Can You Overdose on Buspirone?

Can You Overdose on Buspirone?

Buspirone is a prescription medication used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, especially generalized anxiety disorder. It’s sold under the brand name BuSpar in the United States and has been around since 1986. Though it’s considered a beneficial medication, it can produce adverse side effects like nausea, headaches, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating. Additionally, although the chances of getting high on buspirone are slim, what happens if you take too much? Can you overdose on buspirone?

What Is Buspirone?

BuSpar or buspirone is an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) medication that’s used to treat symptoms of anxiety, like panic, tension, elevated heart rate, and more. It’s believed to work by interacting with serotonin in the central nervous system to produce a relaxing effect.

Some common side effects of buspirone include:

• Dizziness
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Nervousness
• Confusion
• Excitement

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger in the brain that works to regulate anxiety, happiness, and mood. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, while higher levels of serotonin are associated with decreased arousal and even anxiety.

Buspirone treats anxiety by decreasing serotonin in parts of the brain while increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels, which are other important neurotransmitters that play roles in mood and feelings of well-being. Dopamine is especially known as a feel-good chemical, so much so that it’s often the catalyst for addiction.

However, unlike benzodiazepines – which are depressants used to treat anxiety – BuSpar is not a controlled substance and has a low potential for abuse and addiction. Nonetheless, misusing this medication, such as mixing it with other medications or taking it with alcohol, can lead to negative side effects.

Is Overdose on BuSpar a possibility?

Yes, you can overdose on buspirone (BuSpar). As with any medication, taking a dose that’s significantly higher than the one recommended by your doctor can lead to adverse reactions.

Oftentimes, people will accidentally overdose on drugs like BuSpar, which isn’t necessarily addictive, in an attempt to get high. However, this drug, in particular, doesn’t produce euphoria in high doses but rather leads to dizziness, nausea, and bodily intoxication.

A drug overdose generally occurs when a person takes too much of a drug. This can occur either intentionally, which is often in the case of purposeful drug abuse, or unintentionally, such as when someone accidentally mixes medications or drinks alcohol while the drug is still in their system.

It’s also important to note that using drugs like buspirone in ways that are not recommended increases the risk of overdose. The way a drug is administered can change how quickly it affects the body and how long it takes to be metabolized by the body.

Therefore, taking a suddenly high dose of BuSpar by crushing and swallowing it, for instance, can overwhelm your system. This doesn’t give your body enough time to process what you’ve ingested, which can lead to overdose symptoms.

One study displaying what happens if you take too much BuSpar showed spiked levels of oxidative stress and organ damage in human lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells.) Both of these side effects are indicators of drug overdose and serve as evidence that taking too much buspirone can lead to intoxication.¹