BuSpar and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2020

For Anxiety "I’m an Iraq veteran who has been diagnosed with PTSD and chronic anxiety. When I first started taking BuSpar, it would generate some level of anxiety for me because it’s a new chemical being introduced into my body. I would fight through the anxiety and keep taking the pills. After about a week, I no longer had to fight the anxiety that was generated by taking BuSpar. I started off at 5mg, and now I’m up to 30mg a day. I’ve been taking it for about 4-5 months now and have seen great progress. I know the list of “potential” side effects can generate anxiety for you just by reading them. However, the only “side effects” I noticed were a little weight gain and an increase in my sex drive (which isn’t bad for me and my spouse). I would recommend BuSpar to anyone. It’s one of those drugs that will either work for you or not."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2014

For Anxiety "I have been taking BuSpar for 2 months and have definitely noticed I am more relaxed and less reactive and upset in stressful situations. Prior to BuSpar, I had taken Xanax as needed for anxiety, but it made me extremely hungry. I would eat so much, and even worse, not remember, that it just gave me more anxiety from all the weight gain. I am only taking BuSpar now, and I take 7.5 mg x 3 daily. I am able to function on this medication and not feel like a zombie. I feel very relaxed and I am starting to enjoy life!"

• Ant...
• February 8, 2014

For Anxiety "I don't like SSRIs. The fact that BuSpar can deal with serotonin receptors without causing the loss of libido, weight gain, and tiredness makes it perfect to treat generalized anxiety. Plus, it's non-addictive unlike many benzodiazepines for panic attacks. I wish they made it in extended-release form, though my doctor said it's okay to just take my full dose in the morning - and that seems to be working fine for me. It's the only medication that focuses mainly on the brain's serotonin levels that I like."

• Mie...
• May 31, 2009

For Anxiety "This medicine has been a lifesaver for me. After 10 years of anxiety and 2 years of being practically invalid due to generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks with depression, I'm finally having a medicine that works. Neuroleptics like ketamine just made me gain weight, Cipralex was a little help, but not really adding quality of life. After 5 days on BuSpar I'm clearly better. Sleeping is in place, I'm feeling more functional and positive, and my ability to go out and even exercise has come back. I have now been on this medicine for over three months, and every day my life gets a little bit better."

• Anonymous
• March 26, 2009

For Anxiety "Always had negative side effects and weight gain with SSRIs. SNRIs didn't really do anything either. I am not a depressive person by nature, so I was not really sure why my general practitioner prescribed those. Saw a psychiatrist who was a lifesaver in recommending and prescribing BuSpar for me. I am not worrying or irritable only after 3 days. He has me on 1/2 a pill in the AM and 1/2 at night and is still slowly increasing it up to an ideal dose of 30mg a day. Thank you BuSpar."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 21, 2019

For Anxiety "The side effects of BuSpar for me were worse sleep, anger, weight gain, and tiredness. My anxiety got worse, I had an erratic heartbeat, and it made my eyes feel really weird. This drug made me completely dysfunctional, exhausted, nauseous, and also out of it. So distracted, and it made my ADD worse."

• Rob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 9, 2022

For Anxiety "Unfortunately, nothing works for my anxiety except benzodiazepines, but those are controlled and have a bad rep for being abused and sold on the streets. So now I’m on Vraylar, Pristiq, Wellbutrin, Trileptal, BuSpar, and gabapentin instead of just benzos. I’m on expensive maintenance drugs, which have caused me to gain weight, get acne, develop tremors, brain zaps, headaches, and nausea. Thanks, doc, for drugging me up really good."

• jlj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2019

For Anxiety "BuSpar was an absolute Godsend! The only side effect I noticed right away was insomnia, but then I just combined my dose and took it all in the morning as soon as waking up. ZERO side effects after that, and anxiety immediately went away - from the first day on! Only problem - as the weeks and months went on, I began to notice something ... my appetite was out of control. I was CONSTANTLY hungry! This was not ok with me! I knew it had to be the BuSpar, as I had changed nothing else in my life. So, after 3.5 months on, I had to make a decision - do I stay constantly hungry and have little to no anxiety, along with weight gain, or do I go off and deal with anxiety again?? I decided to go off. I quit cold turkey. ZERO withdrawal symptoms!! Has my anxiety returned? Maybe ever so slightly... Increased appetite and weight gain are not listed as possible side effects, but I’m noticing with a lot of people it seems to be very common!"

