Buspirone and Brain Zaps: What Users Say

• Mmb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2020

Buspirone for Anxiety "Do not take this drug. Had a horrible experience. Nightmares, intrusive thoughts, mood swings, apathy, angry, made me the opposite of who I am. Withdrawals are even worse so much buzzing and brain zaps. I would have rather had the anxiety/panic attacks! Still dealing with all the bizarre effects. This is coming from someone who never was on any medication. Have to take other meds just to sleep and make it through my day now. Hoping to be back to normal soon. Thank goodness for the ER staff who helped me!"

• aci...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 18, 2020

Buspirone for Anxiety "BuSpar DOES help with anxiety, but if you have another comorbid illness like depression, it might feel like it is not helping in that area. I was on this medication for a few months and my anxiety felt really better, but my depression was still bothering me a lot, so I was switched to Zoloft. BuSpar helped me with the palpitations and chest pain related to anxiety. I felt like I could think better and even breathe better. It was a great medication. The only downside to it is that you can get headaches or brain zaps if you forget a dose, so put an alarm on your phone!"

• abc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2025

Buspirone for Anxiety "40-year-old male. Anxiety my whole life. Toughed it out up until about 5 months ago. My anxiety builds up and comes out strong in panic attacks at the least favored times. Went to the hospital a few times from waking up with what I thought was a heart attack. Rapid heart rate, chest pains, numb limbs, dizzy, short of breath. Really intense. Doctors described them as nocturnal panic attacks. Started BuSpar 5 mgs morning and 5 at night. It has helped me tremendously. Almost completely eliminating my anxiety. I haven't had a panic attack since. Only side effects for me, the first couple of weeks I felt a brain zap. Almost like a 9-volt battery zapping the brain. Didn't hurt, but enough to scare you a bit. This happened a few times within a couple weeks. Then it went away. Also found if I take it right before I go to bed, I get very real and vivid dreams. It's allowed me to feel normal again. I wish I would have tried this years ago."

• My ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2025

For Anxiety "I was very anxious about starting Buspirone after a panic attack from 25 mg of Sertraline. Still, I was determined to try. I began with 5 mg once daily. I had 2–3 hours of anxiety, then unexpected calm. That glimpse of relief gave me hope. I increased to 15 mg (5 mg x 3) for a week. The first day was rough, but then I felt more stable. Each dose still triggered brief anxiety followed by calm. Wanting faster results during time off work, I increased to 30 mg after one week. That was too quick. I got brain zaps, heat sensitivity, fatigue, and constant anxiety. It was intense. On day 10, I reduced the midday dose slightly. It helped a little, but when the dose wore off, old thoughts returned — proof the meds had been working. I returned to 30 mg. On day 12, something shifted. I cried, laughed, felt like myself again. Side effects faded. I thought I was on too high a dose, but I just needed time. Now, I feel like my real journey is just beginning. Stay patient and do not stress."

• Gri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 15, 2015

Buspirone for Anxiety "I've been on this medicine for about 7 months. I started at 5 mg and I felt great! But around the 4 months, I got worse and ended up increasing my dose to 30 mg, and now I feel even better than before! The only side effect I experienced was a slight brain zaps, but they go away after a week or two. This medicine has helped me so much. I recommend this medicine!"

• Sha...
• April 18, 2015

Buspirone for Anxiety "First off. Side effects... Brain zaps. Pounding heart, foggy feeling. First 3 weeks I felt the need for a lot less Ativan. The worry stopped, and blood pressure came down. I'm on 5mg per day. Around week 5, I started to notice my blood pressure going back up. Acid reflux and a little nausea. Pounding heart back. I don't want to give up on BuSpar because I was so happy to lose the everyday worry. On week 7 now. Still at 5mg. Thinking about doing 5mg twice a day. There is no magic pill, but this was close."

• Rob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 9, 2022

Buspirone for Anxiety "Unfortunately, nothing works for my anxiety except benzodiazepines, but those are controlled and have a bad rep for being abused and sold on the streets. So now I’m on Vraylar, Pristiq, Wellbutrin, Trileptal, BuSpar, and gabapentin instead of just benzos. I’m on expensive maintenance drugs, which have caused me to gain weight, get acne, develop tremors, brain zaps, headaches, and nausea. Thanks, doc, for drugging me up really good."

• Wor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 3, 2016

Buspirone for Anxiety "My doctor prescribed due to its low dosage. And that I didn't want to take meds. I became so helpless after years of trying to cope with anxiety on my own, I finally reached a point where medicine was my only hope. It kicked in quickly, my obsessive thoughts stopped, then the dosage would wear off, so I started taking a higher dosage. Then it made me become upset, super emo crying, not myself, and finally realized it was BuSpar. Cut back dosage again. It made me tired all the time, couldn't concentrate, weird dreams, and loss of interest in things. Was not a good fit, I finally had to ask the doctor for something else after a year. It didn't work altogether except for stopping obsessive thoughts. It also gave me brain zaps, memory loss, and space cadet syndrome."

• chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2019

For Anxiety "This drug is working for me. I avoided a lot of the side effects by titrating up slowly from 5 mg to 20 mg (over 2 weeks). Then began the long waiting game for it to take effect. It took 3 more weeks (5 total) to start working. The hardest part was waiting and the various side effects, especially the nervousness. I take this with Lexapro, as a booster. From reading the reviews, I think people jump in too fast and then don’t wait long enough for it to work. I did not experience any of the insomnia and brain zaps mentioned here. I take 15 mg 2x per day, in the morning and afternoon. Now that it’s working, it works well. If your doctor prescribes it, go slow and persevere. I asked my doctor if it really works, and he said he’s been prescribing it for 30 years and yes, it works."

• mis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2023

For Anxiety "I was one of the ones where this one didn't work at all, and I am now working my way off slowly by 5 mg increments, and I am down to 5 mg three times a day. I have been removing drugs in an attempt to see which meds have been causing me to feel panicky and nervous. As I eliminated, I thought buspirone would be one of the easier ones to be rid of since it didn't work. Unfortunately, I removed an SSRI that hid the majority of issues with buspirone. I am now having panic attacks several times a day (each time I take them) and have entered mania several times, especially around my cycle. Going off them is supposed to be easy as they have a short half-life and should be out of your system in 2-3 days...but for me, I get really bad side effects even after weeks of dropping. I get brain zaps, dizziness, nausea, and depersonalization. I don't want to prevent someone from trying it as it does work for some, but just keep in mind what you may have to go through if you have to quit and taper."

• Ven...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 10, 2024

For Borderline Personality Disorder "After trying antidepressants for the last 10 years, this is one of the first medications to lessen the rage I feel. I was also 6 months postpartum when I was placed on the medication. It helped so much after having a baby. I was on 15mg 2x a day but experienced sweats, dizziness, brain shocks, nausea when the medication first kicked in. After 30 min, it would go away, but I brought it up to the doctor and she changed it to 10mg 3x a day, and I no longer experience side effects. It also helped when I was grieving my dad's death. I would cry all day, and it seemed to help pull me out where antidepressants wouldn't."

• All...
• June 16, 2013

Buspirone for Anxiety "I have recurring bouts with severe anxiety. Six weeks ago, I was put on 30 mg of BuSpar to be taken in the morning and at night. I got 'brain zaps' (similar to Paxil withdrawal) and nausea lasting about an hour after I took the medication. True to most other medicines for anxiety, I felt as though, overall, my level of anxiety increased over the first 2 weeks, although I would have periods where I was not anxious. After 2 weeks, the doctor raised my dose to 60 mg. I found it best to take 4 times a day because I definitely feel it wear off. While this has taken my overall anxiety from a 9 to a 7, it is still not enough."

• Anx...
• September 27, 2016

Buspirone for Panic Disorder "My mild anxiety had been building for years when I decided to seek help for it. At that time, I had only experienced one panic attack after a health scare (heart palpitations from over-exercising). It wasn't until I sought help to control my stress that I was prescribed Prozac. I started having panic attacks and was taken off. I started taking BuSpar. The first few weeks were really rough (brain zaps). It kept me from having panic attacks, but I still experienced moderate anxiety every day. After eight weeks, I started to experience depression for no reason and intrusive thoughts. Nothing like I ever experienced before. So I went back down, depressive thoughts came back. I tapered off. Lightheadedness, ear ringing, and brain fog persisted the entire three months I was on it."

• 202...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 1, 2021

Buspirone for Anxiety "I was prescribed BuSpar for 7 months, and it was the worst 7 months of my life. I had constant brain zaps, memory loss, excessive sweating, and depersonalization. I didn't feel real when taking this. It was amazing how clear my head felt once I was off this medicine. I feel normal again. Please be careful with this drug."

• Aug...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2022

Buspirone for Anxiety "Thirty minutes after taking a dose, BuSpar gave me brain zaps and tingling in my fingers. It was the same feeling one might have after going off the SNRI Effexor. BuSpar also upset my stomach. It made me feel dizzy, yet drowsy without the ability to sleep. Dosed at 5 mg twice a day. For me, there were no benefits to this medication whatsoever."

• Ser...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 5, 2016

Buspirone for Anxiety "I've had severe anxiety and depression for many years and have tried many meds. For me, BuSpar wasn't very effective, even at the maximum dose of 60 mg/day. It also caused me very restless legs at night, which was extremely troublesome. I couldn't lie still for even ten seconds. I also got brain zaps. My doctor thinks I should remain on BuSpar, so these days I take only 10 mg/day as a backup to my other meds. I don't have the side effects at the lower dose."

