PlainPill

Buspirone

People mainly take Buspirone for anxiety, mood. Based on 15 first-hand reports and 68 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #712 of 1,974 overall.

22
User score
Mixed
20% positive20% mixed7% negative53% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 43% are positive.

Clinical research
AStrong research base
68
meta-analyses
240
RCTs
2,993
papers

What Buspirone does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

3 more with fewer than 3 reports
betterno changeworse

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

AStrong research base

3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

Lancet · 2019 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Pharmacological treatments for generalised anxiety disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the largest contemporary review of pharmacological agents for the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder by use of network analysis. There are several effective treatment choices for generalised anxiety disorder across classes of medication. The failure of initial pharmacological therapy might not be a reason to abandon a pharmacological treatment strategy.

PubMed 30712879 ↗
BMJ Clin Evid · 2008 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Panic disorder

Conclusion: In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: applied relaxation, benzodiazepines, breathing retraining, brief dynamic psychotherapy, buspirone, client-centred therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) (alone or plus drug treatments), cognitive restructuring, couple therapy, exposure (external or interoceptive), insight-orientated therapy, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), psychoeducation, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), self-help, and tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine).

PubMed 19445787 ↗
J Psychopharmacol · 2025 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Navigating agitation in neurodevelopmental disorders: A comparative study of pharmacotherapies via network meta-analysis in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disabilities

Conclusion: This study underscores the efficacy and tolerability of several pharmacotherapies in managing agitation among children and adults with ASD or ID. Our findings provide robust evidence that specific treatments, such as arbaclofen, risperidone plus buspirone and omega-3 fatty acids, are both effective and well-tolerated, offering valuable therapeutic options for clinicians. The study emphasizes the need for ongoing research to ensure that treatment strategies remain aligned with the evolving clinical landscape, ultimately improving patient outcomes in this challenging population.

PubMed 39690490 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

10 mgdaily
5-20 mgtwice daily to thrice daily
dailyas reported

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

dizziness ×2headache ×2fainting ×1nausea ×1difficulty reaching ×1anxiety ×1

What users say

Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.

“My daily anxiety medication is 10 mg of busipirone hcl... Take too much and I get a dizzy headache”
Source discussion ↗
“came back with Buspirone which is not an SSRI. It has its own issues, but I could sleep.”
Source discussion ↗
“I have read that Buspirone is another possible effective non-benzodiazepine medication that can be used against anxiety.”
Source discussion ↗
“buspirone. It's an incredibly interesting drug that has quite a reputation for having almost no side effects”
Source discussion ↗
“My TL;DR personal experience with Buspirone turned me into a confrontational bitch, whole also making me so dizzy that I couldn't walk 6 feet”
Source discussion ↗
Top discussions (5)

Other options for anxiety

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate