{"id":48862,"date":"2022-02-14T09:30:20","date_gmt":"2022-02-14T14:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=48862"},"modified":"2023-11-20T10:21:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T15:21:49","slug":"buspar-for-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/buspar-for-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"How effective is BuSpar for anxiety?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is BuSpar?<\/a> | How BuSpar works for anxiety<\/a> | Efficacy<\/a> | Dosage<\/a> | Side effects<\/a> | Costs<\/a> | Alternatives<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Anxiety<\/span><\/a> is the <\/span>most common mental health disorder<\/span><\/a> in the United States, affecting 40 million adults every year. That\u2019s nearly 1 in 5 people. While feeling anxious when faced with stress is a normal response, anxiety that affects your everyday life regardless of circumstances is something worth speaking to your healthcare provider about. Knowing <\/span>the difference between stress and anxiety<\/span><\/a> is important. It\u2019s also important to treat anxiety. It is not just unpleasant to experience\u2014it can also make you more susceptible to other illnesses or hospitalization. There are many <\/span>treatment options<\/span><\/a> available including lifestyle changes, therapy, and medication. One such anxiety medication is <\/span>BuSpar (buspirone hydrochloride)<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is BuSpar (buspirone)?<\/h2>\n

BuSpar is the brand name for buspirone, a prescription medication used to treat anxiety and the symptoms of anxiety such as tension. (BuSpar, as the brand name version of the drug, is actually discontinued\u2014but buspirone is still available in the generic form.) <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBuspirone is a unique psychotropic (affects mental state) medication prescribed for the treatment of general anxiety disorders (GAD),\u201d <\/span>says <\/span>Sheldon Zablow, MD<\/span><\/a>, a <\/span>board-certified psychiatrist. Before your healthcare provider prescribes buspirone or any other mental health medication, it\u2019s important to rule out medical causes for anxiety, such as thyroid disorders or a side effect from another medication. Your healthcare provider may recommend therapy before pursuing a medication-based treatment or may recommend therapy along with short-term medication use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How does buspirone work for anxiety?<\/h2>\n

Treating depression and anxiety is sometimes only achieved with medical intervention. \u201cThe main medications used to treat GAD are antidepressants but this medication classification should more accurately be called \u2018brain chemistry normalizers,\u2019\u201d Dr. Zablow says. \u201cThe chemical imbalances that cause depression also cause anxiety and most people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety. Buspirone improves the optimal balance of nerve cell chemistry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

More specifically, \u201cBuSpar is a serotonin (5HT1a) receptor partial agonist,\u201d explains Houston psychiatrist <\/span>Jared Heathman<\/span><\/a>, MD. \u201cWhile BuSpar does achieve its benefits through serotonin like typical SSRI’s, BuSpar’s mechanism of action is unique and different.\u201d It <\/span>works on multiple neurotransmitters at once<\/span><\/a>, targeting several potential chemical causes of anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How effective is buspirone for anxiety?<\/h2>\n

Patients treated with buspirone for anxiety with some mild depressive symptoms experienced a 12.4-point reduction on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, according to <\/span>one study<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, as with many mental health medications, it\u2019s often trial and error to find the medication and dosage that works best for your unique brain chemistry\u2014and, sometimes, one drug alone doesn\u2019t do the trick. BuSpar \u201cis often called an augmenter medication because it works best by helping other psychotropic medications work better at reducing the symptoms of anxiety,\u201d says Dr. Zablow. Meaning, if you are already taking an antidepressant such as a<\/span> selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)<\/span><\/a> or a <\/span>serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor<\/span><\/a> (SNRI) regularly, you can add in buspirone. Depression and anxiety often occur at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are taking an <\/span>anxiolytic medication<\/span><\/a>, or a drug for anxiety, and it isn\u2019t reducing your symptoms enough, you may need an additional prescription. \u201cWhen antidepressants are not completely effective, treatment can be augmented with buspirone,\u201d Dr. Zablow says. \u201cThis medication is rarely used by itself or as a first-line treatment, though it can reduce some anxiety symptoms when taken alone.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Compared to other common anxiety medications<\/span><\/h3>\n

Many people think of \u201cbenzos,\u201d benzodiazepines like Xanax, when they think of medication for anxiety. These medications work right away and, therefore, are thought to be the best for anxiety, especially in panic disorders. \u201cAlthough not as reliably effective as benzos, BuSpar can help with anxiety,\u201d says<\/span> Spencer Kroll, MD<\/span><\/a>,<\/b> Ph.D. in pharmacology, director of the Northeast Lipid Association.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A major plus side of buspirone is that it is not addictive. \u201c<\/span>Abuse potential is lower than other GAD treatment adjuncts,\u201d says Dr. Zablow. Many anti-anxiety medications are highly addictive, so this is a major benefit to buspirone. <\/span>Unlike benzodiazepines and some other anxiety medications, Buspirone is not addictive or sedating, so it is a good choice for people who want to feel less anxious without drowsiness or risk of dependency on medication. <\/span><\/p>\n

Studies show<\/span><\/a> that, when taken regularly, more than half of users see improvements when taking buspirone when compared to people who were given a placebo, which makes buspirone<\/span>\u00a0overall as effective as benzodiazepines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Buspirone dosage for anxiety<\/h2>\n

The <\/span>FDA prescribing guidelines<\/span><\/a> for a dose of buspirone show a wide range. \u201cIt is FDA approved from 10 mg-60 mg total per day and typically recommended in divided doses of two to three administrations per day,\u201d says Dr. Heathman. \u201cSlow titration to higher doses typically results in a better response with fewer side effects.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dosage depends on a variety of factors, so make sure you check in with your prescriber frequently. \u201cSince everyone has their own symptoms\u2026 of anxiety, each dosage schedule needs to be individualized,\u201d says Dr. Zablow. \u201cCompared to antidepressants, BuSpar requires multiple dosing because it does not last in the blood for very long.\u201d If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember\u2014or skip it and wait if it\u2019s almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at once to try to make up for a missed dose.<\/span><\/p>\n

How fast does it work?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Unlike rescue medications like Xanax, buspirone does not work right away. \u201c<\/span>Like antidepressants, the maximum benefits can take several weeks to develop,\u201d says Zablow. <\/span>You should also not take buspirone forever. <\/span>Studies show<\/span><\/a> it\u2019s best used for one year or less, rather than long-term use. Patients who take buspirone for longer than one year will be closely monitored by their healthcare provider.<\/span><\/p>\n

Buspirone side effects<\/h2>\n

The most common side effects of buspirone include:<\/span><\/p>\n