Buspirone is an anxiolytic drug belonging to the class of medications called azapirone. It is mainly used for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, also referred to as GAD. This drug was approved by the FDA in 1986. However, the patent under which it was initially registered expired and, today, this medication can be found in generic forms as well.
In order to find out more about this medication and the effects it can have on your health, go through the lines below and obtain the information you need, deciding whether this drug is or is not for you.
Buspirone for GAD
According to medical researchers conducted in the past, buspirone can is to be used for the treatment of mild-to-moderate occurrences of generalized anxiety disorder. This means that it cannot be used for treating panic attacks or other forms of anxiety-related disorders such as OCD, social phobia etc. Even though this drug is approved by the FDA, its use for treating depression is not. Nevertheless, it buspirone has been used for these purposes effectively too.
Buspirone manages to help people deal with depression and GAD due to its capability of acting as a dopamine D2 and the alpha 1 and alpha 2 adrenergic receptor antagonist. Basically, it balances the chemicals in one's brain, preventing them to cause anxiety or some other behavioral problems. Buspirone is to be taken exactly as instructed by the doctor or by the notes you get along with the medication. You should read the prescription label carefully and thoroughly, following the instructions you find there religioulsly.
Bear in mind that buspirone is a short-term medication, not being intended for treatments which are intended to last for a long time. Therefore, unless your doctor instructs you otherwise, do not use buspirone for longer than 4 weeks.
You can take it with or without food and some of the tablets you obtain may have a line in the middle, making it possible for you to split the dose. If you are instructed to do so, do not take the medication if it did not break properly since you may be risking overdose.
If your GAD treatment changes and your doctor tells you to stop using buspirone, undergo the transition gradually, decreasing the dosage day by day, rather than stopping abruptly. Immediate cessation can lead to side-effects. Thus, you are advised to avoid this.
Furthermore, bear in mind that this medication is to be stored at room temperature, in order to avoid moisture and heat. If you happen to miss your dose, wait for the next one instead of taking a double one, since the latter situation can lead to overdosing.
Finally, while under the influence of this drug, make sure avoid driving or practice extreme caution while you are operating a motor vehicle. Also, stay away from alcohol and ask your doctor for advice if you are taking some other medications along with buspirone. Bear in mind that grapefruit juice and grapefruit itself can trigger dangerous adverse effects when consumed while you are under the influence of buspirone. Thus, avoid this too.
Side-Effects from Buspirone
If you notice any of the following symptoms after taking buspirone, make sure you seek medical assistance immediately. Namely, some of the most common adverse effects related to this medication are allergic reactions such as the appearance of hives, breathing difficulties, swelling in the face, throat, lips and tongue or the appearance of rashes.
Some less dangerous side-effect related to this medication are lightheadedness, heart-rate problems, depression or strange behavior of any type, balance and coordination issues and some similar problems. If these occur, contact your health provider and seek assistance and advice.
Other, less serious, but nevertheless unwanted effects of buspirone are drowsiness, blurred vision, dizziness, restlessness, stomach problems, nausea, sleep inconsistency and concentration difficulties.
Also, keep in mind that buspirone is known to interact with some other medications such as some antibiotics, medications used for the treatment of certain psychiatric disorders and many others. Therefore, tell your doctor about the medications you are currently taking before taking the initial dosage of buspirone. Additionally, inform him/her about any other over-the-counter health products you are using on a regular basis, even if these are minerals, herbal products, vitamins or any other medicines of this type.
Ultimately, you should not take buspirone if you are taking any MAO inhibitors, since, if you do, you might be risking your health seriously or even cause some life-threatening problems. Do not take the medication if you have kidney or liver diseases either. Rather, before making any steps, consult with your doctor.
All in all, buspirone is a drug which is predominantly used for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, with is a condition which manifests through anxious behavior taking place on a daily basis, without any specific causes behind it. Yet, even though this drug is a very effective one, it should not be taken in the long run. Thus, ask your doctor all about it before taking it and make sure that he/she knows everything about the medications you are currently taking and your medical history, avoiding any side-effects related to inadequate use of buspirone.
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