Buspar (Buspirone Hydrochloride) - Summary

BUSPAR SUMMARY

BuSpar^®
(buspirone HCl, USP)

BuSpar^® (buspirone hydrochloride tablets, USP) is an antianxiety agent that is not chemically or pharmacologically related to the ben-zodiazepines, barbiturates, or other sedative/anxiolytic drugs.

BuSpar (Buspirone HCl) is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an anxiolytic.

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NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Buspar (Buspirone)

Easing Needle Anxiety
Source: Anxiety / Stress News From Medical News Today [2009.11.19]
Needle! For some people, the word-almost as much as the sight of one sliding into skin-is enough for people to cringe, cry, even swoon if they're standing in line waiting for one. Experts believe fear of needles may be preventing people from rolling up their sleeves for the H1N1 vaccination.

Depression As Deadly As Smoking, But Anxiety May Be Good For You
Source: Anxiety / Stress News From Medical News Today [2009.11.19]
A study by researchers at the University of Bergen, Norway, and the Institute of Psychiatry (IoP) at King's College London has found that depression is as much of a risk factor for mortality as smoking.

At-Risk College Students Reduce HBP, Anxiety, Depression Through Transcendental Meditation
Source: Anxiety / Stress News From Medical News Today [2009.11.18]
The Transcendental Meditation technique may be an effective method to reduce blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and anger among at-risk college students, according to a new study to be published in the American Journal of Hypertension, December 2009.

Anxiety And Distress During Active Surveillance For Early Prostate Cancer
Source: Prostate / Prostate Cancer News From Medical News Today [2009.11.16]
UroToday.com - The present study found that the majority of men with early prostate cancer (PC) included in a protocol-based program for active surveillance (AS) show favorable anxiety and distress scores when compared to reference values and to groups of patients with PC who underwent other treatments.

Doctors gird for patient anxiety over Zetia data (Reuters)
Source: Y! Health Anxiety News [2009.11.16]
Reuters - The good news for Merck & Co's Zetia cholesterol fighter is that doctors do not seem unduly concerned about its latest setback in a clinical trial. The bad news is they think patient anxiety will cause its sales to drop anyway.

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Published Studies Related to Buspar (Buspirone)

A placebo-controlled trial of buspirone for the treatment of marijuana dependence. [2009.11.01]
The present study investigated the potential efficacy of buspirone for treating marijuana dependence. Participants received either buspirone (maximum 60mg/day) (n=23) or matching placebo (n=27) for 12 weeks, each in conjunction with motivational interviewing.Further study with buspirone in this population may be warranted; however, strategies to enhance study retention and improve outcome measurement should be considered in future trials.

Comparison of ketanserin, buspirone and propranolol on arousal, pupil size and autonomic function in healthy volunteers. [2009.07]
RATIONALE: The human pupil may be a suitable physiological test system for the assessment of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), but pupillometric assessment could be confounded by medication for comorbid hypertension and mood disorders. OBJECTIVES: We examined the profile of the 5HT-2/alpha1/H1 antagonist ketanserin, the 5HT1a agonist buspirone and the beta adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol on pupillary and other measures of arousal... CONCLUSIONS: Ketanserin but not propranolol had a fully sedative profile and may confound pupillometric assessment of EDS. Beta adrenergic receptors do not appear to participate in arousal and pupillary functions, while 5HT1a receptors reduce pupil size without affecting arousal. Pupil size may not be used unequivocally as an index of the level of alertness in the case of drug-induced changes, when drugs interfere with the central pupil control mechanism in ways that are unrelated to their effects on arousal.

Effect of buspirone on thermal sensory and pain thresholds in human volunteers. [2009.05.29]
BACKGROUND: Buspirone is a partial 5-HT1A receptor agonist. Animal studies have shown that modulation of serotoninergic transmission at the 5-HT1A receptor can induce analgesia in acute pain models. However, no studies have been published so far on the effects of serotonin receptor agonists on pain perception in humans... CONCLUSION: Buspirone in the maximal recommended dose was without significant effect on thermal pain. However, as it is only a partial agonist at the 5-HT1A receptor and also acts on other receptor types, the negative results of the present study do not rule out a possible analgesic effect of more specific 5-HT1A receptor agonists.

The effect of oral buspirone, pyridostigmine, and bethanechol on esophageal function evaluated with combined multichannel esophageal impedance-manometry in healthy volunteers. [2009.03]
BACKGROUND: There is limited information on medications with promotility effects on the esophagus. Studies in healthy volunteers have shown the potential role of the direct cholinergic agonist bethanechol and the serotonin receptor agonist buspirone in improving esophageal motility. It has been also shown that an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, the short-acting drug edrophonium administered intravenously caused a greater increase in the esophageal contraction amplitude and duration than bethanechol. Edrophonium cannot be used as a promotility therapy owing to short duration of action and lack of oral administration. The use of another acetylcholinesterase inhibitor pyridostygmine with longer duration of action has not been studied. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of oral pyridostygmine (60 mg), buspirone (20 mg), and bethanechol (25 mg) on esophageal function assessed by combined multichannel intraluminal impedance-esophageal manometry... CONCLUSIONS: Oral pyridostygmine, buspirone, and bethanechol enhance esophageal motility with pyridostygmine appearing to have the greatest effect. A potential effect on improving esophageal function and symptoms in patients requires further study.

