{"id":634903,"date":"2026-01-06T12:07:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T17:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=634903"},"modified":"2026-01-12T13:55:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T18:55:59","slug":"buspirone-side-effects-first-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/buspirone-side-effects-first-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Buspirone side effects first week: What to expect"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buspirone<\/span><\/a> is a generic prescription medication used to treat anxiety disorders. The brand-name version, BuSpar, was discontinued in 2010, but the generic is widely available. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat anxiety and may be prescribed off-label for depression. Healthcare providers may recommend it because it\u2019s effective without causing the sexual side effects sometimes linked to other anxiety medications. However, other side effects may occur when starting buspirone. We\u2019ll cover what side effects to expect when starting buspirone, how long they might last, and how to manage them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common buspirone side effects: First week<\/span><\/h2>\n

Buspirone is generally a very well-tolerated medication, but side effects may occur as the body gets used to the medication. According to the drug label, the most common <\/span>side effects of buspirone<\/span><\/a> include dizziness, nausea, headache, nervousness, and lightheadedness, which are mild and temporary for most people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese effects often appear in the first few days as the body adjusts to the medication,\u201d says <\/span>Noah Smith<\/span><\/a>, MD, board-certified psychiatrist and Medical Director at Blossom Health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dizziness or lightheadedness<\/span><\/h3>\n

Dizziness is one of the most common side effects of buspirone, happening in up to <\/span>10% of patients<\/span><\/a>. In initial clinical trials, 12% of trial subjects on buspirone experienced dizziness compared to 3% of subjects on a placebo treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In an <\/span>analysis of 13 more recent clinical trials<\/span><\/a>, dizziness was also found to be the most frequent side effect of buspirone, with patients more than four times as likely to report dizziness on buspirone than on placebo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nausea or upset stomach<\/span><\/h3>\n

Digestive symptoms like nausea and abdominal discomfort can also happen shortly after starting buspirone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In initial <\/span>clinical trials<\/span><\/a>, 8% of subjects on buspirone experienced nausea compared to 5% on placebo. A recent review of clinical trials found that taking buspirone roughly doubles the risk of having an upset stomach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Headache<\/span><\/h3>\n

In earlier clinical trials, 6% of subjects reported headache on buspirone compared to 3% on placebo. A recent review of studies didn\u2019t find a significant difference in the incidence of headache between patients on buspirone versus placebo.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drowsiness or fatigue<\/span><\/h3>\n

Buspirone carries the warning of central nervous system depression, which can involve drowsiness or fatigue, especially when taken with certain medications. But according to recent research, these side effects might not be much different than taking a placebo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In earlier clinical trials, 10% of subjects on buspirone reported drowsiness compared to 9% on placebo, which isn\u2019t a large difference. Analyses of multiple clinical trials found no significant differences in patients taking buspirone versus placebo who reported drowsiness or fatigue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Restlessness or nervousness<\/span><\/h3>\n

Restlessness, excitement, and nervousness are possible side effects when starting buspirone. In early clinical trials, 5% of subjects on buspirone reported nervousness compared to 1% on placebo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dry mouth<\/span><\/h3>\n

Though dry mouth is a common side effect of taking buspirone, it might not be much different from taking a placebo. According to its drug label, 3% of clinical trial subjects taking buspirone reported dry mouth compared to 4% on placebo. More recent research did not find a significant difference between placebo and buspirone on reports of dry mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Serious side effects of buspirone<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cSerious side effects from buspirone are rare, but it\u2019s important to know what to watch for,\u201d Dr. Smith says. Certain reactions might need medical attention if they come up during treatment. Serious side effects of buspirone <\/span>include<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n