• Anonymous
• August 15, 2009

For Anxiety "After reading all of the comments, I had to comment also. I have taken BuSpar for 8 years. I have noticed a lot of weight gain, which I thought was from this medicine. I have not seen that in anyone's comment. So I am now thinking it is my lifestyle. I do get dizzy, so I have to lay down for 30 minutes after every dose. I am supposed to take 1/2 pill twice a day, but laying down is not an option for me on most days, so I skip a dose or two. Sometimes I do not take it for weeks. I do notice when I take it for a few days like I should, that when I miss a dose, I am even more agitated, aggravated, and anxious, and as one said, looking for the bad that is around the corner. Thank you all for helping me decide to finally take this as I am supposed to."

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2019

For Anxiety "Nope! I was prescribed BuSpar 15 mg at a dose of 1 tablet 3 times a day. A nightmare for sure. After the first few initial days and it getting in my system, that nightmare began! Side effects of not sleeping over 3-4 hours a night. Shaking inside and out, dizzy and faint, full-blown panic attacks, pacing the floor, and body having to keep moving to stop that feeling of jumping out of my skin (Akathisia)!! Tried BuSpar for 3 weeks and gained 9 lbs and more anxiety than before."

• Bec...
• January 23, 2015

For Anxiety "I've been on BuSpar for over a month, and it does not help me at all. It actually makes my anxiety worse, and I have been much more irritable. I can't wait to try something else. I have also gained 5 pounds in the short time I have been on it, which adds to my anxiety."

• Ann...
• February 15, 2017

For Anxiety "I've been on bupropion for depression several years, with dry mouth being the only side effect. Panic attacks started a couple of years ago. I take Xanax, and it works great for me. Last year, the panic attacks started occurring more often, with severe anxiety this past fall. I didn't want to get addicted to Xanax by taking it several times or more a week. I started Buspirone 7.5 mg 2x per day. I felt relief from my anxiety in about 3 weeks, but around the 8-10 week mark, I felt like it contributed to weight gain and bloating. Taking 7.5 only once a day lessened side effects. However, 3 months now, weight gain is 5-6 lbs (a lot for 5'1'), bloated and water retention, none of which is reducing with proper diet, exercise, and increased water intake."

• Dut...
• July 27, 2019

For Anxiety "I have used BuSpar, on and off for 8 or more years. I take 15 mgs per day, and it works for me. I would describe its action as mildly sedative. I still take Ativan if things go south. Side effects are slight weight gain, occasional headaches, and some eye twitching."

• WIn...
• December 19, 2015

For Anxiety "After extreme weight gain on SSRIs, I thought BuSpar would be my miracle drug. I was totally wrong. After day two, I had such bad twitches/tremors, and my jaw seemed to lock for short periods of time. Went to emergency due to the side effects causing panic attacks."

• lnf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2019

For Anxiety "After having an anxiety attack that required a stay in a mental health residential facility, my Dr. thought that this would be a great addition to my bupropion 300 mg per day for anxiety. It was going well until, a few weeks in, I noticed this dizzy feeling about 10 minutes after I took it and my insatiable desire for carbs. I had just lost my last 10 lbs, so to see 5 of them come back on was disheartening! Weight gain wasn't listed as a side effect, but I know it caused me to gain weight and that was all I needed to know before I asked to be taken off it. I have decided to stop this medication."

• Wai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2021

For Anxiety "This medicine has made me so sick, it's given me terrible vertigo for months. The side effects have not stopped until I stopped taking it: weight gain, a very upset stomach, terrible vertigo, and dizziness. I will never take this again, I'd rather have anxiety than this."

