Buspirone and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2023

For Anxiety "My doctor prescribed 5 mg to take as needed as I was physically feeling symptoms from anxiety for the first time ever. I had never taken an anxiety medicine or anything similar prior. The first time taking it, I was drowsy and rested a lot. The second and third time, I felt a bit more mellow. By the seventh and eighth time (within a two-week span), I had scary thoughts of, “I don’t want to end up in a psych hospital.” It was mentally depressing me and making me feel and think things that were untrue of myself, causing an even worse anxiety. I decided to stop taking that day, and for the next three days, I was dry heaving every day several times a day. It has created a deep fear in me of taking or trying anything more for my anxiety, as those thoughts were so terrifying to me. I didn’t like the way I felt at all."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2021

Buspirone for Anxiety "This medication was a total nightmare for me. I went from having generalized anxiety to, after taking it for about a week, having MAJOR panic and anxiety 24/7, sleeplessness, moodiness - it was terrible. I had to stop taking it after 2 weeks. While I don’t doubt at all that it does work for some (I read these reviews and remained cautiously optimistic) - it DID NOT work for me. Just goes to show how unique and different brain chemistry is for people."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2021

For Anxiety "My experience on it was: I was on 7.5 mg two times daily for almost 4 weeks. I'm about 3 ½ weeks in. The first week was fine. The second week I got increasingly more anxiety with symptoms of really bad restlessness, nervousness, and sleeplessness. The third week still more of the same symptoms. I can't function in the mornings through all the way until evening. I took the medicine at 9 am and then at 7 pm. I couldn't sleep. She tried a third dose on me, but those symptoms fired up all my nerves and my mind. I know these are common symptoms, but if you can't handle this past the third week, stop the medicine. I'm stopping as of today after an ER trip. I do also have hyperthyroidism I am treating, but these symptoms got worse the more I took buspirone."

• Mam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2021

Buspirone for Anxiety "Buspirone has not helped my anxiety at all. Taking 5 mg twice a day with no improvement. Side effects are drowsiness, joint pain, irritability and anger, dark thoughts. Weaning off of it ASAP."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2021

For Anxiety "This just didn’t work for me. It was the first medication I had ever taken for anxiety/chronic dizziness. The only thing I noticed was increased drowsiness. Decided to switch to an SSRI and had near immediate improvement."

• 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."

• Viv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2019

For Anxiety "I would warn you to be very wary of this drug. Started as a way of being able to control anxiety and depression, and so I could lower my dosage of diazepam. It made everything worse. This was at the lowest dose. Insomnia, nausea, groggy, tired. Only tried this as the SNRI did not work either. Use this at your peril."

• Wel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2016

For Anxiety "Not a good experience AT ALL. I have anxiety and depression - usually manageable with 20 mg paroxetine but exacerbated by stress at work - also diagnosed with C-PTSD. Take diazepam as and when to deal with the most severe panic attacks. Psychiatrist assured me I could still take diazepam with this drug. After the 1st dose, I felt drowsy, spaced out, and dizzy with heavy legs. I actually fell down a small flight of stairs in my house and later on in the day slipped on the main staircase. Decided to persevere and take another in the evening. Woke up feeling like a zombie, could hardly stay awake, headache, and on edge. Discontinued. That night, I woke up TERRIFIED and spent the next day (today) either having intense panic attacks or wanting to commit suicide."

• Ter...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 28, 2016

For Anxiety "I've taken Klonopin and/or Xanax for several years for anxiety and extreme panic attacks. I'm a single female who was homeless due to the economy. I slept in my car. I was dragged out of my car, beaten, and sexually assaulted by police on several occasions. I took antidepressant meds for years, and a doctor added Xanax after I got back on my feet, fighting suicide for two years. These medications were a godsend to me because they work quickly. I no longer wanted to kill myself. A new doctor, however, has told me I need to stop benzos and prescribe buspirone instead. After six weeks, I once again feel suicidal. I wake up very, very groggy, it takes hours to be fully conscious. My muscles and bones ache from the moment I wake up. It makes me feel worse than ever."

