Buspirone and Headaches: What Users Say

• Ste...
• November 16, 2014

Buspirone for Anxiety "I started taking BuSpar about a year ago for anxiety/panic attacks. I've taken benzodiazepines in the past, but having an addictive personality, I had to stop those. BuSpar saved my life. I have no fear, paranoia, or low self-esteem anymore. I used to feel like the world was out to get me and that I was being judged by everyone no matter where I went. I used to have the most crippling social anxiety too, I'd avoid social situations because the anxiety was so bad. Luckily, BuSpar erased all of that for me. Anxiety still creeps up here and there, but it is absolutely nowhere close to being as bad as it was before. No side effects. I love it and will take it for a long time. At first, I did get headaches but they went away a couple of days later. Love it."

• aci...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 18, 2020

Buspirone for Anxiety "BuSpar DOES help with anxiety, but if you have another comorbid illness like depression, it might feel like it is not helping in that area. I was on this medication for a few months and my anxiety felt really better, but my depression was still bothering me a lot, so I was switched to Zoloft. BuSpar helped me with the palpitations and chest pain related to anxiety. I felt like I could think better and even breathe better. It was a great medication. The only downside to it is that you can get headaches or brain zaps if you forget a dose, so put an alarm on your phone!"

• Tim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2020

For Anxiety "This medication buspirone was recommended to me for anxiety after taking Lamictal for around 6 months. During that time my depression got better but anxiety got worse. To combat this, my doctor put me on 10mg twice a day. Unfortunately, my anxiety appears to have gotten even worse, and the side effects have been terrible even after 2 months. Sensations of dizziness, headache, disorientation, and disassociation occurred daily. Almost always twice a day, but sometimes up to 4 times lasting 30-45 minutes but at most 2 hours. Abdominal pains, loss of appetite also. Physiological panic attacks have occurred daily as well. I don't act anxious but my body is seething. Heart rate, heated flushedness, agitation, fear, uncontrollable inner narrative, etc. I feel awful on it and fear after quarantine this side effects will be detrimental for my job in commercial electric work with large machinery and power tools."

• Mou...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 16, 2015

Buspirone for Anxiety "My son is in high school and has taken this for 7 months. It changed his life. His anxiety over school was out of control to the point he had to be integrated back into school. He tried Ativan and had horrible side effects, and he was reluctant to try anything else after that. After about 3 months on the BuSpar, he walks tall into school. No more looking over his shoulder or panic attacks out of nowhere. We wish he would've taken this years ago. The only side effect he complains of is tiredness and occasional headache. The tiredness was more so in the beginning. Those side effects are minuscule compared to his anxiety before taking BuSpar."

• 890...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2016

Buspirone for Anxiety "I initially was prescribed this a few months ago at 10 mg 3xd, but it made me headachy and almost made my anxiety worse, so I quit taking it. I cannot take benzos, and recently am having more problems with anxiety, so I'm trying it at 5 mg 3xd. Now I see what others have been talking positively about. It's very subtle, but apparently I was just taking too much for my system before. So far, so good."

• Pan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2020

Buspirone for Panic Disorder "I am taking 1.0 mg of Xanax 2 hours before I drive to and from work. My general panic turned into a specific phobia of driving on the highways about 2 years ago. My doctor wanted me to try BuSpar, 15 mg twice a day, to try to get off the Xanax. It gave me massive headaches, blurred vision, made me very sad (I am normally a very happy, positive person), and did nothing to help my panic. I have been on many SSRIs, Paxil helped me for years and then suddenly stopped working. I gave BuSpar a shot and regret it. The worst side effects of any medication I have ever tried."

• Ken...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2020

Buspirone for Anxiety "I wouldn’t say this medicine is horrible, but it didn’t help me. I feel like this is for people with very mild anxiety. My anxiety is very high, so it only helped a little. It made me dizzy and gave me a headache. I tried it for 8 days and stopped. I’m now on Zoloft 25mg and really liking it so far."

• LEH...
• April 9, 2019

For Anxiety "I am someone who is absolutely hyper-sensitive to medicine. My psychiatrist suggested buspirone because of the terrible side effects I've experienced from SSRIs in the past. I tried half of a 7.5 mg pill in the morning and half in the evening, and of course, I had some side effects. But these were not nearly as debilitating as SSRIs. Admittedly, the brain fog was difficult to deal with the first week, and I definitely got headaches. So many reviews have said to push through the side effects, and you come out feeling better. I stand here 11 days in and can attest to that; I am finally feeling some positive benefits and coming out of the fog. My pounding heart and sense of impending doom is greatly reduced, and I find myself being able to focus on one thing at a time due to the reduction in racing thoughts. I hope this review helps a fellow sensitive person. Start with a tiny dose! Somehow, it feels gentler than SSRIs. I will update if anything changes."

