11 Buspirone (Buspar) Side Effects You Should Know About

If you’re living with anxiety, you’re not alone. Anxiety disorders affect almost one-third of U.S adults at some point in their lifetime. Luckily, medications like buspirone can help manage anxiety symptoms and loosen their grasp on your day-to-day life.

While buspirone is an effective anxiety treatment for many people, it does have some side effects to be aware of. Knowing what to expect can help you get the most out of your medication.

Buspirone side effects at a glance

In clinical studies, several different side effects were reported by those taking buspirone. Below is a list of buspirone side effects based on how often they were reported. Keep in mind, this is not a list of every possible side effect. Check with your healthcare team about any specific concerns you have.

Common side effects (reported by at least 2% of people):

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Headache

• Anxiety

• Excitement or agitation

• Insomnia

• Fatigue

• Diarrhea

• Sleep disturbances, such as abnormal dreams

Less common side effects:

• Numbness or tingling

• Tremor

• Sweating

• Changes to sex drive

• Weight changes

• Ringing in the ears

• Blurry vision

Below, we’ll discuss 11 possible buspirone side effects in greater detail and how to manage them if they occur.

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1. Dizziness

One of the most common side effects of buspirone is dizziness. This sensation can be mild or severe. You may also feel lightheaded or have trouble with balance and coordination.

Moving slowly and carefully when changing positions can help you manage dizziness. This is especially important when standing up from a seated or lying down position. It's also a good idea to avoid driving or other tasks where dizziness could be an issue until you know how buspirone affects you.

Stress and anxiety can also cause dizziness. So incorporating meditation and regular exercise into your routine may help reduce it. Alcohol can make dizziness worse, so it’s best to limit your alcohol intake while you’re taking buspirone. If you have questions about buspirone and alcohol, speak to your healthcare team.

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In many cases, dizziness may go away over time as your body adjusts to buspirone. But If it persists or worsens, contact your prescriber. They might want to make changes to your dosage to help lessen this side effect.

2. Nausea

Nausea is another common buspirone side effect. It may go away over time, but there are also options that can help you manage nausea caused by buspirone. Try taking buspirone with food or a light snack. Just be sure to take buspirone with food each time you take it. Consistency matters, because food can affect how you absorb the medication. Eating smaller, more frequent meals may also help.

If your nausea doesn’t go away or gets worse, contact your prescriber. They may suggest an over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription nausea medication. Or they may make changes to your buspirone dosage. Your prescriber can also make sure there’s not another cause for your nausea symptoms.

3. Headache

Headaches are a common side effect of many medications, and buspirone is no exception. For many people, the headaches are mild and go away over time. But you should tell your prescriber if they’re severe or persistent.

To help manage headache symptoms, try to stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet. You also can try an OTC pain reliever like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). But talk to your healthcare team first to be sure they’re safe options for you.

4. Anxiety

Even though buspirone treats anxiety, it’s possible that it may worsen anxiety symptoms in some people. You may feel more excited, nervous, or irritable than you usually do. Or you may have outbursts of emotion that you’re unable to control. Other less common buspirone side effects related to this include a fast heart rate and sweating. But these can also be symptoms related to the anxiety you’re treating.

Keep in mind that buspirone may take 2 to 4 weeks to start working. So if your anxiety symptoms haven’t improved, you may just need more time for buspirone to work.

But if you notice an increase or change in your anxiety symptoms after starting buspirone, contact your prescriber. You may need a different buspirone dosage, or it may not be the right treatment option for you.

5. Drowsiness and fatigue

Drowsiness and fatigue are also possible buspirone side effects. You may feel sleepy during the day or just weaker and less energetic than usual. When you start taking it, use caution when performing tasks or activities that require mental alertness until you know how buspirone affects you.

Be sure you’re getting enough rest while taking buspirone. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule can help you manage drowsiness. Regular exercise may also help you feel more awake and energized. 

Anxiety itself can cause fatigue. So these side effects may go away over time as buspirone starts working. But if they become overwhelming or interfere with your daily activities, contact your prescriber.

6. Weight changes

Some people taking buspirone may experience changes in their body weight — but this is a rare side effect. Both weight gain and weight loss were reported in clinical studies, but large weight changes in either direction aren’t common.

Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise can help keep your weight stable. And these actions can help with your anxiety symptoms, too. 

If you notice a significant change in your weight while taking buspirone, be sure to let your prescriber know. They’ll want to make sure there isn’t something else causing it. And they may want to make changes to your medication regimen.

7. Disturbed sleep

Sleep disturbances, such as abnormal dreams or sleepwalking, are another potential side effect of buspirone. Insomnia (trouble sleeping) is also possible. These side effects aren’t always a problem and shouldn’t be harmful. But if they’re keeping you from getting enough rest or you’re regularly sleepwalking, be sure to let your prescriber know. They may recommend changing your anxiety medication or adding a sleep medication to help lessen these symptoms.

8. Sexual side effects

Buspirone isn’t likely to cause sexual side effects. Reports of increased or decreased sex drive were rare in the original clinical studies. And buspirone doesn’t seem to have much effect on sex drive on its own.

But buspirone may improve sexual issues caused by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa) and paroxetine (Paxil). Adding buspirone has been suggested as an off-label treatment to help lessen sexual side effects associated with these antidepressants. But this combination isn’t appropriate for everyone, so it’s best to talk to your prescriber about the best way to manage any side effects you’re experiencing from your medications.

9. Chest pain

Chest pain is another possible buspirone side effect. It's not clear why this side effect happens, and it doesn’t seem to be related to any serious heart-related issues. But if you experience chest pain while taking buspirone, it’s best to seek medical care — especially if you also have nausea or shortness of breath. There may be a more serious issue going on, such as a heart attack.

10. Numbness or tingling in hands or feet

Another less common side effect of buspirone is numbness or tingling in the hands or feet. It’s not entirely clear why this happens, but it doesn’t seem to be dangerous. Still, numbness can be bothersome and make it harder to perform daily tasks.

It’s best to let your prescriber know if you experience this side effect. They may want to make sure there’s not something else causing it.

11. Restlessness or tremor

Buspirone may cause a feeling of restlessness known as akathisia in some people taking it. Muscle tremors are also possible. These side effects aren’t common, and they’re likely caused by buspirone’s effect on dopamine receptors in the body. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that helps control muscle movement.

If you notice that you’re having trouble sitting still or a new muscle tremor appears after starting buspirone, let your prescriber know. You may need a lower dose of buspirone or a different medication for your anxiety symptoms.

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Written by:

Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA

Alex Evans, PharmD, MBA, has been a pharmacist for 12 years. His first job was floating in a community chain pharmacy.

Edited by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

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