Buspirone and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Mea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2025

For Anxiety "I was prescribed 10 mg twice daily for GAD and panic disorder. Unfortunately, I had a terrible response to the drug almost immediately. My anxiety was significantly worsened, and I had severe insomnia. The first night I was awake until 3:00 am, then 5:00 am every night after that. I had to discontinue after five days out of concern for my safety."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2023

Buspirone for Anxiety "BuSpar is causing me to experience insomnia and nightmares. I have noticed no reduction in panic attacks."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2023

For Anxiety "This medicine caused me to have tremors, increased anxiety, insomnia, and worsening depression with suicidal ideation. Never. Freaking. Again."

• Bus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2022

For Panic Disorder "I wanted to treat my general anxiety/panic disorder, and I had friends who took buspirone and considered it a mild drug. I’ve learned my lesson — this was the worst. My doctor prescribed me 10 mg (two 5 mg doses a day), and I started on just 5 mg at first. After a week, I felt okay, not better, not worse, so I upped it to 10 mg. That’s when things took a downturn. Never in my life could I relate to someone who experiences ADD/ADHD/mania until I took this drug. My brain was a stream of constant thoughts that didn’t connect to one another. I was literally buzzing around half-starting tasks and then getting distracted by another task. I was in a constant state of panic. I had the worst insomnia of my life. I couldn’t eat. My heart was racing. Once I stopped the med, my symptoms were gone. Doc wrote it down as an intolerance for me."

• Jud...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 15, 2022

For Anxiety "I was experiencing tremendous anxiety attacks, panic attacks, social anxiety. I was put on buspirone. Started at 5 mg twice a day. It got increased up to 10.5 mg twice a day before I experienced any relief. I had been on it for quite some time. It now is no longer helping me. I'm back to feeling the way I was - some social anxiety, fear, insomnia. Evidently, it's played out its usefulness. I can say right now I do not recommend it."

• Ton...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2022

For Panic Disorder "Garbage! The worst medication ever, doesn’t work at all, gives me migraines, restlessness, trouble staying asleep, my glands are swollen and hurting. Shaking as well. Wouldn’t recommend this for anyone, seriously, take anything but this garbage. I was taking Klonopin 1 mg extended release for decades and never had any issues and slept amazingly. I’ve been taking buspirone 15 mg twice a day for about 45 days, and I really want to stop taking buspirone and go back to Klonopin because this is making me go crazy, worrying a lot, and the panic attacks are high. I believe these doctors are creating mental health issues by switching our meds, so be careful. Definitely going back to Klonopin 1 mg, 2 a day…hopefully today I can switch back to Klonopin because honestly, it is hard to live this way and the sad part is, the therapist doesn’t even care. Also, I haven’t slept in 2 days."

• 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."

• Kno...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2022

For Anxiety "I strongly recommend you find out if you're allergic to this medicine before you start using it. Also, I suggest that whoever is reading this, I urge you to try something else more natural because this medicine, all it did was make me worse, couldn't sleep, couldn't breathe, couldn't walk. It was horrible. So I do not recommend this at all if you're a wimp like me."

• Cau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2022

Buspirone for Anxiety "Took one med and couldn't sleep at all! Do not take this medicine. I'd rather have my anxiety than no sleep."

• cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2022

For Anxiety "Be careful before starting this medication. I have learned this the hard way by not doing my research before starting a new med. This medication is powerful and has terrible side effects that I am still dealing with while trying to wean off of it. Mood swings, severe panic, depression, intrusive thoughts, trouble sleeping, disassociation, and hopelessness. I was put on 60 mg when I started having severe panic that would not go away, and it lasted for weeks before I decided to start weaning myself off of it, and I am still working to get off. Do yourself a favor and do your research before starting with this drug, it's not as innocent as it may seem."

• Dsm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2021

Buspirone for Anxiety "This was a mistake. Was prescribed this for mild anxiety. Took 10 mg a day for 17 days. The side effects were terrible! Dizziness, nausea, chest pain, increased heart rate, insomnia, fatigue, and more. Have been off 3 weeks and still struggling with withdrawal effects."

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

Buspirone for Anxiety "I was prescribed this drug to help my anxiety through a job change. DO NOT take this drug! It doubled my anxiety, insomnia to the point that I hadn't slept in 3 nights, caused jerking motions that would wake me up when I did actually fall asleep, nauseous, absolutely no appetite, feelings of complete depression and hopelessness."

• 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."

• 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."

• Sco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 21, 2021

For Anxiety "So my side effects of buspirone are that I am sick, just sick all over, my head feels sick, my stomach feels sick, I am irritable, I can't sleep, I am shaky, and my heart races. I feel as close to death as you can get without being dead."

