From the Research
Tapering off Buspar (buspirone) should always be done under medical supervision, with a gradual reduction in dosage over several weeks rather than stopping abruptly. A typical tapering schedule might involve reducing your dose by 5mg every 5-7 days until you reach zero. For example, if you're taking 15mg twice daily (30mg total), you might reduce to 10mg twice daily for a week, then 5mg twice daily for a week, then 5mg once daily for a week before stopping completely. The specific schedule should be personalized by your healthcare provider based on your current dosage, how long you've been taking the medication, and your individual response. Tapering helps minimize potential withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, insomnia, or dizziness. Although buspirone generally has fewer withdrawal effects compared to benzodiazepines, gradual discontinuation is still recommended because your brain needs time to adjust to decreasing levels of the medication. During the tapering process, it's essential to monitor your symptoms and communicate with your healthcare provider about any difficulties you experience, as your tapering schedule may need adjustment, as suggested by studies on tapering other medications, such as SSRIs 1. Some studies have shown that gradual tapering can be effective in minimizing withdrawal symptoms, even for medications with potential for dependence, like benzodiazepines 2. However, the specific protocol for tapering buspirone may not be as well-established as for other medications, and healthcare providers should use their clinical judgment to determine the best approach for each patient. It's also important to note that buspirone has been shown to be safe for long-term use, with no evidence of a withdrawal syndrome when discontinued after more than six months of therapy 3. In any case, a gradual tapering schedule, personalized to the individual patient's needs, is the recommended approach for discontinuing buspirone. Some key points to consider when tapering off buspirone include:
- Gradually reducing the dosage over several weeks
- Monitoring symptoms and adjusting the tapering schedule as needed
- Personalizing the tapering schedule based on the individual patient's response
- Considering the potential for withdrawal symptoms, even if buspirone is generally considered to have fewer withdrawal effects than other medications. Studies have shown that tapering other medications, such as benzodiazepines, can be done successfully with a gradual reduction in dosage, minimizing withdrawal symptoms 4, 5. However, the most recent and highest-quality study on tapering medications suggests that a hyperbolic tapering schedule may be the most effective approach in reducing withdrawal symptoms 1. Therefore, a hyperbolic tapering schedule, with gradual reductions in dosage over several weeks, is the recommended approach for discontinuing buspirone.