• Exp...
• January 6, 2017

Buspirone for Anxiety "I started taking BuSpar about 2 months ago. I started having 'brain zaps,' and I thought it was temporary. It was not. I started getting water retention, and I wanted to eat more than usual. I also was extremely irritable constantly. I was told to take 5 mg twice daily. I started with half a pill, then after a week, the whole pill 2x daily. I since then decreased my dose to half. Now I'm off completely. All of the side effects have stopped almost immediately. No brain zaps, irritability decreased slowly, and water retention stopped. This pill didn't do anything except all of the bad. On the positive side - getting off of it does not give you severe withdrawal."

• Kel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 30, 2021

Buspirone for Panic Disorder "Wouldn't recommend this to my worst enemy. Just wanted to share that I had the worst panic attacks of my life on this medicine. I would shake uncontrollably at random times, get extremely dizzy, and feel brain zaps throughout the day. I was on 5 mg, and this medicine had this much effect on me. Made me extremely depressed, and my doctor didn't even know it was the medicine that was causing these side effects. Please be careful when taking this medicine, it can be very dangerous."

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2022

For Anxiety "Took a half pill of the lowest dose and had the worst side effects ever. It caused brain zaps, and it messed up my mood. I had increased anxiety, and I was just angry about everything. Then I got itchy, prickly skin, which has not gone away. I would use this medicine as a last resort. I do know people that have taken it, and it has helped."

• TdK...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 10, 2020

For Anxiety "This medication does absolutely nothing, and it doesn't matter how big my dosage is. The only thing it causes is terrible brain zaps and drowsiness. My anxiety and panic attacks are so bad that I have to go to the ER, and still doctors won't prescribe me benzodiazepines."

• Bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2015

Buspirone for Anxiety "Have been on a few SSRIs (Paxil, Lexapro, and Zoloft). Zoloft pulled me out of a dark hole of severe anxiety and insomnia and kept my head above water for about a year, but I never felt great on it, just able to cope with life plus I still needed Ativan for sleep, which I didn't like, but it helped. Decided to try BuSpar. Was fairly easy to get on, minimal side effects, a lot of brain zaps, though. Mood improved after about 2 weeks for about a week, then it just stopped working and anxiety came back hard. Also, I had bad insomnia the whole time on it, even before, but this didn't help in any way. Had pretty disturbing nightmares when I did sleep. Insomnia and decline in mood forced me to get off. Took it for a month. Was at 30 mg 3 x day."

• abe...
• March 30, 2016

For Anxiety "I've suffered anxiety since I was a teenager. Found out my mum had cancer in the fall, anxiety went from mild to severe. It got to the point where I couldn't go a day without some sort of attack. I was miserable, enough for my husband to notice and demand I go to the doctor. Didn't want to be put on anything addictive, was prescribed Buspar, 10 mg. I take as needed, sometimes only 5 mg. It works miracles for me. My only complaint is that sometimes I'll get these brain shocks or moments of vertigo. I don't drive while on it. But other than that, I'm glad that I can be there for my mum without having a breakdown."

• Vet...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 25, 2022

For Panic Disorder "Was prescribed this medication by the VA. I was on it for over a year. It made me feel dizzy and nauseated the entire time. The worst part of this was trying to get off of it. The withdrawal was severe, despite being tapered off of it. My brain felt like it was being electrocuted, I would get intermittent zaps for about 3 weeks after stopping the medication. My heart would race, I experienced sweating, couldn't sleep, and had terrible nightmares."

• GAD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2022

Buspirone for Anxiety "I started taking this medication after taking Mirtazapine (increased weight gain but worked well for sleep), Wellbutrin (increased my anxiety immensely), and Xanax. I don’t think anything works quite as well as Xanax for panic attacks (and I still have to take it when I feel them coming on), but BuSpar really helped control my GAD. I went from having intrusive thoughts looping inside my head, increased heart rate, changes in body temperature, and feeling constantly on the edge to being able to get through the day without the sense of impending doom. I still have anxiety, but it doesn’t feel like the end of the world anymore, and I have been able to get my life back. Some side effects: dizziness after first taking it and brain zaps for the first few weeks, but very little compared to others. I started with 5 mg and now take 15 mg broken apart through the day. With meditation, exercise, talk therapy, healthier foods, and this medication, I finally have my life back."

• Ktd...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 8, 2022

For Anxiety "Buspar changed my life. I had tried citalopram but didn't like how dull it made me feel and how it took the joy out of intimacy. On buspirone, I feel like myself, just less worried and less irritable. It’s wonderful for social anxiety. I was able to speak at work without immediately regretting it and imagining how stupid I sounded. It’s made it easier for me to maintain my friendships, family relationships, and partnerships. I did experience the “brain zaps” when I first started it, but they went away. The vivid dreams can be a little unsettling, but as a woman with ADHD, I didn’t sleep great anyway, and melatonin has helped."