• Sca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2021

For Panic Disorder "Was successfully taking Xanax for hypertension and panic for 10 years. New doctor said Xanax is no good for panic disorder and refused to refill my prescription. He put me on buspirone. After only a couple of days, I became manic. No sleep. Terror, intense fear, panic. Could not think or eat. Found a new doctor who told me to stop taking it immediately. He put me back on Xanax and my symptoms resolved within a few days. He told me never to take an SSRI or a medication like buspirone as it could cause uncontrolled hypertension and mania in me."

• tgc...
• January 31, 2021

For Anxiety "I suffer from PMDD, a debilitating neuroendocrine disease now listed in the ICD-11. It's a genetic defect in the brain that causes an allergic autoimmune response to my own changing hormones. It cripples me during my luteal phase, 14 days every month. Psychological symptoms include paranoia, rage, lethargic exhaustion, mind-numbing brain fog, feeling intensely overwhelmed, uncontrollable crying, obsessive thoughts, suicidal ideation, self-loathing, disassociation, general anxiety and panic attacks, intense food cravings, insomnia, decreased libido, nightmares, etc. I was prescribed Buspar for the anxiety, initially at 5mg twice a day. 2-3 months later raised to 10mg twice a day. And currently at 15mg twice a day. It does nothing for my anxiety. My doctors do not want to take me off it as I'm also on Wellbutrin XL 450mg. They say that the Wellbutrin might increase my anxiety without the Buspar. Anyway, bottom line: Buspar does nothing for me at all. Very disappointing."

• Try...
• January 2, 2021

Buspirone for Anxiety "I started buspirone 1.5 years ago for GAD. I took myself off of buspirone. My attacks started again 3 months ago. My doctor put me back on buspirone. It started with not sleeping through the night and then heart rates of 111-148 beats per minute. My anxiety and attacks are worse than ever now. I stopped taking buspirone this time for good. I experienced bad dreams almost every night or weird vivid dreams. I thought it was the Ambien, but I haven’t taken Ambien in 2 weeks because I was trying to see which medicine was affecting me the most. When I took Ambien, it was PRN 2-3 times per week on nights that I knew would be difficult. I’ve researched buspirone, and surprisingly, there is nothing out there that talks about why the brand name BuSpar was discontinued, and there is little info about buspirone. Nonetheless, the side effects reported are sleep latency, sleep disturbances, heart palpitations, confusion, etc."

• Kin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2020

Buspirone for Anxiety "After reading all the negative reviews, I feel relieved to know I'm not alone. A few days ago was the three-month mark of when I started BuSpar for anxiety. I've been on Wellbutrin, Zoloft, and prescribed Lexapro, and that was a big no (I didn't even take it after reading reviews). All SSRIs affected my mind in weird ways, and I never knew if my feelings were my own or from the drugs. I stopped everything except Xanax, as it works miracles. However, it's hard to get a hold of Xanax anymore. I started BuSpar, and the last three months I have not slept once unless I had a drink or smoked. I would not even sleep for 10 minutes on days on end. My anxiety was worse, barely felt any emotions, had no motivation for anything, and was always tired with a foggy mind (feeling of not being present). I just stopped cold turkey, so I'm hoping BuSpar was the cause and things go back to normal. I recommend finding a psychiatrist who will prescribe Xanax."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2020

Buspirone for Anxiety "I took BuSpar for two days. On the first day, my sleep was not deep and I had weird dreams. On the second day, I had a massive panic attack after my third dose of 5mg and was unable to sleep at all that night. It was a horrendous experience. It is an awful drug for me."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2020

Buspirone for Anxiety "I took BuSpar for two days. On the first day, my sleep was not deep and I had weird dreams. On the second day, I had a massive panic attack after my third dose of 5mg and was unable to sleep at all that night. It was a horrendous experience. It is an awful drug for me."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2020

Buspirone for Anxiety "I took 10 mg of BuSpar in the morning, then in the evening. My anxiety was worse, and my sleep was terrible. I only got 4 hrs of sleep and will not ever take it again."

• Ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2020

For Anxiety "Increased: my anxiety, heart racing, weight gain, insomnia, anger, jitters, and sadness."

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2019

Buspirone for Anxiety "Nope! I was prescribed BuSpar 15 mg at a dose of 1 tablet 3 times a day. A nightmare for sure. After the first few initial days and it getting in my system, that nightmare began! Side effects of not sleeping over 3-4 hours a night. Shaking inside and out, dizzy and faint, full-blown panic attacks, pacing the floor, and body having to keep moving to stop that feeling of jumping out of my skin (Akathisia)!! Tried BuSpar for 3 weeks and gained 9 lbs and more anxiety than before."