---
title: Is buspirone an effective treatment for anxiety? | Niyora
description: Yes, buspirone works as well as benzodiazepine anxiety medications and significantly better than placebo for generalized anxiety disorder and chronic anxiety.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/buspirone-in-clinical-practice-1990/
---

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- Is buspirone an effective treatment for anxiety?

Review, 1990

# Is buspirone an effective treatment for anxiety?

Yes, buspirone works as well as benzodiazepine anxiety medications and significantly better than placebo for generalized anxiety disorder and chronic anxiety. It also has antidepressant effects, and it is safer because it does not cause dependence, though it works more slowly.

 Moderate study design

This is a review of clinical trials; general population of patients with anxiety disorders and depression.

## What they did

This is a review of clinical trials of buspirone, an anxiety medication. The authors examined evidence from well-controlled studies comparing buspirone's effects to benzodiazepines and placebo for various anxiety and mood disorders.

## What they found

Well-controlled clinical trials demonstrated that buspirone's anxiolytic properties were similar to those of various benzodiazepines and significantly better than placebo. Antidepressant effects were also observed. Buspirone seems most appropriate for generalized anxiety disorder, chronic anxiety, anxious elderly patients, and patients with mixed anxiety and depression. Studies in panic disorder have been inconclusive, so it is not recommended for routine panic disorder treatment.

## What it means for you

Buspirone is a safe alternative to benzodiazepines for anxiety because it does not cause dependence, though relief comes more slowly. It may help people with mixed anxiety and depression. However, it is not effective for panic disorder specifically, and it works best for people who can tolerate gradual improvement rather than immediate relief.

## About the study

Original title Buspirone in clinical practice Authors Rickels K Journal The Journal of clinical psychiatry Year 1990 Study design Review What was tested Buspirone (an anxiety medication). Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2211569/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2211569/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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