Buspirone

Buspirone (also known as BuSpar) is an anxiolytic drug approved by the FDA in 1986 for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. It is not related at all to the benzodiazepines, and belongs to a family of drugs called the azapirones. Alcohol does not interact dangerously with buspirone, and it may also be useful in reducing cravings for alcohol. It is often prescribed to those with a history of addiction, and can possibly decrease cravings for nicotine.

Buspirone hydrochloride is a white crystalline, water soluble chemical with the formula ₂₁H₃₁N₅O₂. It is administered in 5 or 10mg tablets, and the most common dosage is 15mg per day. The antianxiety effect may be caused by the drug itself, its metabolite 1-2-pyrimidinyl piperazine, or both.

Chemical structure:

                             H H  H H         H
                              \|  |/         /
                        H      C--C      N==C
                         \    /    \    /    \
    H  H H H H O   H  H   C--N      N--C      C--H
    |  |/  |/ //    \  \ / \  \    /   \\    //
 H--C--C   C--C  H   C--C   H  C--C      N--C
    |   \ /    \  \ / \  \    /|  |\         \
    |    C      N--C   H  H  H H  H H         H
    |   / \    /    \
 H--C--C   C--C      H
    |  |\  |\ \\
    H  H H H H O