Buspirone, or more commonly known as Buspar, is a kind of anti-anxiety medication that many consider as effective while posing minimal addiction risk. If you totally believe this, think again. Just like any other kind of prescription medication, this drug, no matter how effective it may be, is also most likely to be abused or misused. To avoid falling into the danger of this misconception, it is best to understand this drug a bit more.

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What Is Buspar or Buspirone HCL?

Buspar’s generic form is known as Buspirone hydrochloride. It is categorized by the Food and Drug Authority as anxiolytic. It has no connection with barbiturates or benzodiazepines and this medicine is prescribed by doctors to patients who are suffering from severe anxiety. Aside from this, Buspar is also used to treat depression and anxiety. Though most experts are still not sure how the medicine works, what they know is that this medicine affects the brain’s chemicals, especially dopamine and serotonin. This fact explains the medicine’s anti-anxiety effects.

Buspirone is also prescribed to individuals who struggle to cope with the demands and stress of life. It usually erases worried thoughts and keeps the mind clear. Since this medicine is originally meant to induce relaxation, it is also expected to improve irritability and jitters. Aside from these, other conditions that are also expected to get better are pounding heartbeat, severe sweating, and sleeping issues. Buspar is in a white tablet form which can be cut into half. This tablet is available in 30 mg, 15 mg, 10 mg, and 5 mg dosages. These are normally taken twice or thrice daily.

Off-Label Uses

There are instances when buspirone is also prescribed by healthcare providers to patients suffering from conditions different from anxiety. Then again, there’s still no proof whether or not the medicine is effective in these situations. Some of its off-label prescriptions are used to treat the following conditions: 

1. Tardive dyskinesia
2. Substance use disorder
3. Premenstrual syndrome
4. Post-traumatic stress syndrome
5. Hyperactivity in kids with autism
6. Drug withdrawal
7. Bruxism
8. Aggressive behavior in kids with autism

Why Is This Drug Abused?

Unlike Xanax, Buspar doesn’t create euphoric feelings when taken. With this, you may wonder why is this medicine abused then? The main reason for the abuse is actually the drug’s sedative effects. Extreme sedation is achieved once buspirone is abused. Individuals with anxiety might want to reach this absolute relaxed state by taking high doses of Buspar at once. As the dose becomes higher and higher, the user also grows more and more sedated. Though the individual is relieved from anxiety, the same relief is only temporary and can lead to dangerous symptoms.

How is Buspar Different from Xanax?

Though these two medicines can both be used to treat anxiety disorders, they are actually very different. While Xanax is classified as a benzodiazepine, Buspar falls under anxiolytic medication. While benzodiazepines are highly addictive, anxiolytics are only categorized as those which pose lower addiction risks.

The Dangerous Mix: Buspirone and Alcohol

As you know, buspirone already induces relaxation. If you now mix alcohol with buspirone, you are actually magnifying and increasing the potency of alcohol. As a result, usual alcohol drinking symptoms are heightened. Mixing these two substances can easily make the person feel very drunk. Even those with high alcohol tolerance can quickly feel overwhelmed.

Mixing alcohol with any prescription medication is always hazardous. As a matter of fact, severe and more dangerous cases of alcohol and buspirone abuse can lead to coma, overdose, and death.

These are among the other adverse effects of mixing alcohol and Buspar: 

1. Vomiting
2. Severe headaches
3. Nasal congestion
4. Insomnia
5. Increased urination
6. Heavy appetite
7. Heart problems
8. Excessive sleepiness
9. Dizziness
10. Depression
11. Confusion
12. Chest pains
13. Blurred vision
14. Anorexia
15. Agitation
16. Aggression

Ways of Abusing Buspar

Individuals prescribed with Buspar originally and usually start with 7.5mg, two times a day dosage. The maximum dosage for the said medicine is only at 60 mg daily. Recreational users usually take around 5 to 20 mg of Buspar at a given time. The effects usually differ based on the person’s tolerance level.

More doses are usually taken at different times on the same day. The reason for this is to maintain that high they get. One of the most common ways of taking and abusing the drug is to take one whole pill at once. Some use parachuting method wherein they usually crush the whole pill and wrap it in a tissue paper. Once wrapped, they immediately swallow it. This method is known to yield stronger and faster high.

While some choose to parachute on the drug, others choose to snort it. Snorting is done by crushing or grinding the pill until it transforms into fine powder form. Once pulverized, this is then inhaled by the nose. This means of getting high on Buspar is said to give more intense and faster high. Also, snorting allows quick entry of the drug into one’s bloodstream. Some simply choose to mix buspirone and alcohol and it is absolutely recommended that you never mix buspar and alcohol.

