You are not alone if you experience anxiety on a regular basis. About 19.1% of adult Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder.
Weight gain is one negative effect that can happen when taking the anti-anxiety drug Buspar, according to clinical trials. But very few people really encounter this result.
This page will discuss the effects of Buspar on weight gain and loss, the side effects, and when to consult a doctor about problems related to this medication.
What Exactly Is Buspirone (Buspar)?
People take the generic medication Buspar, commonly known as buspirone hydrochloride (HCL), to treat anxiety.
People can unwind, worry less, and think more clearly with its assistance.
What Is It Used For?
Anxiolytic drugs like Buspar are frequently recommended to treat anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Buspar is used by more than 10 million Americans to treat anxiety and its accompanying physical symptoms, such as fear, tension, irritation, and dizziness.
Any of the following signs can be present in those who have an anxiety condition or who are anxious:
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Tenseness
- quickly breathing
- Sweating
- a sense of impending disaster or peril
- Trembling
- weakness or exhaustion
- Having trouble focusing and sleeping
- headaches and stomachaches
- a desire to stay away from things that make you nervous
In addition to any other medications you may already be on, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), Buspar is a daily medication that is regularly used to treat depression.
Buspar doesn’t have the sedative and muscle-relaxing effects that benzodiazepines like Xanax have when used to treat anxiety.
Can Buspirone Make You Gain Weight?
Only 0.1% to 1% of those taking the medicine Buspar gain weight.
Most users of the medication won’t have a weight change that is clinically significant (defined as a 7% difference from baseline weight) either way.
There are a lot of symptoms that you could encounter during an anxiety attack, and they can cause you to put on weight. These consist of:
cortisol levels rising
fat accumulation in the stomach
Adiposity is a result of more fat depositions (being overweight)
regaining appetite after experiencing anxiety
Can Buspirone Make You Lose Weight?
Both eating more and eating less can be influenced by anxiety.
Weight loss can occur as a result of anxiety symptoms including reduced appetite and slowed metabolism.
The anxiousness you’re feeling is more likely to blame for any weight changes than Buspar’s adverse effects.
If you’re already overweight, using Buspar to alleviate anxiety may have the unintended side effect of making you lose weight.
The need to overeat would diminish if you had been utilising food as a coping mechanism for your anxiety and Buspar had been shown to be successful in treating it. The result could be weight loss.
Weight loss may also be a side effect of Buspar side symptoms include nausea and minor stomach problems.
Vomiting and diarrhea brought on by the medicine may cause water loss, which would lead to weight loss.
Additional Factors That May Lead to Weight Gain
Buspar is unlikely to directly cause weight gain, but other ways that it reduces anxiety may explain why you experience a change in weight. These consist of:
- Mood shifts
- enhancement of cognitive ability
- alterations in the hormones that control prolactin and growth hormone
- Variation in the resting metabolic rate
Read more: Does Prednisone Make You Gain Weight? Explained In Brief!
Negative Effects
Buspar side effects include the following:
- Anxiety or restlessness
- Drowsiness
- Lightheadedness
- Hives
- Your face, lips, tongue, or throat swelling
- chest pain
- respiratory issues or shortness of breath
- Additionally, 1-10% of individuals taking Buspar report negative effects like:
- impacts on the central nervous system (such as headache, nervousness, excitement, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, and disturbed sleep)
- effects on the digestive system (such as nausea, diarrhea, or upset stomach)
- chest pain
- A skin rash
- distorted vision
- An earache that ringers
Unwanted side effects may result from your liver’s inability to adequately break down Buspar if you have a condition that impairs liver function.
Your body may not be able to adequately eliminate the medicine if you have kidney issues.
Inform your doctor about any drugs or dietary supplements you take to ensure that they won’t interact with Buspar and preventable, undesired side effects.
Read more: Gabapentin Weight Gain: What Is the Side Effects of Gabapentin?
When to Consult a Medical Expert
A doctor will need to evaluate your medical history before you start taking Buspar to make sure you don’t have any conditions that would make you ineligible to take medication, like an allergy or sensitivity.
Your doctor can decide not to administer Buspar if you have diabetes because the medication can influence blood glucose levels.
If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or faintness after taking the drug, consult your doctor right away.
Similar to this, consult a medical professional if any of the following apply to you and an anxiety attack:
- feelings of dread, fear, or danger
- quick heartbeat
- Sweating
- trembling or extremely cold
- Anxiety or restlessness
- weakness or fatigue
- difficulty concentrating and focusing
- Hyperventilation
Call the Poison Helpline at 1-800-222-1222 if you suffer any of the following symptoms after taking an overdose.
No recorded deaths from Buspar overdoses have been associated with symptoms like:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sleepiness or drowsiness
- Dizziness
- uneasy stomach
Call 911 or go to the closest emergency room if you are experiencing a mental health emergency.
By dialing or texting 988, you can also get free, round-the-clock assistance from a suicide and crisis expert. If you’d rather talk to someone online, go to Lifeline Chat to talk to a suicide and crisis expert.
