Buspirone for anxiety: any side effects?

I have been on it for 2 yrs along with depakote, prozac, amitriptyline no issues for me. Every one is so different. Good luck!

Hi, I have been on Buspirone for about 6 months. 10 mgs . in the morning and 10 mgs at night. It makes me a little drowsy. I don't really notice anything else. I also take propanolol for palpitations in the morning. At night, I take 300 mgs seroquel and 45 mgs mirtazapine. Sometimes I feel like it isn't helping, other times I feel better. My worst time of the day is in the morning.

Can anyone tell me the pros and cons on Buspar? Currently I’m taking Celexa 40 mg. Slowly increased dosage because my psychiatrist knows how sensitive I am. Been on 40mg about 3 weeks. My anxiety and stress has been high ever since pandemic. I was on Celexa for years and then I eventually stopped it in 2020. At that time my psychiatrist wasn’t seeing patients. When I started seeing him again he tried different meds that didn’t work. I had trouble with Pristiq and probably weaned off too fast. Also on Xanax 3.75 mg a day. Different intervals. I’m afraid to get on another med especially Buspar. I’ve been nauseous probably from anxiety. Possible not being on Celexa long enough. Thank you.

Flow, I moved your questions about buspirone (BuSpar) to this existing discussion:
- Buspirone for anxiety: any side effects? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/buspirone/

I did this to help you connect with fellow members like @derryman @anniegk @justkiddingkim6 @brandman48 @njp1013 who have experience with buspirone. They can share their experiences and help you consider the pros and cons.

I have had anxiety and panic attacks for years. I have been taking Xanax and doing fine. I did not take it every day ,usually .5 mg when anxiety symptoms appeared, but if I had a full blown panic attack sometimes I would take 1 mg. I have never taken more than 1 mg in a day. My psychiatrist passed away and my new psychiatrist changed my prescription to BusPirone because I am 77 years old and she said BusPirone is a safer drug for anxiety for elderly even though I have had not problems with the Xanax for decades. She prescribed ½ of 15 mg tab for a week twice a day and then it increased to 2 of the whole 15 mg tab twice a day. I have been taking it now for 8 days. I noticed on the 2nd day with the ½ tab a sort of whooshing sound in my ears and my left ear was stopped up like when you have been flying in an airplane. The whooshing ( which also sound like brush straws drumsticks playing softly and slowly on a jazz drum tempo) and stopped up left ears lasts for about 30 minutes or so after I take the BusPirone. I also experience mild nausea. Are these typical side effects of BusPirone? I did not have any side effects from the Xanax. Thank you for your help.

I take 20 mg of Buspar/Buspirone a day. Started out at 5 mg. Could feel it start working almost immediately.
Try not to overthink the human body, for side effects.

Buspar/buspirone has been very helpful for my anxiety. I could feel it start working the first day I took it.

Hi desicuban,

I’m also 77, been taking lorazepam about 7 years, much like you have taken Xanax. Decided on my own recently to stop taking the Benzodiazepine because I have reached tolerance to it, I know it is a lousy drug to take routinely, and I do not want to increase dosage for any benefits. I have found tapering off to be challenging but barely manageable and have considered trying Buspar once down to zero lorazepam. How did that work for you with Xanax? Did you stop completely before taking the Buspar? Thanks!

Hi, I have always taken Xanax on "as needed" basis, not every day. When my psychiatrist prescribed the Buspirone, she said if I had a panic attack (which of course is different from anxiety), I could take a Xanax even though I may have taken the Buspirone. I was actually wary of doing that, but I did take .5 mg Xanax one day because of severe panic attack, and I did not have any issues. I plan not to take Xanax while taking Buspirone unless absolutely necessary. I haven't been taking the Buspirone long enough to comment on whether it is working for me or not. I just know I noticed 2 symptoms almost immediately that I did not have before taking the Buspirone (1) Whooshing kind of sounds in my ears-pretty loud (2) Mild nausea. I did not know if this was common or what others had experienced. Thanks to everyone for your feedback. I appreciate each of you for taking the time to respond.

I was prescribed Busiprone 2 years ago for severe anxiety. I experienced dizziness within 1/2 hour of taking it. The dizziness lasted for hours so I had to stop taking it. I was also taking 1.0 klonopin at night for sleep.