Influence of buspirone on gastric sensorimotor function in man. [2008.12.01]
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested involvement of 5HT(1) receptors in the control of gastric tone. AIM: To study the effect of buspirone, a 5HT(1A) agonist, on gastric sensorimotor function in healthy volunteers... CONCLUSION: Buspirone dose-dependently relaxes the proximal stomach in the fasting state and decreases the gastric emptying rate in healthy volunteers.

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Clinical Trials Related to Buspar (Buspirone)

Bioavailability Study of (Buspar) Buspirone HCl Tablets Under Fasting and Fed Conditions [Completed]

Bioavailability Study of (Buspar) Buspirone HCl Tablets Under Fasting Conditions [Completed]

Dexmed/Buspirone Synergism on Shivering [Completed]
The purpose of this research is to determine if the combination of buspirone and dexmedetomidine are effective as a treatment to induce therapeutic hypothermia.

The design of the study includes four study days done in random order. The days are as follows: 1) Control (no drug); 2) Buspirone 60 mg orally; 3) Dexmedetomidine (delivered by a computer-controlled IV infusion to a target plasma concentration of 0. 6 ng/ml); and, 3) the combination of buspirone 60 mg and dexmedetomidine (target plasma concentration of 0. 6 ng/ml). a 20 cm-long catheter will be inserted into a cubital vein using standard aseptic technique In addition to the PIC line catheter, a simple peripheral catheter will be inserted into the other arm for drug administration.

Throughout the study period, mean-skin temperature will be maintained at 31°C by adjusting the temperature of circulating water (Cincinnati Sub-Zero, Cincinnati, OH) and forced-air warmers (Augustine Medical, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN). Furthermore, the back, upper-body, and lower-body will individually be maintained at the designated skin temperature. Lactated Ringer's solution cooled to ≈3°C will be infused via the PIC-line at rates sufficient to decrease tympanic membrane temperature ≈1. 5°C/h. Fluid will be administered as long as oxygen consumption or electromyographic intensity (see below) continues to increase or a total of 5 liters of fluid is given. Heart rate will be measured continuously using an electrocardiogram; blood pressure will be determined oscillometrically at 5 min intervals at the ankle. In case heart rate and/or blood pressure changes unexpectedly (by more than 30% of the baseline), the study will stop and the volunteer will be re-warmed immediately.

Buspirone in the Treatment of 2-6 Year Old Children With Autistic Disorder [Not yet recruiting]
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of twice-daily oral buspirone on core features of autism in autistic children aged 2-6 years as measured by the change from baseline in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) Composite Total scores compared to placebo at 6 months.

Effects of Buspirone in Opiate Withdrawal [Completed]
Dependence on heroin is a major public health problem because of its association with criminality, law enforcement costs and healthcare costs. Managed withdrawal is a required first step for a long term drug-free treatment of heroin addicts. Methadone and clonidine have been the mainstay of treatment for the relief of heroin withdrawal symptoms but both have limitations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of buspirone in the alleviation of the withdrawal symptoms experienced by heroin addicts when they stop using heroin. Buspirone is a non opiate drug with no abuse potential, no sedating effects and no withdrawal symptoms.

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PATIENT REVIEWS / RATINGS / COMMENTS

Buspar review by 28 year old male patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Highly Effective
Side effects:		Mild Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		GAD - Generalised anxiety disorder.
Dosage & duration:		5mg. Upto three times daily as required. taken 7-10 times per week, on average. for the period of 3 months.
Other conditions:		None
Other drugs taken:		None
		Reported Results
Benefits:		As a former drug addict, I flat refused anything that would be addictive. ie diazepam, tamazepam, etc. My doctor suggested buspar as it was not addictive, and yet had similar effects to diazepam. He prescribed it on a prn basis, and i was sceptical. However, within 20 minutes of taking it, the effects were astounding. Anxiety subsided, and a feeling of warmness enveloped me. One dose lasted about 5 hours, and did not inhibit any other aspect of my day to day activites. It also helped with my disrupted sleep patterns.
Side effects:		Dry mouth after taking, and slight feelings of lethargy, but hardly noticeable.
Comments:		Its meant to be used as a short term treatment for anxiety, no more than 3 months. But my gp said i can take it using a three month on, three month off rotation. Works for me.

Buspar review by 73 year old female patient
		Rating
Overall rating:
Effectiveness:		Moderately Effective
Side effects:		No Side Effects
		Treatment Info
Condition / reason:		Anxiety
Dosage & duration:		1/2 of 15 mg tablet taken ocassionaly for the period of Several years
Other conditions:		None
Other drugs taken:		None
		Reported Results
Benefits:		It did help to relieve my anxiety, but sometimes I had to take a full tablet rather than 1/2. It did enable me to ably cope with occasions where I otherwise would have been nervous wreck. I can honestly say that it helped me.
Side effects:		I didn't have any.
Comments:		I only took it sporadically whenever needed. I only used it when I needed calming down when I was in a situation that I wouldn't have have been able to cope with.