Buspirone Oral Tablet: Complete Guidance From Experts

Anxiety is a mental health disorder related to personal feelings, worry, stress, and intense fear. Nowadays, several types of anxiety disorders have developed. It is a natural stimulus or stressful reaction to your body due to a sudden feeling, situation, or incident. The person will have rapid heart beating, tension, and restlessness. 

Around 31.1% of US adults experience anxiety, female up to 23.4% of males up to 14.3% suffer from anxiety. Anti-anxiety medications are available to treat anxiety; Buspirone is one of the most effective drugs. Let us see more about the drug in detail. 

What Is Buspirone?

Buspirone belongs to the group of anti-anxiety medicine. It helps treat anxiety-related symptoms such as fear, tension, stress, irritability, and other anxiety-related symptoms. It comes under the brand name Buspar. 

Buspirone was an FDA-approved drug in 1986. At first, it was developed to be used in psychosis, but later it was found to be very effective in treating anxiety disorders. 

The drug should not be used again by people younger than 18. 

How Does Buspirone Work?

Buspirone belongs to the class of anti-anxiety medication called azapirones. It is typically used to treat generalized anxiety disorder. Buspirone affects the brain cells called neurotransmitters, including the receptor serotonin and dopamine; it indicates the increase in the action of serotonin receptors.

The increased level leads to alleviating your anxiety symptoms to a lower state. Anti-anxiety meds should be used for 6-12 months; Buspirone can be used for up to one year. It is safe and effective. 

Is Buspirone A Controlled Substance?

A controlled substance is a drug authorized and controlled by the government due to addiction or abusive properties in medicine. 

Buspirone is not a controlled substance but has been misused, or you can become dependent on the drug. You can develop a physical or psychological dependence on the drug, so using more than an extended period is not recommended.   

Is Buspirone Addictive?

Anxiety drugs are commonly present with addiction syndrome, so only it is advisable to use them for short-term periods; some of the signs of addiction are, 

• Taking the drug more than prescribed,
• Increase in dosage,
• Experiencing a drug craving for buspirone,
• Facing the struggle to quit the buspirone
• Using someone's prescription to buy the medicine. 

If you see someone or you are struggling to cut off the drug, there are many detox or rehabilitation centers available to treat and help you recover from their therapies. 

How To Take Buspirone?

Take the drug as prescribed by your doctor. Read all the label instructions while taking the drug. If your doctor may change the dose according to your health status, you do not take the larger drug dose without the doctor's recommendation. 

Buspirone can be taken with or without food. But make sure to take it at the same time every day. If you missed taking the drug, do not double dose your medication; start with a current dosage. 

Dosage Of Buspirone

The dosage of the tablet will depend upon several factors, for example, the type of your health status and the priority of your condition, whether you are taking it or any other medical condition or have any other Drugs.

A doctor will see about it, according to your health status, and provide you with a suitable dose and frequency for you to use. 

Drug Strength

Buspirone tablets are taken orally, in the following strengths 7.5mg, 10mg, 15mg, and 30mg.

Anxiety Dosage

• Your doctor will recommend a starting dose of 7.5mg twice daily. 
• After that, your doctor increases it to 2 to 3 days, 5mg daily.
• The maximum amount of the drug is 30mg per day. 

Withdrawal Symptoms Of Buspirone

Buspirone has a better effect of causing lower withdrawal symptoms than any other drug. The chance is higher for people who take higher dosages for a more extended period to experience withdrawal symptoms.

People consuming alcohol regularly with kidney or liver disease will impact drug metabolism and likely experience withdrawal symptoms.

Some of the withdrawal symptoms are,

• Anxiety
• Insomnia 
• Headache
• Nausea
• Agitation 
• Headache 
• Muscles stiffness 
• Sweating
• Tiredness

How To Stop Taking Buspirone Safely?

If you have reached the point and are willing to stop the drug, you should consult your doctor before making any decision because the drugs will have some withdrawal effects on your body. So it is better to consult with a respected doctor. 

Your doctor will guide you on how to taper off the drug. Usually, it includes your present condition, age, duration, and frequency you are taking medicine. The doctor will conclude by lowering the drug dose for a week because stopping the medication immediately will lead to withdrawal effects. So it is better to taper your drug dose.

Possible Side Effects

Side effects are common reactions of drugs. Each drug has its side effects when you take it during the initial period, and it will eventually go off after a few days. Here are some common to severe side effects given below, 

If you face any severe side effects over a week, kindly consult your doctor immediately and seek help.

Precautions Of Buspirone

Precautions are the safety guidelines that ensure you are alert to preventive measures; some instructions will be provided on the drug label. You should check before taking any drug and follow the steps given below.

• Inform your doctor about your health history and if you are allergic to any products. 
• Do not consume the drug if you have taken MAO inhibitors in the last 14 days, such as Isocarboxazid, Linezolid, Phenelzine, and Rasagiline. 
• If you are allergic to the ingredients of Buspirone, check with your doctor to avoid hypersensitive reactions. 
• People with certain conditions, like, kidney disorders and liver disorders, should avoid taking the drug.
• Avoid consuming alcohol, as this will make your drug buspirone suffer from drowsiness. 
• If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, ask your doctor if the drug will not cause some side effects during your pregnancy
• While breastfeeding, women should be alert; it is unknown whether the drug passes into the breast milk, so inform your doctor. 

What If You Forget The Dose?

If you remember your missed dose, people who forget to take the drug during the day take it as soon as possible. But if you are near to your next dose, skip the missed dose and do not consume a double dose. 

Can You Overdose On Buspirone?

Call for medical emergency care if you overdose on a drug, and the overdose should be treated with proper medication. Some of the overdose symptoms are 

• Trouble sleeping
• Slurred speech,
• Not showing interest in any activities
• Feeling low 
• Lack of energy
• Poor coordination

Drug Interactions Of Buspirone

Buspirone can interact with other drugs, such as vitamins or herbal supplements. You should speak with your doctor about your health history and drugs to avoid unwanted interaction. This will help your doctor to track your health chart. 

• Antibiotics: Avoid taking antibiotics with buspirone. This may increase the level of the drug in your system. Examples of drugs are Clarithromycin and Erythromycin.
• Antidepressant meds: Avoid antidepressants like Paroxetine, Fluoxetine, Citalopram, Sertraline, and Amitriptyline. Taking these drugs with buspirone will increase the risk of serotonin syndrome and lead to side effects such as nausea, dizziness, and fever.
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors: Isocarboxazid, Selegiline, and Phenelzine.
• Antiseizure Drugs: Buspirone interacting with seizure drugs will make the medication less effective in your body. Medications such as Phenobarbital, Carbamazepine, and Phenytoin.

Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solutions

So far, we have learned about the drug Buspirone as it belongs to the anti-anxiety medication which helps treat anxiety disorders. The drug will help you to increase the serotonin level in your brain; therefore, it shows a positive interest in calming your brain cells and erasing your anxiety level. 

It will lead to suffering from dependence and tolerance to the drug. So before stopping the medication, and for further details, consult with health care professionals.