Anna asked
I started taking buspar a week ago, I am taking 5 mg once a day. I am supposed to up my dose to 5 mg x2 a day tomorrow. The last few days I have noticed chest pains but they keep getting worse. Should I be concerned about this or is this something that could wait until Monday when I can call my doctor? I also take 600 mg lithium, 40mg vyvanse, 400 mg magnesium, 2000 mg omega 3, 2400 mg NAC and 500 mg turmeric.
Answer
Buspar (buspirone) is an anxiolytic medication that is distinct from other classes of medication used for anxiety in terms of chemical structure and mechanism of action. While the exact mechanism of action of buspirone isn't known, it is thought to act on serotonin receptors in the body and may also indirectly act on other neurotransmitter such as dopamine and norepinephrine.
Buspar (Buspirone) & Chest Pain
Buspar is fairly well tolerated, especially when it is compared to other medications used to treat anxiety such as Valium and Ativan. It is associated with less sedation and less withdrawal symptoms.
According to the prescribing information for Buspar, tachycardia (fast heart rate) and palpitations are listed adverse reactions, although they have a low incidence. Both have occurred in clinical trials at a rate of around 1%. Other potential cardiovascular adverse effects that are thought to happen infrequently include:
- Nonspecific chest pain
- Syncope
- Hypotension (low blood pressure)
If you are experiencing any of the above side effects, such as chest pains or palpitations, it would be prudent to speak with your doctor regarding your therapy. Although there aren't any documented interactions with your current medication regimen, some do act on various neurotransmitters (e.g. Vyvanse), which could be part of the reason you are experiencing side effects.
It should be noted as well that blood concentrations of buspirone are greatly increased when given with food as compared to without food. Therefore buspirone should be taken consistently with regard to food to ensure you are getting the same dose of the drug each time.
