Buspirone and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Jak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2023

For Anxiety "Started for GAD. Worsened my paranoia, made me incredibly dizzy and exhausted constantly, all while making me unable to stay asleep at night. Took for two weeks before having a psychotic episode and quitting. Felt better within 48 hours. Not a good medication if you also experience depression, delusions, or psychosis."

• UA9...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2023

Buspirone for Anxiety "I wish it worked for me. I felt tired on any dose - from 5 mg to 60 mg/day. Just tiredness, nothing else. Still have anxiety, fears, running thoughts, avoid people, etc. This medicine is not for me."

• SFr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2023

For Borderline Personality Disorder "The first couple of weeks, I dealt with foggy-headedness and fatigue after taking it. After two weeks, I began feeling agitated. This only got worse as PMS started. I was filled with so much panic, and everything was irritating me. I also felt lethargic and empty inside. I discontinued and started feeling better."

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

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Buspirone to help with anxiety, and it did absolutely nothing for my anxiety, it probably made it worse, actually. I get migraines a few times a year, but on Buspirone, I was getting migraines every single day. My psychiatrist said migraines weren't a side effect and it should actually help with migraines -- it was definitely giving me serious migraines every day. It also made me restless, more anxious, more nervous, caused diarrhea, and exhaustion. I stopped after one week because the side effects were so bad."

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

For Anxiety "I do not recommend this drug! It did nothing but give me every dang side effect there was, and finally got so bad not being able to breathe and sleep that I had to go to the hospital. Also, this will leave a metallic taste in your mouth, and you won’t be able to taste your food the next day. This made me worse, not better. I am also sensitive to medication and have a drug history from my late teens. So the chemicals in my brain are unbalanced and my tolerance for meds isn’t high. This made my paranoia of taking medicine worse. It affects everyone differently. I was scared to take it and glad I did because now I know it’s not for me. Nausea, dizziness, tiredness, chest pressure, ear ringing, metallic taste, bad dreams (during small brief moments of sleep)."

• 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."

• DGa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2019

Buspirone for Anxiety "Was hesitant to take this pill after reading all the reviews and then finally decided to give it a try. HUGE mistake. My mind felt like it was getting electrocuted. I felt dizzy, lightheaded, and it was extremely unpleasant. I called my doctor immediately! I ended up forcing myself to take a nap, and when I woke up, thankfully they had subsided. It’s been about an hour since I awoke, and I feel extremely tired and exhausted! I do not recommend this if you are highly sensitive to medication!"

• DGa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2019

Buspirone for Anxiety "Was hesitant to take this pill after reading all the reviews and then finally decided to give it a try. HUGE mistake. My mind felt like it was getting electrocuted. I felt dizzy, lightheaded, and it was extremely unpleasant. I called my doctor immediately! I ended up forcing myself to take a nap, and when I woke up, thankfully they had subsided. It’s been about an hour since I awoke, and I feel extremely tired and exhausted! I do not recommend this if you are highly sensitive to medication!"

• Bri...
• October 8, 2019

For Anxiety "I began taking buspirone after a hospitalization that stemmed from psychosis and anxiety so bad I became delusional. In addition to major anxiety, I have bipolar disorder and a personality disorder. I cannot say I've seen any improvement in anxiety symptoms whatsoever since I began buspirone. If anything, after I become anxious, the anxiety is profoundly worse and begins to affect me physically. I suffered the same before the hospitalization, but now it feels far worse. Heart palpitations, violent tremors, excessive pain induced by anxiety, etc. The heart palpitations are somewhat painful, and the shortness of breath becomes concerning. I intend to discontinue it because, in a nutshell: I'm a lot worse. Taken with: lithium, thorazine, Vistaril, and trazodone. All 4 of which I've been on in the past, and all 4 of which have never made me feel this way. Buspirone makes me tired, and that's about it, the anxiety is much worse than it was."

• 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!"

• 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."