There is a huge downside to this method, however. One of it is the fact that it can be habit-forming. Some people who have tried snorting on the drug have advised against the method since they reported to have experienced episodes of “brain zaps.” This is when they feel continuous electronic shocks all the way to their brains.

Possible Buspar Abuse Side Effects

Buspirone side effects can even be worsened by Buspirone abuse. Additional side effects can include cognitive impairment, memory loss, and hallucinations.

Other side effects of this drug may include any or all of the following: 

1. Vivid dreams
2. Upset stomach
3. Unusual excitement
4. Trouble in maintaining focus
5. Stuffy nose
6. Sore throat
7. Ringing sensation in one’s ears
8. Restlessness
9. Nightmares
10. Nervousness
11. Nausea
12. Mouth dryness
13. Lightheadedness
14. Insomnia
15. Hostility
16. Headache
17. Feeling tired
18. Excessive sweating
19. Drowsiness
20. Dizziness
21. Diarrhea
22. Clamminess
23. Blurred vision
24. Anger

The following side effects are considered rare and should immediately be checked by a physician: 

1. Uncontrolled upper or lower body movements
2. Tingling sensation, weakness or pain in both hands and feet
3. Spasms
4. Skin Rashes
5. Pounding heartbeat
6. Numbness
7. Muscle weakness
8. Muscle pain
9. Mental depression
10. Hives
11. Fever
12. Fast heart rate
13. Difficulty in coordinating movements
14. Cramps and muscle stiffness
15. Confusion
16. Chest pain
17. Arm or leg stiffness

Can You Be Addicted to Buspirone?

The easy and short answer to this question is a plain yes. Even those who have been prescribed with the drug can also develop an addiction to it. Unlike Xanax and other benzodiazepines, Buspirone’s effects on anxiety are not immediate. A prescribed patient might need to wait for several weeks or days before improvement on his condition is seen. He might even need to take Buspirone in higher doses.

If continued, Buspirone use can lead to building up of minute chemical quantities in the user’s body. As a consequence, long-term Buspirone users might develop Buspirone tolerance. If the individual decides to stop using this drug abruptly, he might experience adverse effects like withdrawal symptoms. If withdrawal symptoms indeed show up, this only means that the individual has already developed a physical dependence on the drug. This is a likely result of Buspirone abuse.

Withdrawal from Buspirone

The abrupt stop in the usage of Buspirone can most likely result to withdrawal symptoms. Some of these symptoms may include the following:

1. Sweating
2. Suicidal thoughts
3. Panic attacks
4. Nightmares
5. Muscle spasms
6. Metallic taste
7. Loss of balance
8. Lethargy
9. Insomnia
10. Heavy limbs
11. Heart palpitations
12. Hair loss
13. Food aversion
14. Flu-like symptoms
15. Diarrhea
16. Body vibrations
17. Blurred vision
18. Anxiety
19. Agoraphobia
20. Aches and pains

How to Know if one is Addicted to Buspar?

If you’re not sure if you or a loved one has reached the addiction stage for Buspirone abuse, it may be wise to check out for psychological and physical signs.

These signs can be any or all of the following: 

1. Feeling ill as a result of the drug’s effects wearing off
2. Sleeping disorders just like nightmares, frequent tiredness, and insomnia
3. Abandonment of pleasurable activities like hobbies and sports you once enjoyed
4. Deliberate lying and concealing things from loved ones
5. Repeated instances of trying and ending up unsuccessful in quitting from drug use
6. Being anxious with the mere thought of not having enough drug to take
7. Focusing only on the drug and how to get more of it
8. Slurred speech
9. Bloodshot or watery eyes
10. Less and less interest in appearance, hygiene, and grooming

What Are Available Treatment Programs for Buspirone Addiction?

After intake and assessment, detox is normally the next stage in addition treatment. This process actually helps in the safe removal of toxins and chemicals from the addicted individual’s body. This is usually a precursor to the actual treatment program that was drafted after intake.

In serious addiction cases, inpatient treatment is very helpful. The kind of treatment offered by inpatient treatment facilities is ideal for patients who need utmost and intensive care. The environment in inpatient treatment facilities is conducive for healing and for sorting the patient’s issues out.

For patients who graduated from rehab but still need guidance during recovery, enrolling in an outpatient treatment program can also be helpful. This is also advised in the onset of addiction. While under outpatient treatment, the patient can still live and stay at his home during treatment.

Having a stable and strong network of support is very helpful to cope up with addiction. If you or a loved one is struggling with Buspirone abuse or any kind of addiction, speak to an Addiction Specialist today and get the professional help you need.

Want more information about how Chapters Capistrano can help? Feel free to call 949-276-2886 and one of our addiction specialists will help get the information and help you need.