Can You Get High on BuSpar? The Addiction and Abuse Potential of Buspirone

If your doctor has mentioned BuSpar (buspirone) as a treatment for anxiety, you might be wondering exactly what it is, how it’s different from other anti-anxiety medications, and whether it can lead to addiction.

BuSpar was introduced in tablet form in 1968 and received FDA approval in the United States in 1986. One reason doctors may recommend it is that it carries a lower risk of dependence and addiction compared to benzodiazepines like Xanax or Valium. This can be reassuring if you’re worried about becoming dependent on anti-anxiety medication, or if you’ve had concerns about substance use in the past, but you want to use it properly. Any deviation from doctor recommendations can be risky.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, we can help. We have rehab centers in the following locations:

California Inpatient Rehabs, Colorado Inpatient Rehabs, Illinois Inpatient Rehabs, Wisconsin Inpatient Rehabs, and Texas Inpatient Rehabs

What Is BuSpar?

BuSpar (buspirone HCL) is an anti-anxiety medication that works differently than many others you might have heard of. Scientists believe it affects dopamine and serotonin levels in your brain (two chemicals that play a key role in mood and anxiety) though the exact way it works isn’t completely clear yet.

Beyond Anxiety

While BuSpar is primarily prescribed for anxiety disorders, doctors have found it helpful for other conditions too. Some people take it for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe PMS symptoms, teeth grinding (bruxism), or involuntary movements called tardive dyskinesia. For some individuals with autism, it’s been helpful in managing hyperactivity and aggression.

More recently, BuSpar has shown promise in easing withdrawal symptoms for people working to recover from heroin or opioid addiction, offering relief during one of the hardest parts of early recovery.

How It’s Typically Prescribed

BuSpar comes in tablets at 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg strengths. Most people take it two to three times daily. Your doctor will likely start you on the lowest dose and gradually increase it over several months to find what works best for you. This slow approach helps minimize side effects and lets your body adjust.

Is Buspirone a Benzo?

This is a common question, and the answer is no. BuSpar is not a benzodiazepine, and it’s not a barbiturate either. It belongs to a different class of medications called azapirones, which have both anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties. This distinction can be important if you’ve had concerns about benzodiazepines in the past, or if your doctor is looking for an alternative that works differently in your body.

Sunshine Behavioral Health offers inpatient treatment programs that provide intensive, round-the-clock support in a safe environment. Our residential programs include medical detox, therapy, and the tools you need for lasting recovery.

Are Buspirone and Xanax the Same Thing?

This is one of the most common questions people ask, and it’s a good one. While both BuSpar and Xanax are prescribed to treat anxiety, they work very differently.

Xanax is a benzodiazepine, which is a class of medications known for their high potential for dependence and addiction. BuSpar, on the other hand, is an anxiolytic with a much lower risk of becoming habit-forming. If you have a history of addiction or substance use, your doctor may prefer to prescribe buspirone instead of a benzodiazepine, as the risk of dependence is lower.

There’s another key difference in how these medications are used: Xanax is typically prescribed to take as-needed during acute panic or anxiety attacks. It works quickly but wears off relatively fast. BuSpar, in contrast, is taken every day (usually two to three times daily) and designed to manage general or chronic anxiety over time rather than stopping a panic attack in its tracks.

Your doctor can help you decide which medication is appropriate based on the type of anxiety you’re experiencing, your medical history, and your concerns about addiction. Both medications have their place; it’s about finding what works best for your situation.

How Does Buspirone Make You Feel?

Most people find that buspirone has a calming, sedative effect. It can help you feel more relaxed, and some people notice they feel a bit drowsy or tired, especially when they first start taking it.

Possible Side Effects

Like any medication, BuSpar can cause side effects. Some people notice constipation, headaches, or stomach discomfort. You might experience a dry mouth, feel weaker than usual, or notice tingling or numbness in your hands or feet. Not everyone experiences these problems, but it’s good to know what might happen so you’re not caught off guard.

Less commonly, some people report feeling down or depressed while taking buspirone. If this happens to you, it’s important to talk with your doctor, as they can adjust your dose or explore other options.

