Buspar is often considered an antidepressant but this is inaccurate information. Buspar is actually a psychoactive prescription drug. It belongs to the piperazine and azapirone chemical classes. It is used in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Buspar was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 1986 for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Buspar, the trade name for buspirone, is also available as a generic.
Buspar is used to treat mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder in those patients who are free of panic attacks. It has also been approved for the treatment of other anxiety disorders as well as in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder, social phobia, and agoraphobia.
Buspar has also been used successfully in conjunction with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, also known as SSRI’s. The medication is often paired with these antidepressants to successfully treat those who are suffering from depression and anxiety.
This medication should not be stopped without the advice of a doctor. The body begins to develop a dependence on the medication in as little as six weeks. If the medication is stopped suddenly it can cause a withdrawal syndrome that can be very uncomfortable. Working with a medication will allow for dosages to be decreased slowly to decrease the withdrawal symptoms.