Buspar

Aka: Buspar, Buspirone

1. Mechanism
   1. Azaperone modulates Serotonin transmission
2. Dosing
   1. Start: 7.5 mg PO bid (or 5 mg PO tid)
   2. Effective dose: 20 to 30 mg per day
   3. Maximum: 60 mg per day
3. Indications
   1. Anxiety Disorders
      1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
      2. Chronic Anxiety Disorder
      3. Anxiety in the elderly
   2. Aggression in developmentally disabled
   3. Agitated Dementia
   4. Emotional behavioral problems in brain injury
   5. Geriatric Depression
   6. Adjunctive use with SSRI in Major Depression
      1. Mixed anxiety and depression
      2. Enhance Major Depression response to SSRI
      3. Antidepressant Induced Sexual Dysfunction
   7. Alcohol Withdrawal
      1. Reduces anxiety of "needing" a drink
   8. Obsessive Compulsive depression
      1. Use Buspar with Prozac
   9. Decreases Neuroleptic adverse effects
      1. Reduces Tardive Dyskinesia
      2. Reduces Akathisia
      3. Reduces Parkinsonism
4. Advantages compared with Benzodiazepines
   1. Non-addictive
   2. Less Sedation
   3. No associated memory Impairment
   4. No significant withdrawal syndrome
   5. Minimal overdose potential
   6. No Anticholinergic Toxicity
   7. Well tolerated by elderly patients
5. Disadvantages compared with Benzodiazepine
   1. Slow onset of action (takes 2-4 weeks until effect)
   2. Not useful in Panic Attacks
   3. No sedative effect
   4. Requires repeat dosing 2-3 times per day
6. Precautions
   1. Avoid use in pregnancy and Lactation
   2. Avoid in hepatic or renal Impairment
7. Adverse Effects
   1. Dizziness or light headedness
      1. Onset within 30 minutes of ingestion
      2. Duration less than 20 minutes
   2. Mild Headache
   3. Nausea
   4. Nervousness
   5. Insomnia
8. Drug Interactions
   1. MAO inhibitors
   2. Haloperidol (Haldol)
   3. Cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
   4. Disulfiram (Antabuse)
   5. Erythromycin and Itraconazole suppresses p450
      1. Results in Buspirone levels 5-13 times normal
9. Protocol to convert from Benzodiazepine to Buspirone
   1. Convert short-acting Benzodiazepine to long-acting
      1. Example: Alprazolam to Clonazepam
   2. Start Buspirone at above doses
   3. Taper long-acting Benzodiazepine over 60 to 90 days
10. References
    1. (1997) Clin Pharmacol Ther, 32:348
    2. Cadieux (1996) Am Fam Physician 53(7): 2349-53