Get Informed: Buspar

40

Patient Comments about
Buspar

Active Ingredient(s)

Buspirone

What does it do?

Buspar

This product is used in the management of anxiety. Its exact mechanism of action is unknown.

Last Text Update:
 2009-Nov-20 6:28 PM
Last Data Update:
 2009-Nov-18 6:14 PM

Other Names

  • Buspar
  • Buspirone
  • Buspirone HCl
  • Buspirone Hydrochloride
  • Busirone

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
Please log in
Average Risk Rating
2: General
Pregnancy Category:
B
Black Box Warning:
No

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
29 Sep 1986
Est US Patients*
835,000
Generic Available
Yes
OTC Available
No

User Age Distribution*

9

< 21

18

21-39

50

40-59

23

60+

Age (Years)

* Estimated number of US people currently taking Buspar or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.

Other Resources

Recent alerts for Buspar

Buspar Safety Report

2: General

The iGuard risk rating for Buspar is blue. It means that Buspar normally has a low risk of serious or long-term side effects if used under normal medical supervision.

Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings

  • Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Buspar interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.

What is Buspar used for?

iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 4,800 patients that use Buspar (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.

Disease / Condition % Average Severity
Anxiety 83% 5
Depression 25% 6
Panic Disorder 17% 6
Bipolar Disorder 5% 5
Other 5% 5

How well does Buspar work?

iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 4,800 users taking Buspar (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.

Average Satisfaction Score

(out of 10)

Average Effectiveness Score

(out of 10)

63 67
69%
of patients are confident that the good things about Buspar outweigh the bad things.
11%
of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Buspar.

Common Side Effects of Buspar

iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 4,800 users taking Buspar (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.

26%

26% of patients experience side-effects on Buspar

5%

5% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Buspar


Most Common Side Effects...

  • 20% Drowsiness
  • 5% Dryness
  • 5% Sweating
  • 5% Mental Haziness
  • = 10%

Less than 1%: Abdominal Pain, Dizziness, Heartburn/Reflux, Heat Sensitivity, Muscle Tingling


Global Patient Feedback for Buspar (Buspirone) ( Post a comment )

Comments, Questions, and Answers
Show Newest | Oldest first

Question/Comment:

no longer take Buspar

58 year old Male

Posted: 2009-09-13 22:06:51

Question/Comment:

i take lexapro 20mg once a day,and buspar twice a day. i really dont feel like the buspar is helping my panic attacks,and i have these outburst of feeling angry about nothing that is really happening, can you suggest what i need to do? and do you think i need to be on a higher dose of buspar bacause of this?

43 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-08 08:07:03

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

Managing and minimizing panic attacks can be a challenging task. You should discuss the symptoms you are experiencing with your doctor and explore the options of changing doses on one or both medications or relacing the medication(s) with an alternate therapy. There are many choices and avenues to explore that may help control the panic attacks. Do not increase, decrease or change any doses until after you have had a discussion with your doctor about your situation.

Posted: 2009-08-13 16:27:04

Answer/Reply:

I know how you are feeling. I, too, take buspar. You didn't say what mg you were on. I take 15 mg tablet that can be broken in half or thirds as needed. I am allowed 3 tablets a day but rarely take that much. I recently had to have internal radiation therapy for endometrial cancer and the anxiety went wild. I took an extra half pill an hour or so before treatment and I managed to get through them just fine. As far as your anger and rage go, please, ask your doctor if another pill or part of pill could be taken around 1 or 2 o'clock. That may help you a great deal. I have found that buspar does not jump up and shout at you that it is working. It seems to be a little sneeky in that you just all at once notice you are calming down. I would be glad to answer any other problems you may have with it.

67 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-23 13:23:13

Question/Comment:

I just started this medication and I have episodes of what feel like power surges in my brain...is this normal? I'm 20 years of age.

20 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-02 22:32:13

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

Approximately 5% of iGuard patients taking Buspar reported mental haziness as a side effect. During clinical research studies of Buspar the most common nervous system side effects included dizziness, insomnia, nervousness, drowsiness, and lightheaded feeling. There is no specific description or reported cases of power surges as a side effect. You may be adjusting to the medication. You should discuss your side effects with your doctor especially if they continue or worsen.

Posted: 2009-08-06 23:09:44

Answer/Reply:

I have been taking the same dosage and when I close my eyes to go to sleep at night, I get a most horrifying experience like a surge of a shock around my head. Could this be the same thing you experience? I am afraid to lie down and close my eyes now at night. This has been happening for 2 months now.
61 year old female.

62 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-25 22:34:44

Answer/Reply:

When I first began the Buspar I had a feeling of a huge rubber band being tightened around the upper 1/4 of my head. That went away after about three days. Every now and then I get a 'power' surge but very rarely. Was on Paxil at one time and that stuff was AWFUL for the power surges. I felt like an electrical transformer.

50 year old Female

Posted: 2009-09-25 09:56:44

Question/Comment:

I was wondering how long after stopping this medication would it be okay to have grapefruit in any form...does anyone know? Thank you.

21 year old Female

Posted: 2009-07-14 05:27:41

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

There are not specific defined guidelines for eating or drinking grapefruit in any form after stopping Buspar. There are guidelines that suggest stopping Buspar and waiting 14 days before starting certain other drugs that have a significant drug interaction potential. You should discuss your concern with your doctor as they will be aware of the dose and length of time you have taken Buspar and be able to make the best assessment for you.

Posted: 2009-07-16 23:41:59

Question/Comment:

I am 49 years old was placed on prozac for battered womans syndome then placed on pexeva 40mg. only this past summer I was also, added the buspirone HCL 10mg. 2 x daily and let me say this the combination of the two medications has helped me alot. I have been able to over come my nightmare's from my past, I have also, been able to get to point where I can shop in stores again, I can trust again. I go to church again. I don't have to see head shrink anymore just my regular doctors and my counselor. My anxiety is under control and panic attacks and althou, I still have batteried womans syndome I am not afraid of men anymore I can up for myself. But I have gained weight that is the side effect that I have experience. I got my self esteem BACK and I LOVE MYSELF again. So, if you ask me weight gain or having me back I think I will say having me back is more important. Thank you to the makers of pexeva and buspirone HCL for making me whole again and Thank you to my doctors and counselor as well for helping me make it possible.

50 year old Female

Posted: 2009-06-06 22:19:40

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