• Nic...
• November 11, 2021

Buspirone for Panic Disorder "I was prescribed BuSpar for panic attacks. I started out on 5 mg twice a day. I was feeling great for a few weeks, and then once I was bumped up to 10 mg twice a day, I felt lousy. Constant headache around the eyes, drowsy, little appetite, and weak. I do not recommend taking this drug."

• Eve...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2018

Buspirone for Anxiety "I've had anxiety for several years with full-blown panic attacks that have sent me to the ER. Fortunately, I've kept those at bay for the last year, but I still get anxiety at night. I finally decided to go to the doctor but didn't want a benzo. I was prescribed 15 mg tabs, I take one at night, and it does absolutely nothing for my anxiety. If anything, it makes me a tad drowsy. Not what I was hoping for."

• Cyn...
• July 22, 2017

Buspirone for Anxiety "I started taking this medication last Monday and was only on it for 4 days before I had to quit. I had so many of the different side effects of this drug, like lack of appetite, stomach upset, extremely worse anxiety than I had before I started, and extreme drowsiness during the day, but insomnia at night. It was an absolute nightmare for me, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't work for someone else."

• Wan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2017

For Anxiety "My doctor just started me on buspirone, 7.5 mg twice a day! It makes me super drowsy, as if I'm drunk. I am always lightheaded and drowsy, I am even wondering if I have anxiety. I've been on it since Friday, and today is Monday. So maybe in about 2 weeks I will feel better! I sure hope so!"

• SBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2021

Buspirone for Anxiety "I won't lie, this medication metronidazole zapped my anxiety. It made it manageable after only a few days on it. I thought this was it, finally. And then it made my life a living nightmare. First, it was fatigue and drowsiness so bad that I couldn't function. Then it was dissociation. Then it was an overall feeling of not being myself. And then, finally, the agitation and on-edge sensation that so many others have reported. I feel like I'm floating, detached, constantly in a fog, and that reality is no longer here. I wake up in panicked jolts, gripping my chest, unable to breathe. I have strange dreams, and that's only when I can sleep. Be wary when on this medication and listen to your body. Yes, in my case, it drastically lessened my anxiety, but the slew of problems that came with it were not worth it."

• Sat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 25, 2024

Buspirone for Anxiety "For me, BuSpar did help me with reducing general anxiety, but not severe or panic attacks. I stopped due to side effects. It made me too drowsy, memory issues, clumsy, and made me extremely hungry, especially if the dose was higher. About 45 minutes after taking, I felt loopy and hungry for like an hour."

• Hal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 20, 2023

Buspirone for Panic Disorder "I have been on this for almost a year, and it helps, but not enough. I am on 10 mg three times a day. It honestly helps for maybe an hour tops, and then I feel the same again. I seriously hate having to take it three times a day. It really doesn't help that much either, maybe if I was on a higher dosage it would. It also makes me feel tired and groggy, sort of like I have taken Benadryl or something. I might as well just take Dramamine or Benadryl for the same exact effect. It's really not convenient having to take it three times a day either. I have severe anxiety, and it just doesn't do it for me. However, if you have mild anxiety, I think this might work great."

• Aan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2019

Buspirone for Anxiety "I was given BuSpar for anxiety. I started taking 5 mg once a day, then I eventually tried to go up to 10 mg a day. NEVER AGAIN. I don’t think it did anything for my anxiety except make it worse. Every time I took the pill, I felt super sedated, and I would fall asleep and then have nightmares. I took it for almost 3 weeks, hoping side effects would pass, but it only got worse. Lightheaded, dizziness, my skin was so itchy I couldn’t hardly stand it. I felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin. I couldn’t go outside and be in the sun because I got hot within 5 seconds and felt sick. I stopped taking it abruptly, I didn’t notice any withdrawal symptoms at all. This med was not for me."

• Mat...
• April 4, 2017

Buspirone for Anxiety "Works well in combination with an SSRI. I stopped BuSpar due to drowsiness and immediate weight gain. I experienced increased appetite and wanted to eat constantly. I was diagnosed with adult attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity. I currently take Adderall, low-dose Wellbutrin XL, and low-dose Prozac. The Prozac and Wellbutrin XL assist in alleviating depressive symptoms during the winter months. Everyone is unique. Talk to your doctor; follow their advice."

• Pun...
• September 21, 2016

For Anxiety "I've been on Buspar 15 days now. I can't say as of yet if it has helped a lot or not. It's not bad, but I have noticed certain things I go through that I'm not sure if it's side effects or just my anxiety. Like I feel drowsy about 30 minutes after. I've noticed a tingly or itchy sensation in my hands, feet, and arms (at different times). Also, more headaches than before I started Buspar. Lightheadedness, even though I've felt that way before taking it. Upset stomach or nausea. Sharp sensations in different places. Oh yes, and definitely noticed weird dreams. The reason I rate a five is that I do feel like it brings a calmness over me and my racing thoughts aren't so bad, and after the first week, I can see that it keeps me tired more, and I do sleep better."

• krs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2015

Buspirone for Anxiety "Took this medication for a few months after being diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. It did work fairly well in decreasing my symptoms of anxiety, but the side effects were just too much to handle. The first time I took it (my doc prescribed me a low dose, I think it was 5 mg if I remember right), I was knocked out in about 30 minutes and slept for 5 hours straight, not to mention this was in the middle of the day. Also caused extreme dizziness that I had a hard time functioning with. I thought the drowsiness, dizziness, and weakness that it caused might subside after taking it for a while, but I took it for about three months, and these side effects still persisted."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 8, 2020

Buspirone for Anxiety "I didn't read all the reviews, but I was surprised to see people with intense reactions to BuSpar. Maybe they took higher doses than I did. I've taken this drug on and off for a few years, and it kind of works - it's hard to explain. I have taken probably 15-20 anxiety and depression meds in the last 10 years, and many have bad side effects. BuSpar had none of those other than drowsiness. The only reason I keep BuSpar around is that it is very mild in my book - the effect is mild, but the side effects are also mild or nonexistent."

• jel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2019

For Anxiety "I started taking buspirone as an alternative to SSRIs/SNRIs and other similar medicines after having horrible side effects. I absolutely LOVED this medicine for the first two months of taking it -- I only had some drowsiness around a half hour after taking it, but aside from that, my anxiety was almost nonexistent!! However, after two months of taking this, I started to develop memory loss and confusion. I apparently am extremely sensitive to serotonin, and even though buspirone doesn't primarily affect serotonin, I started to develop bad side effects and had to get off of it. I would highly recommend this medication to someone who isn't sensitive to serotonin as it worked wonders up until that point for me!"

• INF...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2018

For Sexual Dysfunction, SSRI Induced "I took Buspar several years ago to help with severe anxiety I had. I can’t recall how helpful it was overall, but it did make me feel calmer for a reasonable amount of time after taking each pill (approx. an hour or two). It mostly made me drowsy and increased my libido. Fast forward to today, I’ve finally found the SSRI that works better than any medicine I’ve ever taken for depression, Prozac. After some internet research, I’ve learned that Buspar can help with sexual side effects caused by SSRIs. I’m hoping it’ll help restore some of my sexual desire and sensitivity. From my past experience with it, I assume it should help. I’ll see."

• Chr...
• September 18, 2017

Buspirone for Anxiety "Took buspirone for 2 days. It definitely helped me stay calm, but made me drowsy during the day and gave me the worst insomnia I've ever experienced at night. I know trialing it 2 days is nothing for a med, but I have a family and a demanding job where I cannot afford to not get at least a couple hours of sleep a day. The severe insomnia alone is enough for me to stop taking it. I also got insomnia from the two antidepressants I took (generic Paxil and Zoloft), so I am very sensitive to meds. I will say this though, it did seem to keep my calm and better able to focus. It works in those terms. I would recommend anyone who hasn't had success using antidepressants to try buspar/buspirone for anxiety. It just might be your golden ticket."