Buspirone is an anti-anxiety medication used for management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) describes excessive anxiety or worry for at least six months. Other symptoms of GAD include:
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Muscle tension
- Sleep problems
Buspirone is also used off-label (use not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA) to augment depression treatment, specifically, to reduce the sexual side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants.
The therapeutic effect of buspirone typically kicks in about 2 to 4 weeks after starting the medication and taking it daily. Patients may initially notice decreased irritability and worry.
What Are Side Effects of Buspirone?
Many of the adverse side effects of buspirone will lessen over time.
Common side effects of buspirone include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Abnormal dreams
- Drowsiness
- Lightheadedness
- Problems with balance or coordination
- Confusion
- Excitement
- Nervousness
- Numbness
- Outbursts of anger
- Numbness and tingling
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Chest pain
- Nasal congestion
- Sweating
- Skin rash
- Diarrhea
- Sore throat
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Tremor
- Weakness
What Other Drugs Interact with Buspirone?
Buspirone may interact with:
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Diltiazem
- Verapamil
- Erythromycin
- Rifampin
- Large amounts of grapefruit juice
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531477/
https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Mental-Health-Medications/Types-of-Medication/Buspirone-(BuSpar)