• Mes...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 22, 2019

For Anxiety "I have been on this medication since October 2018. Originally given 10 mg twice per day. Could not function at all. I got dizzy and tired. Had to leave work one day. Could not sleep at night. Told my doctor and his answer was 'take NyQuil.' Decided myself to taper to 15 mg and at night only. Did that for a while. Recently, it seemed to just get worse. I have worked down to 10 mg for now, but after reading reviews, I am ready to quit. I had a few panic attacks recently, and I can't go on like this. Overall, I felt dizzy, tired, spacey, more anxious, and it completely changed my diet. I also think it gave me stomach issues."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 21, 2019

Buspirone for Anxiety "The side effects of BuSpar for me were worse sleep, anger, weight gain, and tiredness. My anxiety got worse, I had an erratic heartbeat, and it made my eyes feel really weird. This drug made me completely dysfunctional, exhausted, nauseous, and also out of it. So distracted, and it made my ADD worse."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 21, 2019

Buspirone for Anxiety "The side effects of BuSpar for me were worse sleep, anger, weight gain, and tiredness. My anxiety got worse, I had an erratic heartbeat, and it made my eyes feel really weird. This drug made me completely dysfunctional, exhausted, nauseous, and also out of it. So distracted, and it made my ADD worse."

• 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."

• Gai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2019

For Panic Disorder "This drug made me completely dysfunctional, incompetent, exhausted, nauseous, deathly sick. Blah!!!!"

• 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."

• Mat...
• January 25, 2017

For Anxiety "I started taking this medicine last Saturday after I had an attack and passed out on the floor Friday and was sent to the ER. Well, they prescribed me this. I have never had any situations like this before, and since I have been taking it, I have been so confused, slow to react, tired, dizzy, and can't even hardly function at my job right now."

• Mia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2016

For Anxiety "This is scary. Doctor put me on this 3 weeks ago. Made my depression horrible. I'm extremely mean to my 2-year-old. I have passed out twice, one of which I crashed my car in a field! I have dry mouth, dizziness, shaking, my body will jerk. I have a rash on my neck, constipation, insomnia. I'm exhausted but just can't sleep. And that's all I want is to sleep!!! And I've probably eaten a handful of pretzels in the last week. I feel so sick all the time :( and I'm on a low dose!"

• 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."

• blu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2015

For Anxiety "Have very bad anxiety and panic attacks. Swear this stuff doesn't help/relieve anxiety, nor does it stop attacks. I've been having panic attacks at least 3 times daily. Prescribed 7.5 mg 2x daily, and all this pill does is make me dizzy, feels like I got this huge knot in my head, and there's this icky, awkward slight tired feeling to it. Do feel nauseous as well. I'm 24 and been on/off Klonopin 1 mg 3 times daily for years. I'd like to know how the hell this med can help anyone. 2nd time I've been put on Buspar and it's still awful. Hope this helps someone. I'd say skip it and try gabapentin/Neurontin instead if non-benzos work for you. Good luck."

• Anonymous
• January 12, 2010

Buspirone for Anxiety "I started taking BuSpar for my anxiety, and it made me very dizzy and tired. It also made my arms tingle, and I started getting terrible headaches every time I took it. My anxiety just got worse while taking it because I was worried about the side effects it was causing."

• Mab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2023

For Anxiety "I have major panic problems and bad anxiety, as well as PTSD from a past traumatic experience. Unfortunately, this medication did not work for me. I have tried it a number of different times over a few years, and each time I suffered from bad headaches. I was recently prescribed Xanax and have found it beneficial for my anxiety. However, it leaves me feeling very tired and having a brain fog. I would not recommend driving while using it. I do not want to continue Xanax, as it can be addictive and the tiredness is affecting me. I will try to find an alternative medication that can help. In the meantime, I will keep Xanax on hand in case it is severely needed. Stay healthy!"

• Anonymous
• August 22, 2021

For Anxiety "I've taken this for close to 6 weeks. No change. I don't like morning pill at all, it makes my head buzz and feel tired. Taken Prozac off and on for depression for years and liked it, but not for anxiety. I don't know what to do. Don't want to feel like a zombie but would love a normal life and not be knotted up and crying every day. Not how I want to spend my life. This is horrible! Don't know if I should try a little longer or be a guinea pig for another drug!"

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 7, 2021

For Anxiety "I started Buspar after having several panic attacks that sent me to the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack. I take 1 in the AM and occasionally I'll do one at night. At times I feel it helps, but recently I think it's doing more harm than good. First off, the side effects: I feel highish for a little bit after it kicks in, and not really a pleasant feeling. I get super hot and begin to sweat, and my temp goes up to 99ish. Disoriented, shaky, and lethargic. What's so odd is if I take it at night, I can't sleep - at all. Paranoid dreams. I'm writing this at 1:30 in the morning because I can't sleep. I'm gonna quit this and see what happens... maybe I should just get a weed card and try that because this thing makes me feel like I'm a lab rat."