Buspirone Withdrawal Timeline, Symptoms, and Safety Tips

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New Hampshire’s drug problem, marked by the number of drug-induced overdose deaths, has experts worried about the future of the state’s youth. Addiction to prescription medications, such as buspirone, has plagued the Granite State, with more than half a million of its residents using prescription drugs non-medically each year.

Buspirone, commonly known as BuSpar, is a medication belonging to the drug class called anxiolytics. It’s indicated for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders, helping patients relax, think clearly, and worry less.

If you’re taking Buspirone and you need to stop using it, you may be worried about any withdrawal symptoms involved. Is it dangerous? How long does the process last? Our guide to buspirone withdrawal timeline will answer all these questions and more to help you understand what to expect when quitting this anti-anxiety medication.

Does Stopping Buspirone Cause Withdrawal?

Buspirone hydrochloride works similarly to benzodiazepines; it modifies the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the central nervous system such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. These mechanisms lead to decreased anxiety, reduced stress, enhanced mood, and increased focus.

Unlike benzodiazepines and other potent anxiolytic medications, such as Xanax or Ativan, buspirone isn’t strong enough to be used for short periods of treatment. The fact that buspirone is safe for long-term use means that it’s also associated with fewer side effects and a lower risk of developing substance abuse disorder.

That said, quitting buspirone may become problematic if patients taking the medication stop using it suddenly without gradually decreasing the dose.

This is because buspirone as an anti-anxiety drug still has the potential to cause dependence in patients who require large doses to experience its effects or have been using it for a long period. In these cases, the brain gets conditioned to the presence of the drug and relies on it to produce certain states of mind and emotions.

As such, cold turkey buspirone discontinuation is likely to shock the brain since it can’t elicit the same effects of the drugs on its own. The result is a set of unpleasant side effects known as withdrawal symptoms.

This is why patients who have been taking buspirone long-term or use higher doses of the drug are typically weaned off the medication. Patients who take small doses of buspirone or use it short-term are less likely to experience withdrawal upon quitting.

What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms Associated With Buspirone?

As established above, using buspirone involves various side effects. Similarly, quitting buspirone cold turkey can lead to a range of physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. These include:

• Anxiety
• Restlessness or nervousness
• Agitation or irritability
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Insomnia
• Headache
• Nightmares or odd dreams
• Dizziness or drowsiness
• Panic episodes
• Fidgeting and impatience
• Mood swings such as depression or aggression
• Burning or tingling in the extremities
• Stiff muscles (neck) or cramping
• Sweating
• Fatigue and feeling unusually tired
• Confusion
• Impaired judgment
• Irregular blood pressure
• Unusual weakness
• Gastrointestinal problems such as constipation or diarrhea

Some rare symptoms associated with stopping buspirone include loss of consciousness and chest pain. These call for immediate medical attention, so be on the lookout.

Who Is More Likely to Suffer from Buspirone Withdrawal?

Some individuals are at a higher risk to experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking buspirone, such as:

• Patients who require large doses to experience its effects
• Patients who have been using it for extended periods
• People who take other drugs that affect the metabolism of buspirone
• People who are regular alcohol consumers
• Patients with kidney or liver issues

How Long Does Buspirone Withdrawal Symptoms Persist?

The severity of BuSpar withdrawal symptoms as well as the duration they last vary depending on the dose and how long you’ve been taking it. Every patient experiences withdrawal differently, so predicting the duration they’ll last can be challenging.

That said, buspirone withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere between a few days to several weeks. As such, the timeline varies depending on each patient’s unique case.

Still, there’s a pattern usually observed in buspirone withdrawal where symptoms gradually worsen over a certain while then go away.

An approximate timeline can help patients brace themselves for what may happen and prepare coping strategies to deal with the adverse effects. Here’s a two-week timeline with the corresponding symptoms to consider:

Week	Symptoms
Week 1	– Mild symptoms of anxiety – Mild sleep disturbances – Changes in mood – Feelings of nervousness or restlessness
Week 2	– Headaches – Nausea and/or vomiting – Lightheadedness or dizziness – Stiff muscles – Sore muscles – Feeling excessively tired – Feeling extra anxious – Insomnia

How Long Does the Body Take To Completely Eliminate Buspirone?

The half-life of a drug is the time required by the body to eliminate half of its prescribed dose. With a half-life of two to three hours, Buspirone leaves the body in a short time compared to other anxiolytics or antidepressants.

To completely eliminate buspirone, multiple half-lives are typically required depending on the amount of the drug in the body. For example, if the medication is mostly cleared after five or six half-lives, this means that the body needs ten to fifteen hours to clear it.

However, the dose of the drug isn’t the only factor that may affect its half-life. Other aspects such as medical conditions, genetic variation in metabolism, and liver function can also impact the rate of buspirone elimination.

How To Manage Buspirone Withdrawal Period

Here are some recommended practices for safely managing buspirone withdrawal:

• Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated.
• Stick to the healthcare provider’s instructions regarding dosing and tapering the drug.
• Use supportive treatments such as over-the-counter painkillers.
• Engaging in anxiety-lowering activities such as meditation and yoga to alleviate anxiety symptoms.
• Talk with a licensed psychiatrist and seek professional medical advice.

Addiction Treatment Options for Stopping Buspirone

To help patients deal with quitting buspirone and overcoming withdrawal effects, the following approaches can be used:

Medical Detox

An initial assessment is made by a doctor to determine the level of buspirone dependence and formulate a suitable treatment plan depending on the case.

For patients with a medium to severe buspirone addiction, treatment begins with medical detoxification; a process that rids the body of the drug and its toxic traces.

It involves the gradual reduction of the drug dose until the patient stops taking it altogether.

As we progress towards the lower doses, the patient starts to experience withdrawal symptoms. At this point, medications can be administered under professional supervision to alleviate the unpleasant effects.

Therapy and Counseling

Following buspirone detox, some form of therapy or counseling is necessary in the treatment plan to ensure the continuity of recovery and avoid relapse. Examples include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This type of behavioral therapy focuses on establishing links between feelings, thoughts, and actions.

The patient learns how to recognize negative patterns that lead to destructive behaviors such as drug abuse. This helps in better understanding the causes of addiction and makes it easier to implement positive patterns in place of adverse ones.

• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): This type of behavioral therapy is a branch of CBT and aims to help patients pinpoint the triggers of their urges and substance use habits.

This knowledge allows patients to better control their cravings, regulate their feelings, and develop coping mechanisms to maintain recovery.

• Motivational Interviewing: This type of behavioral therapy deals with patients finding a strong motive to execute and uphold life changes and stay on the path of recovery.
• Individual Therapy: also called individual counseling, talk therapy, or psychotherapy, patients in this type of session work one-on-one with medical professionals.

They help struggling individuals explore their minds at a deeper level and uncover the root of their addiction problem. They also encourage patients to talk openly about their feelings, past, traumas, and thoughts in a safe, private space.

• Group Therapy: This is a widely implemented psychotherapy technique where a group of patients with a similar addiction problem attend shared sessions.

Each individual is encouraged to discuss their experience, emotions and thoughts while engaging with peers. Such interpersonal interaction promotes a sense of belonging and offers patients a supportive network consisting of relatable people.

• Holistic Therapy: This branch of behavioral therapy aims to reduce the patient’s stress levels and boost their overall mental health and physical well-being. Examples of holistic therapy include yoga, physical exercise, meditation, adventure therapy, pet therapy, and massage therapy.

Conclusion: Seeking Help During Withdrawal

Giving up the use of prescription medications such as buspirone can be a challenge. But with the right support, you can overcome the withdrawal period and go back to your normal life as soon as possible.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with prescription drug addiction, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. At Live Free Recovery Services, we’ll provide a personalized treatment plan based on your needs and goals to ensure effective recovery and prevent relapse.

References

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531477/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3296749/
• https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a688005.html