• kca...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 15, 2021

For Panic Disorder "I've been taking buspirone HCL on and off for the last 15 years. Before that, I was taking Valium or Xanax, back in the days when it was easy to get. I really enjoy the benzodiazepines, but admittedly, too much. With BuSpar, I do get lightheaded and a mild mini-anxiety attack about 10 minutes after taking 15 mg twice a day, with possible related weight gain, but it works well. I usually stop after a few months of feeling better and adjusting to life's changes: divorce, wrongful imprisonment, parent's death, and now losing my son. I also took lithium and antidepressants in the past, but to be honest, I don't mind depression, and I kind of enjoy my mania, but shortness of breath, the feeling of impending doom, and now heart palpitations are never pleasant. I take it until the discomfort of the side effects outweighs my current state, and I start up again when the side effects are nothing compared to what I feel. Maybe 3 months at a time, maybe 6. It kicks in right away, for me."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I also experienced my first asthma attack ever on this medication. I don't see it listed as an official side effect, but I've never encountered anything like it before, and just putting my 2 cents in. I've tried just about every SSRI and SNRI under the sun as well, so while I'm not guaranteeing it's not a coincidence, I'm pretty well past the point of attributing everything that happens to me to my medications. Aside from that, it worked maybe... 10%? But I think the majority of that was the sedation, which wears off as the sedation does. Other side effects for me were worse sleep, anger, nightmares, weight gain, and tiredness."

• Mat...
• April 4, 2017

For Anxiety "Works well in combination with an SSRI. I stopped BuSpar due to drowsiness and immediate weight gain. I experienced increased appetite and wanted to eat constantly. I was diagnosed with adult attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity. I currently take Adderall, low-dose Wellbutrin XL, and low-dose Prozac. The Prozac and Wellbutrin XL assist in alleviating depressive symptoms during the winter months. Everyone is unique. Talk to your doctor; follow their advice."

• Her...
• December 31, 2016

For Anxiety "I'm a 32-year-old male, and I've been taking BuSpar for about 10 months. At first, it did nothing but make my anxiety worse. I would wake up with full-blown panic attacks and have the worst nightmares ever. However, I'm now taking 40 mg of citalopram a day mixed with the BuSpar 15 mg and 1 mg of Xanax twice a day. And Xanax! I have insomnia mixed with deep anxiety issues. The problem that I have is the BuSpar makes me so fat! I'm literally considering stopping taking it and just see if the other meds can help. BuSpar alone is no substitution for an anxiety drug and wouldn't recommend it..."

• Tha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 18, 2015

For Anxiety "I started taking BuSpar earlier this year. I'm unable to work due to severe depression, severe anxiety, and PTSD. Initially, it eased my muscles and eased my anxiety better than Xanax. Since I have been on it, my face is fat, and I've gained weight in places where I have never had a problem. My formerly long, thick hair is thin. My skin became thin and dry. At one point, I had patches of hair missing; through prayer, it's coming back. Today I was so disgusted with the changes and prayed for a reason as to why these things were happening. It came to me to look up the side effects of BuSpar, and BAM, they were all there. Warning: this stuff can cause alopecia. I'm going to stop taking it."

• Mad...
• March 30, 2021

For Anxiety "I had to take BuSpar for paralyzing anxiety. The buspirone started working on the 2nd week. I was able to sit down and apply for jobs rather than freeze and retreat to bed. It targets the physical symptoms of anxiety. So if you are someone who keeps freezing and can't get anything done no matter how much you want to, this is a great choice. I like BuSpar since it is different from other anti-anxiety meds. Most anti-anxiety meds are SSRIs like Prozac (which caused 35 lb weight gain and destroyed libido during the time I took it) or benzodiazepines (which are highly addictive with terrible withdrawal and should only be taken at most 4 consecutive months or on an as-needed basis). Eventually, I stopped taking BuSpar because of extreme daytime drowsiness. It makes sense since at that point my anxiety was mostly gone since I habituated myself to life and no longer felt the same panic. Since there was no anxiety to sedate, the BuSpar just made me uncontrollably drowsy."

• Lea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2016

For Anxiety "I am always hungry since starting BuSpar and getting fat! But it does help with anxiety. Doctor denies it can cause weight gain. How can I stop gaining weight and lose?"

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2018

For Anxiety "I'm on 15 mg of BuSpar a day, it's been 2 months, and it's not working that well. It evens me out a little, but I still get anxiety attacks. I'm also gaining weight because of sugar cravings."