Buspirone and Headaches: What Users Say

• Rac...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 27, 2022

For Panic Disorder "This drug ruined my life. I was on 15 mg three times a day with Lexapro 10 mg for 5 years, no problem. Then my doctor wanted to up the Buspar to 30 mg twice a day. Wound up in the ER with serotonin syndrome, which was misdiagnosed as a panic attack. They told me to take more Ativan. I went back down to 15 mg, and now it kept happening every time I take it. Rigid, stiff muscles, super high blood pressure, severe confusion, insane intense fear, headache lasting for 4 hours every time I take it now. My doctor said he didn't know what to do and needed a week to reassess my situation. He upped my Ativan again, which I didn't take because I didn't want to mask whatever was happening. After a week of not being able to function, I called the pharmacist to see if there was a recall of Buspar. She said no and asked my symptoms, I told her my symptoms, and she says that's serotonin syndrome. So I called my doctor to let him know, and he said yeah, Lexapro and Buspar shouldn't be taken together. What!"

• Try...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2022

For Anxiety "Oh man, so a little bit about me. I am overly sensitive to every medication or anything such as caffeine. If there is a medication with side effects, I get it. Let’s talk about the weight gain in my arms and extended abdomen. It’s kind of rubbish because I’m so nauseous all the time and haven’t been eating, but still gaining weight. Headaches, yup. Sore throat, yup. This drug is messing with my hormones and is giving me cysts on my ovaries, and it burns to pee. I got a UTI test, STD test, and the gyno said everything is fine. This is not doing it for me. Terrible."

• 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."

• Bon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2021

Buspirone for Anxiety "Terrible headache, nausea, sweats. I felt like this was bad for my body. Even though I only took it for a short time, I had terrible withdrawal symptoms. Please be very careful if you take this drug."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2021

For Panic Disorder "I'm prescribed 5 mg in the morning and 5 mg in the evening. This medication is not for me. It gives me horrible headaches, horrible insomnia, and a really weird, sort of nauseated, seasick feeling about 2 hours after taking it. Last night, I had to take a Xanax just to sleep from taking the buspirone. That's defeating the purpose. I can't stand these side effects. Done."

• bro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2021

For Anxiety "I was put on buspirone for anxiety after a severe panic attack. After about three days of taking this at 7.5 mg 2x a day, I noticed my stool had gotten significantly softer, and I stopped being able to sleep. I’m not even a full week in, and I’m deciding to stop due to the headaches, chills, and severe (almost unbearable) insomnia I’m experiencing due to this medication. In a mental sense, I feel it has maybe touched some of my previous anxiety, but alas, the side effects are just too much for me at such a low dose. I feel I should also mention that the confusion that comes with taking this pill is very unnerving and contributes to your anxiety as well."

• smh...
• June 21, 2021

For Anxiety "Took for antenatal anxiety. My OB said it was one of the least likely meds to give side effects. After trying to give it a go, the side effects have gotten out of control, and I can’t do it. I’ve been waking up with intense nightmares and been unable to fall back asleep, which isn’t helping my anxiety. My eyes have been itching nonstop since starting. The GI issues are terrible (nonstop nausea, burping, diarrhea, feeling dehydrated and unable to drink enough water). I’ve been insanely dizzy, exhausted, and foggy-headed to the point where I can’t get anything done or concentrate (also having ADHD, this is making it 10x worse). My chest keeps getting this weird pain shortly after I take it, I have ringing in my ears, and the headaches have been so severe I’ve had to take multiple headache pills every day. I also just feel really out of it and uncomfortable in my own skin. I do feel slightly happier from this medicine, but that slight pro is not worth all the cons."

• rod...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2021

For Anxiety "Taken for generalized anxiety disorder. Unfortunately, this medicine wasn’t the one for me. Within 2-3 doses, it was very clear to me I was dissociating pretty badly. It was unsettling, and I felt as though people weren’t real or that I was living in a dream. On top of this, I had constant throbbing headaches and dizziness that never went away. I also had some dream disturbances, the dreams became so vivid I would wake up “hungover,” and some were scary enough I was scared to sleep. Many people would say, “you quit too early,” but enduring these side effects, particularly the dissociation, is not something I was prepared to do for a month. Good luck."