What You Should Do

Most side effects are mild and improve as your body adjusts to the medication. However, if you’re experiencing side effects that are bothering you or interfering with your daily life, don’t just push through it. Reach out to your doctor. They’re there to help you find the right balance so you can manage your anxiety without feeling miserable from the medication itself.

Buspirone and Alcohol: A Dangerous Combination

Even though buspirone has a low potential for addiction, mixing it with alcohol can be extremely dangerous, even deadly. Both alcohol and buspirone slow down your central nervous system and have sedating effects. When you combine them, these effects multiply. 

You might think you’re just having a drink or two, but your body is processing both substances at once, which can lead to severe over-sedation. In the worst cases, this combination can cause respiratory depression (when your breathing slows down too much), loss of consciousness, coma, or death. 

If You’re Tempted to Drink While Taking BuSpar

Sometimes people use alcohol to manage anxiety, especially if they’re waiting for their medication to fully kick in (which can take several weeks with buspirone). Or maybe you’re at a social gathering and feel pressured to have a drink. But it’s not worth the risk. 

If you’re finding that you want to drink while taking BuSpar, or if you’re having trouble staying away from alcohol, talk to your doctor. They can work with you to find a solution that keeps you safe, whether that’s adjusting your medication, exploring other treatment options, or connecting you with support for alcohol use.

Is BuSpar Addictive?

When taken as prescribed, BuSpar doesn’t show the same dependence or addiction patterns that benzodiazepines do. It doesn’t have much street value and isn’t usually what people seek out to get high. That said, “not addictive” doesn’t mean “can’t be misused.” Any medication can be abused, and BuSpar is no exception.

How BuSpar Can Be Misused

One common way people misuse buspirone is by taking it with alcohol to intensify the sedative effects. This sometimes happens when someone is desperately trying to manage severe anxiety or stress on their own. If this sounds familiar, please know that it’s risky. Over-sedation can happen quickly, and the consequences can be serious.

Another pattern is when the prescribed dose stops working as well as it used to. You might be tempted to take more and more without talking to your doctor. This is dangerous because buspirone overdose is real and can cause seizures and other serious medical problems.

There have been reports of people crushing and snorting buspirone to get a rapid, intense high. Some describe feeling like their brain is being “zapped” or “shocked.” Others report hallucinations, impaired judgment, sweating, lightheadedness, or memory loss. If you’ve tried this or are thinking about it, please hear this: your brain and body aren’t meant to process medication this way. The risks far outweigh any temporary feeling you might get.

Can You Stop Taking BuSpar Suddenly?

No, and this is true both if you’ve been taking it as prescribed or if you’ve been misusing it. Stopping buspirone abruptly can trigger withdrawal symptoms that range from uncomfortable to dangerous. 

You might experience severe drowsiness, burning or tingling sensations in your hands or feet, confusion, or muscle cramps. Your anxiety might come roaring back worse than before (called rebound anxiety), you could have trouble sleeping, and you might sweat excessively. These symptoms are your body’s way of telling you it’s adjusted to the medication and needs time to readjust.

The best way to stop BuSpar is to taper off gradually under medical supervision. If you’ve been taking it as prescribed, your doctor will create a plan to slowly reduce your dose over time. This gives your body a chance to adapt without the shock of sudden withdrawal.

Concerned About BuSpar Use? Help is Available

If you’ve been taking more BuSpar than prescribed or using it in ways your doctor didn’t intend, stopping safely might require more support than your regular doctor can provide. This is where a treatment center can help.

At Sunshine Behavioral Health, we have addiction specialists who know how to help you withdraw from BuSpar safely and as comfortably as possible. Medical detox with trained professionals means:

• 24/7 monitoring to keep you safe
• Medications to ease withdrawal symptoms
• Support to help you get through the hardest days
• Lower risk of relapse because you’re in a supportive environment

We have treatment centers across:

• California – Chapters Capistrano, Monarch Shores
• Colorado – Mountain Springs Recovery
• Illinois – Lincoln Recovery
• Texas – Willow Springs Recovery
• Wisconsin – Wood Violet Recovery
• Pennsylvania – Keystone Retreat Behavioral Health

Stopping BuSpar, especially if you’ve been misusing it, is hard. Trying to tough it out by yourself increases your chances of giving up and going back to using. Call 844-521-0217 for a free, confidential consultation about medically supervised withdrawal. We can help you get through this safely.