If you’re looking at treatment options for anxiety, you may be interested in learning more about buspirone. It’s a generic prescription drug used to treat anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, in adults.

Buspirone comes as a tablet that you swallow. The drug may be used short term or long term.

This article describes buspirone’s side effects. For more information about buspirone, including details about its uses, see this in-depth article.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their buspirone treatment. These side effects do not happen to everyone who takes the drug. Examples of buspirone’s commonly reported side effects include:

  • feeling lightheaded
  • excitement
  • headache*
  • nervousness
  • dizziness
  • nausea*
  • insomnia (trouble sleeping)

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Buspirone has several possible mild side effects, but not everyone who takes it has side effects. Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with buspirone include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking buspirone unless your doctor recommends it.

Buspirone may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with buspirone, visit MedWatch.

Most serious side effects from taking buspirone are rare. Serious side effects that have been reported with this drug include:

If you develop serious side effects while taking buspirone, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

In some cases, you may experience more side effects in your first week of buspirone treatment. Studies of the drug show that it affects chemicals in your brain called serotonin and dopamine. When levels of these chemicals change quickly, you may experience side effects.

After a few weeks, your body gets used to the drug, and the levels of these chemicals become more steady. When this happens, you may notice side effects of the drug begin to ease.

When you start treatment, your doctor may recommend that you do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how the drug affects you.

Buspirone may cause sexual side effects in some people. Examples of sexual side effects reported in studies of the drug include decreased and increased libido (sex drive). But these side effects weren’t common in the studies.

If you’re concerned about sexual side effects during your buspirone treatment, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend ways to treat your symptoms.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about buspirone’s side effects below.

Does buspirone cause weight gain or weight loss?

Yes, buspirone can cause weight gain or weight loss. But these side effects were rare in studies of the drug.

If you’re concerned about changes in your weight while taking buspirone, talk with your doctor.

Do buspirone’s side effects vary depending on the strength (such as 5 mg vs. 30 mg)?

Not necessarily. Studies of buspirone didn’t report any differences in side effects based on the drug’s strength. The side effects of buspirone are thought to be the same regardless of the strength you take.

But it’s possible your risk of side effects with buspirone may be greater with higher doses of the drug. The starting dosage is usually 15 milligrams (mg) daily, but your doctor will prescribe the dosage that best fits your needs.

Your doctor may slowly increase your dose based on your body’s response to the drug and any side effects you experience.

If you have concerns about your risk of side effects based on the strength or dosage of buspirone you take, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Are nightmares a side effect of buspirone?

It’s not likely that you’ll experience nightmares from taking buspirone. Nightmares were not a side effect reported in studies of buspirone. There have been reports of this side effect in people taking buspirone before the drug came onto the market. But it’s unclear how often this has happened or whether buspirone was the cause.

If you have nightmares that bother you while taking buspirone, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend a medication or strategy to help you sleep better.

Learn more about some of the side effects buspirone may cause.

Anger

Buspirone may cause anger in some people. This side effect was reported in studies of buspirone. (In studies, it was also referred to as hostility.) But anger wasn’t a common side effect seen in studies.

Anger is an emotion, but it can also cause physical symptoms, including:

  • muscle tension
  • fast heart rate
  • increased blood pressure

As with other side effects of buspirone, feelings of anger may go away with time as your body gets used to the drug.

What might help

If you experience unexplained anger while taking buspirone, you can be prepared with strategies to manage it. Examples include:

If you have strong or frequent feelings of anger, or if you think it might lead to violence, let your doctor know right away. They may have you stop taking buspirone and switch to a different treatment.

Headache

Some people taking buspirone may experience headaches. This was a common side effect in studies of the drug. Headaches are usually mild and go away over time.

What might help

If you have mild headaches while taking buspirone, ideas to help manage them at home include:

  • use a warm or cool compress
  • take an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever (first check with your doctor that it does not interact with your medications or conditions)

If the headaches do not go away, let your doctor know. They may suggest a treatment option for managing this side effect. Or in some cases, they may have you stop taking buspirone and switch to a different drug.

