Withdrawal from buspirone
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Withdrawal from Buspirone: A Comprehensive Review
Buspirone and Opiate Withdrawal
Efficacy in Reducing Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms
Buspirone has shown promise in alleviating withdrawal symptoms in individuals discontinuing opiate use. Studies have demonstrated that buspirone can significantly reduce both objective and subjective withdrawal symptoms in heroin addicts and methadone-maintained patients. In a controlled study, patients treated with buspirone exhibited lower scores on the Objective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (OOWS) and the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) compared to those receiving a placebo, indicating its effectiveness in managing withdrawal symptoms 15.
Comparison with Methadone
Buspirone has been compared to methadone in terms of efficacy for opiate withdrawal. Research indicates that buspirone, at doses of 30 mg and 45 mg, is as effective as a methadone taper in alleviating withdrawal symptoms. This makes buspirone a viable alternative, especially in outpatient settings where methadone tapering can be lengthy and complex .
Buspirone and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Mixed Results in Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
The effectiveness of buspirone in aiding benzodiazepine withdrawal has yielded mixed results. Some studies suggest that buspirone may help reduce anxiety levels during withdrawal, although it does not significantly alleviate withdrawal symptoms overall. For instance, one study found that buspirone-treated patients tended to have lower anxiety levels than those on a placebo, but the success rate of withdrawal completion was similar in both groups . Conversely, other studies have found no significant benefit of buspirone in managing benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms, with some even reporting higher dropout rates among buspirone-treated patients 479.
Lack of Cross-Tolerance
Buspirone does not exhibit cross-tolerance with benzodiazepines, which means it does not suppress benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms effectively. This lack of cross-tolerance limits its utility in benzodiazepine withdrawal management .
Buspirone and Nicotine Withdrawal
Ineffectiveness in Nicotine Withdrawal
Buspirone has not been effective in managing nicotine withdrawal symptoms. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial found no significant difference in withdrawal symptoms between buspirone-treated smokers and those receiving a placebo. Both groups experienced significant withdrawal effects, and buspirone did not offer any additional relief .
Buspirone and Other Substance Withdrawals
Cocaine and Phencyclidine (PCP) Withdrawal
Buspirone has shown some effectiveness in treating withdrawal symptoms associated with cocaine and PCP use. In a study involving cocaine and PCP abusers, buspirone significantly improved withdrawal symptoms in the cocaine group from the fifth day onward. However, its effectiveness in the PCP group was only significant by the thirtieth day, suggesting a delayed response .
Conclusion
Buspirone has demonstrated efficacy in managing withdrawal symptoms for opiates, showing comparable results to methadone. However, its effectiveness in benzodiazepine and nicotine withdrawal is limited, with mixed results and no significant benefits observed. For cocaine and PCP withdrawal, buspirone shows potential, particularly for cocaine, but further research is needed to confirm these findings. Overall, while buspirone can be a useful tool in certain withdrawal scenarios, its application is not universally effective across all substances.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic