Get Informed: Buspar
Active Ingredient(s)
Buspirone
What does it do?
This product is used in the management of anxiety. Its exact mechanism of action is unknown.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-13 9:54 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-13 9:01 PM
Other Names
- Buspar
- Buspirone
- Buspirone HCl
- Buspirone Hydrochloride
- Busirone
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- B
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 29 Sep 1986
- Est US Patients*
- 814,400
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
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.
Recent alerts for Buspar
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Buspar during the past year.
Buspar Safety Report
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 is currently tracking more than 5,400 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 | 93% | 
|
| Depression | 30% | 
|
| Bipolar Disorder | 13% | 
|
| Irritable Bowel | 3% |
|
How well does Buspar work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 5,400 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)
- 86%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Buspar outweigh the bad things.
- 20%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Buspar.
Common Side Effects of Buspar
iGuard regularly polls our more than 5,400 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.
27% of patients experience side-effects on Buspar
6% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Buspar
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Fatigue
-
Constipation
-
Grogginess/Confusion
-
Drowsiness
-
Memory/Speech Problems
-
Loss of Libido
-
Dizziness
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Increased Appetite
Global Patient Feedback for Buspar (Buspirone) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I take Prozac 40 mg qam and Buspar10 mg twice daily. I love this combo for me. It works!!!!!
32 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-02 00:58:45
Question/Comment:
I was recently given this medication for anxiety. I was told that it wouldnt work for at least 4 weeks. I have been on it for two days, and my problems are gone. I have side effects, dizziness, lightheadedness, I perfer these than what I had been experiences. This is my first anxiety med. I had been treated for depression, incorrectly, but the psychiatrist never listened. I wentto ER 4times. My primary care listened and gave me this. I can function again. I cant believe it.
32 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-14 20:46:51
Question/Comment:
The sudden shock will go away in a few minutes. I feel lightheaded when this happens. Just sit down for a few minutes and it will go away.
49 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-27 16:25:05
Question/Comment:
no longer take Buspar
58 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
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?
44 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-08 08:07:03
iGuard 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.
68 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-23 13:23:13
Answer/Reply:
I take Buspar twice a day for the sudden anger problems. My wife got to where she didn't want to be off work the same time I was unless I had taken my Buspar early in the morning. The medication really helps me at work. I work for Pepsi Cola as a maintenance mechanic. The stress from trying to keep up with the fast pace of the bottling industry can casue you to get very angry. Sometimes I have to take an extra pill durning the mid-day to cope with this. Also, just being at home can cause this. Thanks to Buspar, my wife and I spend as much time together as we can.
49 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-27 16:22:42
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Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
80
Patient Comments about
Buspar