""Buspirone, sold under the brand name Buspar""
All drugs have a generic name and brand name. It's best if patients can remember both names to help prevent errors.

Xanax is a brand name, Alprazolam the Generic. I've told medical assistants at the doctor's office I'm on Zantac (Brand name) which is Ranitidine (Generic), but they write down Xanax instead. Big mistake.

To prevent errors, I keep the list on my phone and let them read it. Here's the list:

1. Metoprolol Succinate (Toprol XL)
2. Triamterene and HCTZ (Maxzide/hctz)
3. Clonazepam (Klonopin)
4. Levothyroxine (Synthroid)
5. Phenytoin (Dilantin)
6. Simvastatin (Zocor)
7. Vitamin D-3

FOR CHRONIC HIVES, DAILY, see below.

8. Ranitidine (Zantac)
9. Xyzal (Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride)
10. Montelukast Sodium (Singular)

All except the Vitamin D-3, both names are given.

And generic names; given before the drug is marketed, it has nothing to do with the drug being available in generic form, helps to show what group of drugs a particular drug belongs to.

Klonopin Clonazepam
Valium Diazepam
Xanax Alprazolam

Drugs with a -zepam suffix, such as clonazepam; diazepam; flurazepam; lorazepam; temazepam, are benzodiazepines

Drugs with a -zolam suffix, such as alprazolam; estazolam; midazolam; triazolam, are also benzodiazepines.

Drugs with a -olol suffix, such as atenolol; metoprolol; nadolol; pindolol; propranolol; timolol, are beta blockers.

This is not meant to be used by non-medical professionals, there may be exceptions, but the generic name helps to reveal the Drug Family, even if the doctor isn't familiar with the drug.

Xanax causes sedation, some people correlate the feeling of sedation with reduced anxiety. Buspar doesn't have that effect, but it reduces anxiety. Someone taking it must separate sedation and anti-anxiety for maximum benefit. Just because you're not sedated doesn't mean it's not working, it does work.