How to taper off Buspirone safely
Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental health conditions often treated by medication. It occurs when a person experiences excessive anxiety or stress for at least 6 months or more. The most common and effective way to treat anxiety disorder is with anti-anxiety medications that affect the unbalanced chemicals in the brain. Buspirone is an anxiolytic drug primarily used to treat symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. It is a non-anti-psychotic medication FDA-approved for managing anxiety disorders and providing short-term relief from anxiety.
In 2021, an estimated 12 million or more prescriptions of buspirone were issued in the United States alone. The popularity of the medication is partly due to its low risk for dependence. The drug has also shown to be effective in other off-label uses such as reducing side effects associated with Parkinson’s Disease, managing ataxia associated with conditions such as Parksinson’s, easing social phobias, treating behavioral issues post-brain injury, treating symptoms of unipolar depression and relieving some symptoms related to Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Though this medication comes with very little risk of addiction, in some rare cases, users may become physically dependent on the drug causing them to experience withdrawal upon cessation of the drug. Buspirone withdrawal isn’t very common and can be avoided entirely if the user tapers off the medication under the care of a physician.
What is Buspirone and how does it work?
Buspirone is a common anti-anxiety medication often prescribed as the next alternative after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This occurs because some patients do not respond well or tolerate the side effects of SSRIs.
Most anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications affect the GABA receptors in the brain. Buspirone does not, which reduces the potential for abuse compared to other benzodiazepines that are often used to treat anxiety and depression. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, buspirone decreases feelings of anxiety by influencing the balance of neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for affecting mood regulation. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure, satisfaction and motivation.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, buspirone must be taken on a daily basis for several weeks in order for the medication to produce its full effects. The onset of therapeutic effects could take between 2-4 weeks produce. Unlike benzos, which are taken on an as-needed basis to treat anxiety, buspirone should be taken consistently. This is because it leaves the body fairly quickly compared to other medications. The half-life of the drug is around 2-3 hours. It can be completely eliminated from the system within 24-48 hours after the initial dose.
Buspirone is not a controlled substance and produces mild side effects compared to other comparable medications used to treat the same conditions. On the rare occasion that a user becomes dependent and addicted to buspirone, they may experience withdrawal when abruptly stopping or decreasing drug use.
Buspirone Withdrawal
Buspirone withdrawal occurs when a person has become physically dependent on the drug. When the user abruptly stops or drastically reduces the dosage of the drug, it could send the body into chaos as it works to rebalance itself with the constant presence of the drug. Users have a greater chance of experiencing withdrawal if they take a higher than recommended dose, they take buspirone over a longer period of time, they have liver or kidney problems, or they take other medications or substances that can slow down the metabolism of buspirone.
The intensity and duration of buspirone withdrawal is dependent on various factors. Most withdrawal from buspirone is mild without any dangerous or life-threatening conditions and can be safely managed in an outpatient setting.
Withdrawal Timeline
Week 1 – The user may experience symptoms such as mild anxiety and insomnia. The user may also notice changes in their mood and begin to experience feelings of restlessness.
Week 2 – Common symptoms during this week of withdrawal include head pain, nausea, lightheadedness and muscle soreness. Users may also start feeling more anxious. During this period, symptoms may also peak as the body slowly recalibrates after drug use.
Common symptoms of Buspirone withdrawal
- Development or worsening of anxiety and depression
- Feelings of unease
- Panic attacks
- Lack of focus
- Impatience
- Sleeplessness and insomnia
- Anger and aggression
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Fatigue and drowsiness
- Muscle tension
- GI issues
- Ataxia
- Blurred vision
- Chest pain
- Confusion and nervousness
- Sweating and tremors
- Physical weakness and muscle pain
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How to taper off Buspirone safely
The best way to minimize withdrawal symptoms from buspirone dependence is to taper gradually off the medication. Quitting cold turkey or quitting buspirone abruptly can cause painful and uncomfortable side effects. This is because the medication directly impacts the brain chemistry and nervous system.
Tapering off medication occurs when a patient slowly and gradually reduces medication dosage. This allows the body to readjust and rebalance accordingly to the decreased levels of buspirone. It helps to prevent adverse reactions and can reduce the severity and impact of withdrawal symptoms. The taper dosage is dependent on each patient and their healthcare provider. It consists of reducing drug dosage every few days or weeks until drug use can be stopped without experiencing any harsh lingering withdrawal symptoms.
Do not stop taking buspirone on your own. It is best to discuss a taper schedule with your healthcare provider. The duration can be dependent on how long the patient has been taking the medication and how much of the medication they have already taken. Your medical care provider can help create a plan for tapering based on how well you are able to tolerate each decrease in medication dose.
Ways to manage withdrawal symptoms
- Consult with a health provider to change the taper dosage
- Seek out other support treatments such as therapy and support groups
- Stay on top of diet and nutrition
- Regular and daily exercise to help improve and reduce anxiety and depression
- Decrease caffeine intake
- Consider taking over-the-counter supplements such as vitamins
- Avoid alcohol and tobacco because they can worsen anxiety
- Meditation and mindfulness can help with stress management
- Getting more sleep and rest can help reset the body and manage mental health conditions
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Treatment for Substance Use Disorder
Buspirone is a popular medication used to treat symptoms of anxiety as well as a variety of off-label purposes. Unlike benzos medications that can become highly addictive, buspirone carries a much lower risk of dependence. And unlike benzos medications that can also cause users to experience symptoms of withdrawal, buspirone is also less likely to produce adverse side effects when treated correctly.
Most users believe they can quit the drug cold turkey. If a user has been on buspirone for more than 6 months, going cold turkey could cause physical withdrawal symptoms as well as mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. For this reason, it is not recommended to go cold turkey off buspirone. Consult with your health care provider or seek out treatment from a behavioral treatment program such as Hotel California by the Sea.
Our substance use disorder treatment program provides the tools, resources and support clients need to overcome their addiction to drugs such as buspirone. We offer detox, inpatient residential treatment, partial hospitalization program and intensive outpatient programming. We also utilize evidence-based treatments such as CBT, DBT and EMDR therapy. Hotel California by the Sea is dedicated to helping clients overcome their addiction through individualized treatment plans that address every aspect of addiction.
References:
https://www.drugs.com/buspirone.html
https://www.healthcentral.com/article/buspar-withdrawal
https://www.khealth.com/learn/medication/buspirone-withdrawal
https://www.talkspace.com/blog/buspar-withdrawal
https://addictionresource.com/drugs/buspar/withdrawal