• Mil...
• April 28, 2021

For Panic Disorder "I’m a 40 YOF, 103 lbs. Was given this to take twice daily in replacement of 0.5 lorazepam for panic attacks. My lorazepam was a very low dosage and used maybe every couple of months. I used it the day after I had to drive in the metroplex, as that’s a trigger for me! The lorazepam calmed me back to my normal self. Buspirone was prescribed at 0.5 mg twice a day. I’m now on my third dose, haven’t slept, extremely snappy, angry, and jittery, like I have had far too much coffee! Extreme leg pain and dizziness along with diarrhea. Odd pain in my ears! Had to call in to work today due to complete lack of sleep! A terrible headache and a bit of confusion. Now I can explain being confused due to lack of sleep, please explain my desire to now organize everything in my home. I’m already a bit obsessed about organization, I like things in order. If this is the rubbish I will have to work through or deal with to possibly not have a panic attack, I’ll take the panic attack over this nightmare. I will NOT continue this med."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2020

Buspirone for Panic Disorder "BuSpar caused headaches and muscle stiffness, worked fine otherwise."

• Pan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2020

Buspirone for Panic Disorder "I am taking 1.0 mg of Xanax 2 hours before I drive to and from work. My general panic turned into a specific phobia of driving on the highways about 2 years ago. My doctor wanted me to try BuSpar, 15 mg twice a day, to try to get off the Xanax. It gave me massive headaches, blurred vision, made me very sad (I am normally a very happy, positive person), and did nothing to help my panic. I have been on many SSRIs, Paxil helped me for years and then suddenly stopped working. I gave BuSpar a shot and regret it. The worst side effects of any medication I have ever tried."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2019

For Anxiety "Total garbage. Buspirone does nothing for anxiety or panic disorder for me, but it comes with a lot of side effects, including debilitating headaches. I gave this a try and was very disappointed and even more anxious than usual. Benzos are really the only thing that helps, and this is a very poor option for me."

• CKa...
• August 8, 2019

For Anxiety "Was on a low dose of 5 mg of buspirone twice a day, then increased to 10 mg, I never actually took the 10 mg because my side effects were too bad. First of all, it did nothing for the anxiety, but it did make me more moody and irritable (probably because it made me feel so crappy). Had vivid, terrible lucid dreams at first, but that went away after a week. I had a constant headache that didn't go away, was more tired, very dizzy, nauseous, yet had cravings, had to pee all the time, hot flashes and sweating, insomnia, also felt achy. Doctor wants to prescribe this instead of benzos, but I don't have any of those side effects with benzos, and they actually do something for the anxiety!"

• Can...
• June 24, 2019

For Anxiety "I've tried a lot of different meds over the last 15 years. This has by far been the worst for side effects. I've been on buspirone for 7 days (10 mg 2x a day). I would rather go through the withdrawal from benzos than the side effects from buspirone. It has the most intense side effects I've ever felt. Way worse than starting Cymbalta, which was kind of bad. I haven't really slept now for 3 days. It doesn't cause me any anxiety, but the side effects-lightheadedness, headaches, tinnitus, lethargy, muscle weakness, my entire body has this super intense tingling and itching sensation, pounding heartbeat, and loss of appetite-are intense enough for the last 3 days that I can't sleep. I'm past my point of being able to tolerate the sides. I have to say this one just isn't for me at all. Worst damn medication I've tried for social anxiety ever. Can't wait for this to clear my system so I can finally sleep and regain some sanity. I would rather deal with the anxiety than this feeling."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2019

For Panic Disorder "First off, I don't even know how this is legal, and it's a full-blown lie that this drug is known to not have its 'side effects.' I took this drug for three days, 5 mg twice a day, and could NOT handle the side effects. Every time I took it, suicidal idealizations came about. I could barely walk on it nor keep my head up. The headaches or brain zaps were ridiculous. I finally called my doctor on the third day and asked him what to do, and they told me to stop IMMEDIATELY. Holy cow, the evening that I stopped was the WORST experience that I have ever had. I was only on this drug for THREE days, and the withdrawal symptoms were brutal as well. It's been three days since I stopped, and I still feel the aftermath. It left me worse than before."

• Ted...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2019

Buspirone for Anxiety "I used this drug for anxiety, and it did not help the anxiety, but it did cause an asthma attack, which I had never had before and have never had since. It was terrifying. I also experienced severe headaches."

