Buspar and Alcohol: Are They Safe to Use Together

The following are some facts about Buspar:

1) It is a drug which acts on the central nervous system (CNS).

2) It does not cause any physical dependence like other drugs.

3) Its use may lead to tolerance and addiction.

4) There have been no reports of death due to its use.

However, it has caused severe liver damage in patients with alcoholism or cirrhosis of the liver.

5) Some studies suggest that it may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

6) There are many cases of suicide among users.

This is mainly because they feel depressed when their life is over using this drug.

7) It is not recommended to take it if you suffer from depression or anxiety disorders.

8) It is not recommended to take it if you are pregnant.

Buspar Side Effects:

There are several side effects associated with buspirone. These effects may vary from person to person.

1) Dizziness

2) Drowsiness

3) Blurred Vision

4) Confusion

5) Muscle Weakness

6) Poor Concentration

7) Difficulty in Urination

8) Abnormal Dreams or Hallucinations (especially in elderly patients).

The above information is a brief about the drug, buspirone. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Please talk to your doctor about any medical condition that you might have.

Alcohol is a depressant drug which slows down the central nervous system of the body. It can be consumed either in solid or liquid form or as a gas. It is one of the oldest drugs known to mankind. Its usage dates back to ancient times when people used to make drinks out of fruits and berries, which may have rotted and fermented, thus producing alcohol.

Alcohol is used as a social lubricant, pain killer, anesthetic, and status symbol.

Alcohol is a substance that interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and causes changes in behavior. These effects include slurred speech, poor muscle control, and blurred vision. When consumed in large quantities it may also lead to respiratory depression and death. Long-term consumption of alcohol may even cause brain damage.

Those who drink alcohol to relieve stress or to escape from reality may develop alcoholism. Long-term alcohol abuse may also cause alcoholic dementia. People who drink on a regular basis may be at a greater risk of developing epilepsy. Alcohol damages the brain and causes short-term memory loss.

In extreme cases it may even cause a person to say things, which he normally wouldn’t say. It is involved in a number of traffic accidents and deaths due to this cause.

Alcohol may lead to aggressive behavior in some people. It is also an addictive drug and quitting it suddenly may lead to certain health problems such as withdrawal symptoms like tremors and hallucinations.

The following are the steps that can be taken to help a person who is a victim of alcohol poisoning:

1) Try to keep the person awake.

If the person is asleep, try to wake him up every 10 minutes during the trip to the hospital.

2) Try to prevent the person from choking by keeping him sitting upright.

3) Try to keep him awake by talking to him or by gently slapping his face.

4) Never give the person coffee, tea, energy drinks, or any medication that contains caffeine.

5) Make sure that you or anyone who is helping a person who has alcohol poisoning does not consume alcohol themselves.

6) Try to make sure that the person is not left alone.

Someone should stay with him till he is admitted into the hospital.

It is better not to leave a person with alcohol poisoning alone as he may lapse into a coma and die.

1) The victim may suddenly lapse into a coma and die.

2) The victim may vomit and inhale the vomit, which may cause pneumonia.

He may also choke on his own vomit.

3) The victim may suffer from hypothermia as he is most likely to be unconscious and unable to adjust his body temperature by either moving to a warmer or colder place.

4) The victim may suffer from bleeding in the brain due to fall and hitting his head.

5) The victim may suffer from respiratory failure and fall into a coma due to alcohol poisoning.

6) The victim may suffer from long-term brain damage due to alcohol poisoning.

If a person is in this condition, he needs to be immediately taken to the hospital so that he can be treated for alcohol poisoning. He should never be given any more alcohol.

Related Videos: Teen Drinking Alcohol (AAP Recommendations)

Sources & references used in this article:

Can buspirone induce rebound, dependence or abuse? by M Lader – The British Journal of Psychiatry, 1991 – cambridge.org

Efficacy of buspirone in alcohol dependence: a review by TS Malec, EA Malec, M Dongier – Alcoholism: Clinical and …, 1996 – Wiley Online Library

Assessing the potential for buspirone dependence or abuse and effects of its withdrawal by M Lader – The American journal of medicine, 1987 – Elsevier