• Jes...
• March 18, 2016

Buspirone for Anxiety "I suffer from anxiety, depression, and PTSD. This medicine has proven to be a great alternative over a benzo. Being non-habit-forming is the best part. I do get headaches and fatigue, but it is better than the side effects associated with benzo. I recommend this to anyone looking for a non-addictive alternative to Xanax."

• Jac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 6, 2022

Buspirone for Anxiety "Buspirone saved my life! Several times in the past years. It's a lifesaver and life changer. I was terrified to start taking it at first due to the horrible reviews I would read, but everyone's different. And I really needed help with my severe anxiety/panic attacks, so I started taking it and hoped for the best. It was the best decision I've made. I started taking 7.5 mg twice a day and felt the difference the next day, taking 15 mg twice a day when needed to. I had mild side effects for the first week: headaches, tiredness, vivid dreams, but all tolerable. The first 3 days being the worst, but went away. Within the first week, I felt so much better and just got better after that. Felt more calm, less anxiety, no overthinking, no more intrusive thoughts, better sleep, and it's not habit forming, which is a plus for me. It really works, I recommend it if you really want to help yourself. Don't be scared of the side effects or reviews and push through it. It really works. I'm so thankful for it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2013

Buspirone for Anxiety "I'm 31-year-old female, and have been taking BuSpar for anxiety and panic for three months, and have decided to discontinue. It took roughly 3 weeks before I noticed a difference. I am slower to irritate, less agitated, and can better manage the constant nagging sensation of anxiety. I've been sleeping better, but really require a full night's sleep or else I'm drowsy all day. And I've been more at ease with new people. These changes have certainly been positive but minimal. Lately, every day, 2 times a day about 20 minutes after my dose (10mg twice a day) I would get a ringing headache, body shocks, and dizziness or nausea. I thought this would go away, but it hasn't, and it is getting to the point that my anxiety level is increasing."

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

Buspirone 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."

• ora...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2015

Buspirone for Anxiety "I was prescribed BuSpar a few months ago after consistent failures with various benzos. I took 10mg x day for a while and felt nothing, went up to 20mg x day and kind of felt something, and basically I am now on 40mg x day and I can finally feel it working. It has helped significantly with my anxiety and has relieved the sexual side effects from Prozac. I take my second dose of the day at night with my Trazodone, and it has completely eradicated my fluctuating tolerance issues with the Trazodone. I never got the brain zaps, but I occasionally get long-lasting headaches, bouts of anger, and fairly awful nightmares. Other than that, it has helped with my GAD quite a bit and is generally more helpful than not."

• Med...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2023

For Anxiety "I'm going through a rough patch that has caused me crippling anxiety. Talked to a psych, and they recommended buspirone. It has helped tremendously. I was waking up daily after an awful night's sleep with crazy anxiety about what the day would bring. It has stopped the racing thoughts and just generally calmed me down, improved my sleep, and enabled me to focus at work. I had to play around with the dosing a little bit. I started at 5 mg twice a day, then my doctor wanted me to move to 10 mg twice a day after 5 days. I found the jump-up in dose made me kind of lightheaded and detached, so I'm currently taking 5 mg three times a day. Have not noticed any side effects besides maybe a minor headache when first starting out. I noticed some benefits within a few days, but it took about 1.5 weeks for me to notice the full effect. Overall, highly recommended, and it's worth a try if you have anxiety."

• Hal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2016

Buspirone for Anxiety "I have taken BuSpar for 5 months, prescribed max dose of 15 mg 4 times a day. It took a couple of weeks to actually notice the difference. I don't feel like a zombie after taking it. I really just came to the realization one day while driving to work, an activity that used to leave me recovering from an anxiety attack, was suddenly a very simple task. My social anxiety has improved significantly. It's very subtle, but after sticking with it, I can look back and see that it changed my life. It does make me sleepy, in a walking-around functioning while yawning kind of way, and I get a lot of headaches. The good definitely outweighs the bad. I can take a lower dosage on easy days and still have a positive outcome. I also take 150 mg of Zoloft and 25 mg of Wellbutrin."

