Buspirone

Buspirone is an oral anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) drug. It has been marketed under the brand name Buspar. Originally developed as an antipsychotic medication, buspirone's anxiolytic activity and "decreased side-effect profile" have made improved it a favorable choice for treating anxiety as a second-line medication after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved buspirone for managing anxiety disorders and short-term relief of anxiety symptoms. A lack of interaction with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors underlies the apparently non-existent risk of physical dependency on buspirone.

Buspirone in the brain acts as a partial agonist for serotonin 5HT1a receptors, weaker activity at serotonin 5HT2 receptors, but antagonist behavior at dopamine D2 receptors. While the mechanism driving clinical effects from this interaction is unknown, 5HT1a activity is thought to be central in providing relief.