Many people across the world suffer from one form of Anxiety disorder or another, especially in a fast-paced time when different stressors can take their toll in more ways than one. Thankfully, feelings of anxiety are no longer pushed under the rug as the healthcare industry strives to deliver the right medication to ease people’s mental woes.
After all, anxiety can pave the way for other destructive behaviors from paralyzing fear, hesitation to move forward with critical decisions, a significant loss of confidence, insomnia, a drop in one’s ability to think critically, and other detrimental issues along the way.
Buspirone and Interactions: The Dangers of Mixing with Alcohol
Patients managing anxiety disorders need to be careful with their drug interactions, especially when it involves substances like alcohol. Drinking is a social activity that can be tricky to avoid; that’s why it’s important to increase your awareness to avoid the damaging effects of mixing Buspirone with alcohol.
In the first place, most drugs don’t interact well with alcohol. Buspirone is no exemption as alcohol can amplify the drug’s adverse effects and trigger other fatal symptoms, including the following:
- Breathing difficulties
- Impaired muscle control
- Memory problems
- Dangerously increased drowsiness
- Upset stomach
- Severe headache
- Severe fatigue
- Vomiting
- Poor judgment
- Inability to concentrate
As seen from the alarming side effects above, mixing Buspirone with alcoholic substances can deal a massive blow to your central nervous system. Even if side effects do not occur, alcoholic beverages can increase the negative impact the drug can make on your body.
Alcohol can also aggravate your anxiety disorder since it’s a form of depressant, so while the substance can uplift the person’s mood while they’re intoxicated, it can plummet down as the temporary relief fades.
What Are Other Drugs You Shouldn’t Take While on Buspirone?
Aside from alcohol, it’s best to avoid taking the following medication in conjunction with Buspirone:
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) like Phenelzine (Nardil®), Isocarboxazid (Marplan®), Selegiline (Eldepryl® or EMSAM®), or Tranylcypromine (Parnate®)
Meanwhile, you should also take caution with the following medications since it can boost the potency of Buspirone:
- Diltiazem (Cardizem®, Dilacor®, Tiazac®)
- Verapamil (Calan®, Covera-HS®, Isoptin®, Verelan®)
- Erythromycin (E-Mycin®, E.E.S.®, Ery-Tab®, Eryc®, others)
On the other hand, it’s also wise to reconsider taking the following drugs since they’re known for lowering the effects of Buspirone:
- Rifampin (Rifadin®, Rimactane®, Rifampicin®, others)v
What is Buspirone, and What Does It Treat?
As mentioned above, Buspirone is an anxiolytic medication known for effectively treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). They belong under the class of azapirones, one of the few anti-anxiety drugs that bind to your serotonin receptors instead of acting as a muscle relaxant like other similar medications.
With that in mind, Buspirone is popularly used as the next best alternative to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for patients who can’t tolerate this form of treatment. This allows the medication to increase the “happy” chemicals in your brain, which contributes to the patient’s mood boost.
Buspirone often comes in a tablet form, which you can get in the following doses: 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 30 mg.
What are the Side Effects of Buspirone?
Buspirone treats anxiety, so its primary effects help patients relax and calm anxious-driven thoughts. Naturally, the person prescribed Buspirone needs to consistently take the medication according to their doctor’s instructions for the drug to work properly at easing anxiety. Keep in mind that Buspirone may take effect three to four weeks upon the first intake.
Compared to more popular medications like Xanax, Buspirone is taking the spotlight in healthcare due to its milder side effects. But just like any strong medication, Buspirone is an anxiolytic drug that can facilitate the following normal side effects:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Excitement
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Nervousness
- Insomnia
- Anger
- Lightheadedness
- Weakness
- Numbness
- Sweating
- Stomach Aches
The sensations above typically fade soon, but if the symptoms persist after constant Buspirone use, it’s best to consult with your doctor and see if the medication is the right choice for you. Keep in mind that you should also be on the lookout for the more alarming side effects like allergic reactions, which manifest in the following adverse ways:
- Rash
- Hives
- Itchiness
- Swelling of the face, eyes, mouth, throat, tongue, or lips
- Irregular heartbeat
- Blurry vision
- Shakiness or seizures
- Agitation
- Fever
- Excessive sweating
- Dizziness
- Flushing
- Disoriented
- Muscle stiffness
- Hallucinations
- Coordination loss
- Severe nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Don’t hesitate to seek medical emergency services once you notice the more serious side effects mentioned above.
Anxiety: More Than Just a Negative Feeling
For many, anxiety takes more than a strong desire to “get over the feeling” to let go of this mentally numbing condition. That’s why medications are popping up everywhere in an effort to manage this increasingly widespread disorder. While names like Xanax are the perennial choice, lesser-known anti-anxiety drugs like Buspirone are now becoming the next best viable treatment option throughout the US.
Is Buspirone Addictive? Does It Trigger Withdrawal Symptoms?
One of the crucial reasons behind Buspirone’s steady rise in popularity is its non-addictive nature. This means patients don’t tend to abuse Buspirone, making it one of the best anxiolytic medications for treating long-term GAD.
Since Buspirone is one of the few anti-anxiety medications that does not riskdeveloping physical dependence, patients don’t have to worry about getting addicted throughout the treatment plan. Nonetheless, stopping Buspirone on the spot without any medical assistance can still cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms such as the following:
- Irritability
- Nervousness
- Insomnia
- Tremors
- Muscle cramps
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Flu-like Symptoms
The Bottom Line: The Proper Ways of Taking Buspirone and Treating Anxiety Disorders Minus the Risk
Taking Buspirone can be a life-changing decision since it’s regarded as one of the best anti-anxiety medications that can effectively soothe similar disorders with little-to-no disruptive side effects compared to other anxiolytic drugs.
But not all good things are free from flaws, and taking Buspirone still requires the strict guidance of your medical provider. Even if you stick to your prescription religiously and avoid mixing the drug with dangerous substances like alcohol, it’s still important to have a healthcare professional monitor your treatment to avoid triggering withdrawal symptoms.
It’s also worth noting that it’s crucial to resist the urge to drink while on Buspirone since the way alcoholic substances interact with the medication can worsen your anxiety in more ways than one. With that in mind, always stick to your doctor’s advice and be sure to seek help from professionals whenever you struggle with your medication.
Source: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a688005.html
The post Why You Should Never Mix Buspirone and Alcohol first appeared on American Drug Rehabs.
The post Why You Should Never Mix Buspirone and Alcohol appeared first on American Drug Rehabs.