• tra...
• January 19, 2019

Buspirone for Anxiety "My new doctor wanted me off Xanax .05 twice a day and to take Buspirone instead. I have been on the antidepressant Effexor for 14 years. I am on Gabapentin for severe sciatica and have liver cirrhosis. So I have to be careful what I take. My medication was working great for me, and then I started on Buspirone, and in two days, I became aggressive and then also felt buzzed and felt no way could I get behind the wheel of a car. This was a bad drug for me. Here the doctor is against Xanax, which I take for anxiety .05 2x a day, and it keeps me calm without feeling any dizziness, etc., and puts me on Buspirone, which made my head feel drunk. I am a recovered alcoholic for 5 years, and this drug does not work for me at all. If it is used for drug addictions, I can see why. It makes you feel high. I did not like the feeling or the headache I got the next day. I am going back to the doctor."

• Ano...
• December 4, 2018

For Anxiety "I live in an area where there are a lot of drug addicts, so they didn't want to prescribe me a benzo. I took this because my PTSD had been so out of control. I was hopeful, but slowly realized my anxiety was 100 times worse on it. I kept taking it, thinking maybe it just wasn't kicking in yet. Next thing I knew, I was scared to go to the store, and I felt like people were watching me when I was alone in my house. I'd check and double-check my windows were closed. My vision would vibrate, and I felt dizzy and constantly dehydrated with a headache. It was absolutely terrible. I weaned myself off of it because I couldn't wait for my next psych appointment. Now I'm back to just taking my Lamictal, and I feel loads better. Did nothing for me when it came to panic attacks. I need something I can take as needed."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2018

For Anxiety "Didn't help at all, just made my anxiety worse and gave me bad headaches and no energy. Only on it for three weeks."

• Unk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2017

Buspirone for Anxiety "I've had panic and general anxiety for years. It's been exacerbated by hormonal changes and menopause, and I've had major trouble getting a full night's sleep. I have used Xanax occasionally and love the way it eliminates my anxiety, but I don't want to get addicted. My doc had me try a low dose of BuSpar, and it didn't work for me at all. It gave me a horrendous headache, very, very painful. I tried it for about three days and had the same experience every time. I had to stop taking it since this side effect was debilitating. I was hoping it would work for me, and I'm so glad it works for others. Just putting my experience out there in case others have this problem. I'm trying Celexa now instead and have learned to limit Xanax usage."

• 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."

• Lop...
• November 19, 2016

For Anxiety "Was on this for a month... I went mental!! I was less anxious, but the side effects were really... really bad. I was extremely depressed and aggressive! I was itchy all over, but no rashes, and I had an awful headache that tramadol couldn't even touch!!! Went to a wedding and spent most of the time in the bathroom just to avoid people. Personally, if a GP suggests this drug to you, I would say no, GOD NO! But this is only from my own experience. I'm now on Prozac and diazepam because it messed me up so much. Looking forward to some normality in my head!"

• Sti...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2016

Buspirone for Anxiety "It didn't help at all with the panic attacks and actually made my anxiety worse. The first few weeks, it would just put me to sleep. After four weeks, I became very depressed and had suicidal thoughts constantly throughout the day. It gave me horrible headaches, it made me really dizzy all the time, and I felt lightheaded and nauseous often. After four weeks, I could not sleep at all, and my anxiety increased along with the panic attacks. I don't recommend this medicine for anyone who has suffered PTSD or who has had high anxiety levels for a long time. It just makes things worse. After five weeks, I stopped taking this medication, I could no longer handle the side effects."

• Bha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2016

For Panic Disorder "I just took 2 dosages of 5 mg in the night and in the morning. It has made tightness in my chest as if I would collapse. Shortness of breath and so tight in my head that I couldn't continue, although that went away in about an hour both times. I know its effects come in a long time, but what I was feeling was unbearable."

• dia...
• January 4, 2016

For Anxiety "I started with a new doctor (addiction treatment specialist). I am getting ready to detox off Klonopin, so the new doc put me on buspirone. Ugh, I was on it for about a week. I started getting very hot and short-tempered and extremely tired. Very heavy head. So I called my doc. He said to stop taking it. I was on 15 mg, 2 times a day. Well, I have been off for about 3 or 4 days. The first day wasn't bad, the second day dizzy, queasy, and extremely tired. Wow, if I'm feeling this bad, still hot, very tired, my head is very heavy. Yet my doc also said there would be no withdrawal. Best of luck to all of you. My heart goes out to you."