Buspar for Anxiety With Bipolar Disorder

Buspar for Anxiety With Bipolar Disorder Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Print Buspar for Anxiety With Bipolar Disorder By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial policy Marcia Purse Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on January 08, 2020 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD on January 08, 2020 Bipolar Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Your Rights Wikimedia Commons BuSpar, which is produced as the generic form buspirone hydrochloride (HCL), is a medication sometimes used to treat anxiety and augment antidepressants. If you have anxiety associated  with bipolar disorder, your psychiatrist may prescribe anti-anxiety medications as well as mood stabilizers. Buspirone  HCL is one of several medication  options if you  have anxiety related to your bipolar disorder.   BuSpar Availability The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the brand BuSpar to treat anxiety disorders such as  Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which includes physical symptoms  of anxiety including shakiness, jitteriness, dizziness, sweating, dry mouth, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and excessive worry. Production of the  brand name product BuSpar was discontinued  after the patent expired, but the generic buspirone HCL is available. The medication is taken by mouth and comes in 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg tablets. Buspirone HCL for Anxiety   Generally, buspirone HCL is not considered a potent anti-anxiety medication and it  does not work right away to calm your anxiety, the way a  tranquilizer  would.   Instead, it has a mild calming effect. It may be prescribed when there is a reason to want to avoid benzodiazepines. The anti-anxiety effect may begin to work after you have taken the medication regularly for several weeks. Buspirone HCL is believed to have its anti-anxiety effect due to its interaction with the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. Buspirone HCL for Bipolar Disorder If you have bipolar disorder, you might experience improvement of your anxiety with buspirone HCL, but it is also possible that you may not experience improvement. Some people who have bipolar disorder report that it works for anxiety, while others say it has little effect on their anxiety symptoms. Side Effects Buspirone HCL can produce a number of side effects. You should familiarize yourself with the side effects prior to taking any medication. If you experience side effects, let your doctor know.   Common side effects of buspirone include:       DizzinessLightheadednessHeadaches  Nausea  Restlessness, nervousness or unusual excitement Less common side effects include: Blurred visionSweating  Poor concentration  Diarrhea  Drowsiness, more common with higher doses  Dry mouth  Muscle pain, spasms or crampsRinging in the ears  Insomnia,  nightmares  or vivid dreams  Unusual tiredness or weakness Rare side effects can include:   Chest pain  Confusion  A fast or pounding heartbeat  Fever  Lack of coordination  DepressionMuscle weakness, especially weakness or stiffness in your hands or feet)HivesA sore throat or uncontrolled movements Buspirone HCL and Mania There are rare reports in the medical literature that buspirone HCL can cause mania, which is characterized by excessive energy, agitation, racing thoughts, insomnia, and sometimes impulsiveness. Buspirone HCL and Monamine Oxidase Inhibitors Buspirone HCL should not be used in combination with antidepressants that are considered monamine  oxidase  (MAO) inhibitors, because the combination can produce a serious side effect described as serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is characterized by agitation, cardiac instability, tremors, and delirium. This is a dangerous side effect and if you experience any of these symptoms, or if you observe them in someone else, you should seek urgent medical attention immediately.   Some MAO inhibitors include Nardil (phenelzine), Eldepryl (selegiline), Parnate (tranylcypromine), Marplan (isocarboxazid). If you get your medications prescribed by the same doctor or if you obtain them from the same pharmacy, you can avoid these types of dangerous interactions because you will likely get a warning about interactions. If you get your medications from different pharmacies, be sure to provide a list of medications that you take to each pharmacy.