Nausea

Nausea can occur during buspirone treatment. This was a common side effect reported in studies of the drug. As with other buspirone side effects, nausea may go away over time.

Nausea may occur alone or with other digestive issues such as vomiting, belly pain, and constipation.

What might help

If you experience nausea during your buspirone treatment, some ideas to treat or manage it include:

  • avoiding heat and humidity
  • staying away from strong smells such as perfumes
  • eating small, frequent meals
  • sticking to a plain diet, such as the BRAT diet
  • taking an OTC medication (after checking with your doctor that it’s safe to take with buspirone)
  • trying a natural remedy such as ginger

If your nausea gets worse or doesn’t go away, talk with your doctor. They may recommend other ways to treat your nausea. In some cases, they may have you stop taking buspirone and switch to a different drug.

Drowsiness

Buspirone may cause drowsiness in some people. In studies, drowsiness was a common side effect that caused people to stop taking buspirone.

What might help

Drowsiness from buspirone may go away on its own within a few weeks after starting treatment. You can help your body feel less drowsy by drinking plenty of water, practicing good sleep hygiene, and taking steps to manage stress.

When starting buspirone treatment, drowsiness is one of the side effects that makes it unsafe for you to drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how buspirone affects you.

If you experience drowsiness that doesn’t go away or that bothers you, let your doctor know. They may recommend ways to treat this side effect, or they may have you stop taking buspirone and switch to a different treatment.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, buspirone can cause an allergic reaction in some people. This side effect was reported after buspirone was already being taken.

Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an antihistamine you take by mouth, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to buspirone, they’ll decide whether you should continue taking it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to buspirone, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

During your buspirone treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how buspirone affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Buspirone may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. These are known as drug-condition interactions. Other factors may also affect whether buspirone is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting buspirone. Factors to consider include those described below.

Taking monoamine oxidase inhibitor drugs. Buspirone should not be taken with monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) drugs. You should wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI before you start taking buspirone. Both drugs can cause serotonin syndrome, which is a serious side effect that can be life threatening. So combining buspirone and an MAOI could raise your risk of serotonin syndrome, or make it worse if you develop this condition.

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include hallucinations, flushing, and seizures. This condition can lead to coma or be fatal in rare cases.

Examples of MAOI drugs include Nardil (phenelzine), Marplan (isocarboxazid), and ProvayBlue (methylene blue). If you’re currently taking an MAOI and want to start taking buspirone, talk with your doctor about how to do so safely.

Liver or kidney problems. If you have liver or kidney problems, your body might have trouble clearing buspirone as it should. This can cause buspirone to build up in the body, which may lead to a higher risk of side effects from the drug.

If you have liver or kidney problems, talk with your doctor before taking buspirone. Depending on how severe the kidney or liver problems are, your doctor may prescribe you a lower dose of buspirone. Or in some cases, they may prescribe a different drug to treat your condition.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to buspirone or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe buspirone. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.

Alcohol and buspirone

You should not drink alcohol while taking buspirone. Buspirone and alcohol can both cause drowsiness, confusion, and slow reflexes. So taking buspirone with alcohol could raise your risk of these side effects. Or it could make these side effects worse if you do experience them.

If you’re concerned about avoiding alcohol during your buspirone treatment, talk with your doctor.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking buspirone

It’s not known whether it’s safe to take buspirone during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before taking buspirone.

Side effects of buspirone are usually mild. If you have any questions about side effects that buspirone can cause, talk with your doctor. Some questions you may want to ask include:

  • How do the side effects of buspirone compare with those of other anxiety drugs?
  • As an older adult, do I have a higher risk of drowsiness from buspirone?
  • How will I know whether I’m having a side effect such as anger or excitement?
  • Can buspirone cause hair loss?
  • Does buspirone have fewer side effects than Klonopin (clonazepam)?

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.