Patient Education: Buspirone (Buspar)

Buspirone is a medication prescribed by your healthcare provider, selected based on current evidence-based guidelines to best address specific mental health conditions. While effective, it's important to understand that all medications come with potential side effects. As a patient or caregiver, being informed about these risks and benefits is crucial. Equally essential is knowing how to monitor for side effects, and understanding the strategies to reduce their occurrence or manage them effectively. This guide aims to empower you with this knowledge, ensuring a well-informed approach to your or your child's treatment.

What is Buspirone?

Buspirone is classified as an Anti-anxiety medication. Buspirone works by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain.

When is Buspirone prescribed to Children & Adolescents? 

Your doctor may prescribe Buspirone for

• Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder & Social Anxiety Disorder)
• Panic Disorder
• Augmentation agent for treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Augmentation of antidepressants for treatment of Depression

What is the Dose of Buspirone?

• The dose typically ranges from 10 to 60mg.
• Started at a low dose, gradually increasing to effectiveness
  
  

Medication Guidelines: What You Need to Know

• Take your medication consistently every day as directed by your healthcare provider, rather than using it only when you feel you need it.
• While some patients may notice improvement within the first two weeks of starting treatment, it may take up to eight weeks to experience the medication's full benefits.
• Abruptly stopping this medication can lead to a discontinuation syndrome, which may cause symptoms like dizziness, chills, lightheadedness, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, shock-like sensations, and tingling.
• Combining Buspirone with certain medications can lead to a dangerous condition called Serotonin Syndrome, caused by excessive serotonin levels in the body. Symptoms include anxiety, agitation, confusion, sweating, rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, fever, stomach problems, tremors, muscle stiffness, spasms, and heightened reflexes. Over-the-counter agents and supplements such as Dextromethorphan (DXM), St. John's Wort, certain cough and cold medications, over-the-counter migraine medications, 5-HTP, and L-tryptophan can also interact with Buspirone to induce serotonin syndrome. It's vital to consult your primary care provider or psychiatrist before starting any new prescription or over-the-counter medication

What can be the possible

side-effects from the medication?

Common Side-Effects & their Management Strategies

Your child may experience some side effects from the medication initially. Most of these side effects are mild and improve over time. The medication is started at a low dose to minimize these side effects. If side effects persist, consult your healthcare provider.

• Nausea: These can be mitigated by taking your medication with meals.
• Tiredness, Fatigue, Drowsiness: To reduce daytime drowsiness, it's best to take your medication at bedtime.
• Dizziness: Taking medication at bedtime and regular hydration can alleviate this symptom. 
• Headache: May happen initially but usually improves over time Consult with your provider if persistent.  Reducing the dosage or splitting it into two daily doses might help. 
• Sleep Disturbances: If you find it difficult to sleep, try taking your medication in the morning.

• Activation (feeling unusually energized, jittery, restless or agitated): Lowering the dose temporarily can be helpful. Contact your provider for guidance on how much to reduce and how to slowly increase it again as your body adapts to the medication.

Less Common Side-Effects 

• Anxiety, tremor: 
  • Consult with your provider if persistent. 
  • Adjustment in medication may be necessary.
• Stomach upset, Diarrhea: Reducing the dosage or splitting it into two daily doses might help. As your body adjusts, your provider may gradually increase the dose back to the original level if needed.

Uncommon Side-Effects

• Movement Disorders: Rarely, some individuals may experience movement issues while taking Buspar, such as restlessness, muscle spasms, or unusual movements. If you notice any of these symptoms, it's important to inform your healthcare provider, as they may need to adjust or discontinue your medication.

To learn more about this medication please visit MedlinePlus, a official US government website, part of National Library of Medicine and managed by National Institute of Health by clicking HERE