• Int...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2015

Buspirone for Anxiety "I have been taking BuSpar and Celexa, and as far as the anxiety, it has helped me a lot. I was having bad heart palpitations, and it's gone. No more headaches either. What I did was I started taking Celexa at night, and I take BuSpar 2-3 times a day. I can't say I'm completely okay because the Celexa needs to be in your system at least 6-8 weeks before you start feeling better. I'm feeling a little better, and not having anxiety truly helps. I still haven't been able to go to work because of how scared I am to get an anxiety attack, but I'm already starting to consider it. Believe me when I tell you I was on the verge of being committed. Give it a chance, not all our systems are the same. Good luck."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 15, 2019

For Anxiety "I have been depressed with anxiety for about 11 years now. My doctors have tried everything, but nothing touched my depression or anxiety. I was also in counseling for about 10 years too, so it seemed like I was in this deep pit for good. Then my psychiatrist asked me if I would consider trying Buspar. I said, “sure,” and I’ve now been on it for 2 weeks. A couple of days ago, I woke up feeling different. I didn’t wake up to this dread and worry about everything and nothing. I was feeling very grateful for my family (I love my husband and children more than anything in this world, but depression kept me from really enjoying them), and all I could think about were the good things in my life. That hasn’t happened for over a decade. I even went out grocery shopping for the first time in over 4 years and enjoyed it! I took off a point for the headaches I’ve been getting since going on Buspar. They’re nasty headaches, but I hope they get better as time goes on."

• Sti...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2016

Buspirone for Anxiety "It didn't help at all with the panic attacks and actually made my anxiety worse. The first few weeks, it would just put me to sleep. After four weeks, I became very depressed and had suicidal thoughts constantly throughout the day. It gave me horrible headaches, it made me really dizzy all the time, and I felt lightheaded and nauseous often. After four weeks, I could not sleep at all, and my anxiety increased along with the panic attacks. I don't recommend this medicine for anyone who has suffered PTSD or who has had high anxiety levels for a long time. It just makes things worse. After five weeks, I stopped taking this medication, I could no longer handle the side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2012

Buspirone for Anxiety "Female, 21 years old. I have had severe anxiety attacks for the past 2 years, OCD since I can remember, and feel like I can't breathe when I think about the what-ifs. I was on Prozac for a few months and absolutely loved it until I started grinding my teeth in my sleep. I tried the BuSpar. I've been on it for 2 1/2 weeks. It took most of my anxiety away, but I got so dizzy I couldn't stand it (15 mg). I started halving the pills, it still makes me dizzy. It gives me headaches and doesn't help with the stress or obsessive-compulsive disorder. My doctor is adding Paxil to the BuSpar, and hopefully, it'll help more."

• Alf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2019

For Anxiety "Been taking buspirone for 3 weeks, 7.5 mgs 3 times a day. Helped tremendously with my generalized and social anxiety. First week or so had side effects consisting of headaches, dizziness, tiredness, and lack of motivation throughout the day. But that all went away with the exception of slight dizziness for 30 mins or so after taking it. When it happens, it comes and goes fast. Doesn't always happen. My anxiety is almost non-existent. I can concentrate better, especially in conversations, which before, my mind would wander then race when talking to others. This turns into anxiety attacks. Buspirone helps my mind stay focused on the conversation. I'm more confident in these situations. So far, this drug is exactly what I needed."

• Dut...
• July 27, 2019

Buspirone 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."

• Sou...
• December 26, 2019

For Anxiety "I've been taking buspirone for over a year and a half. The first 6 weeks were a nightmare. I was going to quit taking them many times. But I invested so much time on the side effects that I stuck through it. I got constant headaches, nauseous, confusion. I had night terrors. But I stuck through it. I had severe anxiety and panic attacks. But I'd have to say it was worth it. I still get anxiety, but not as much. I can go to work now, and I go to therapy. It's not a miracle drug. But it does help a lot. I'm glad I didn't stop taking it. I started off with 15 mg a day. But now I take 30 mg a day. One in the am and one at night. I do get dizzy and nauseous still after I take them sometimes. So I lay down after I take them, and after an hour, I'm fine. I get little confusion every now and then. My advice is stick it out for a while, and hopefully it helps you like it helped me."

• Anonymous
• January 12, 2010

Buspirone for Anxiety "I started taking BuSpar for my anxiety, and it made me very dizzy and tired. It also made my arms tingle, and I started getting terrible headaches every time I took it. My anxiety just got worse while taking it because I was worried about the side effects it was causing."

• CKa...
• August 8, 2019

For Anxiety "Was on a low dose of 5 mg of buspirone twice a day, then increased to 10 mg, I never actually took the 10 mg because my side effects were too bad. First of all, it did nothing for the anxiety, but it did make me more moody and irritable (probably because it made me feel so crappy). Had vivid, terrible lucid dreams at first, but that went away after a week. I had a constant headache that didn't go away, was more tired, very dizzy, nauseous, yet had cravings, had to pee all the time, hot flashes and sweating, insomnia, also felt achy. Doctor wants to prescribe this instead of benzos, but I don't have any of those side effects with benzos, and they actually do something for the anxiety!"

• Ted...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2019

Buspirone for Anxiety "I used this drug for anxiety, and it did not help the anxiety, but it did cause an asthma attack, which I had never had before and have never had since. It was terrifying. I also experienced severe headaches."