Tell your doctor if you get these types of side effects.
Liver
cautionBuspirone to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver disease. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Kidney
cautionBuspirone to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney disease. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
unsafeBuspirone is not recommended for children below the age of 18 years.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Regular exercise can help lower anxiety by releasing endorphins and improving sleep and self-image.
- Find humour in your daily life. Try to watch a comedy show to help relieve stress.
- You can try increasing your mindfulness by including yoga, meditation, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
- Drink enough water to stay hydrated, and limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine to relieve anxiety.
- Include a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. This is a healthier option than eating many simple carbohydrates in processed foods.
- Herbs like turmeric, ginger, and chamomile contain anti-inflammatory properties. Including this stuff in the meal can reduce inflammation caused due to anxiety disorder.
- Reduce your alcohol, caffeine, added sugar, high salt, and high fat intake. Especially transfat may help also help reduce inflammation.
- You can include antioxidants in your daily diet, like ashwagandha, omega-3 fatty acids, green tea, and lemon balm.
- Try to spend time with your friends and family. Having a strong social network may help you lower your risk of anxiety.
Special Advise
- Buspirone causes drowsiness. Avoid doing activities that require your complete focus and attention, like driving when on this drug.
- An abrupt stoppage of Buspirone can lead to significant withdrawal symptoms. Always discuss with your doctor about decreasing the dosage before completely stopping its usage.
- Avoid consuming alcohol while on Buspirone as it can lead to dangerous side effects.
- To avoid getting addicted to this drug, take it only in prescribed quantities and only as directed by your doctor. Do not self-medicate.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Anxiety: Anxiety is a group of disorders different from feelings of anxiety and nervousness that involve excessive anxiety, fear, or worry. Fear can arise due to anxiety and emotional response to an immediate threat related to more staying to fight or leaving to escape danger. Fear before getting ready for surgery is also a part of short-term anxiety. Anxiety disorders can affect an individual’s job performance, school work, and personal relationships. High anxiety levels can cause panic attacks, with intense feelings of nervousness, fear, sudden onset of sweating, hyperventilation, fast heartbeat, and skin flushing.
FAQs
Buspirone is used to treat anxiety disorder. It is used to provide short-term relief from anxiety.
Buspirone works by treating anxiety disorder by altering serotonin's action, a chemical messenger in the brain responsible for causing anxiety symptoms such as lack of concentration, irritability, sweating, restlessness, fatigue, increased heart rate, and unwanted thoughts.
No, using Buspirone along with MAO inhibitor is not recommended as it can cause serious drug reactions. A minimum gap of 14 days should be maintained between the last dose of MAO inhibitor and Buspirone.
Do not stop taking Buspirone until instructed by your doctor. You may get side effects like confusion, depression, nervousness, sweating, and diarrhoea. Your doctor may lower the dose of Buspirone if it exceeds more than 2-4 weeks of treatment to reduce side effects.
Buspirone is safe if taken in the dose and duration prescribed by your doctor. At recommended dosage and time as advised by your doctor. It can cause side effects such as constipation and fatigue (feeling tired). It is not addictive but can cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly. Always consult your doctor if you experience such side effects.
The most common side effects of Buspirone are nausea, dryness in the mouth, headache, vomiting, constipation, sleepiness, dizziness, abdominal pain (stomach pain), and diarrhoea. They do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Take Buspirone either always on an empty stomach or always after a meal or as advised by your doctor. But take it at the same time each day. Swallow it as a whole with water. Do not crush, break or chew it. However, follow your doctor’s instructions regarding dosage and frequency.
It may take 3 to 4 weeks after taking Buspirone before you start to feel better. Initially you might notice a decrease in irritability and worry. However, do not stop taking Buspirone with consulting your doctor. Complete the full course of treatment as prescribed by your doctor.
If you miss a dose of Buspirone, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed one.
Yes, Buspirone can help improve mood. It works by altering serotonin's action, which is responsible for thoughts and mood. By stabilizing serotonin levels, it can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and improve overall mood.
Yes, Buspirone causes dizziness as a side effect. This side effect can be more intense when you first start taking Buspirone or if your dose is increased. Over time, your body may adjust to Buspirone, and the dizziness may decrease. Therefore, it's important to be cautious, especially when getting up from a sitting position or walking down stairs. Also, take some rest and stay hydrated by drinking water.
Yes, Buspirone causes dryness of mouth as a side effect. Chewing sugar-free gum, drinking water frequently, or using a saliva substitute help to ease the discomfort of dry mouth.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Buspirone?
When should I call my doctor right away?
Why was Buspirone taken off the market?
