How Long After Taking Buspar Can You Drink Alcohol?

Buspar (buspirone) is used to treat anxiety disorders and relieve anxiety. On the other hand, alcohol helps relieve stress for a short period, but in the long term, people must suffer. 

So, how long after you take Buspar can you drink alcohol?

Generally, it is suggested not to consume alcohol on Buspar. When you consume them simultaneously, some health issues arise. As the half-life of Buspar is 6 hours, it takes longer to eliminate it from the body. 

In this response, we will explore these factors in more detail. We will also help you understand how Buspar may lose its efficacy due to alcohol consumption.

How Long After Taking Buspar Can I Drink Alcohol?

Being an alcoholic, if you are on medication like Buspar, do you know how long to wait after taking the medicine before drinking alcohol? Let me tell you, you must wait a few hours after taking the medicine. In fact, the drink increases the sedative effects. Especially when you are consuming antidepressant medicines. It increases the risk of side effects. For instance, dizziness, drowsiness, and concentration problems.

So, can alcohol worsen anxiety or other side effects of Buspar? It’s better to avoid drinking while taking Buspar. But if someone decides to drink, he has to wait until the medication is metabolized. It takes a few hours to metabolize the medicine. 

The Impact of Alcohol on Buspar’s Efficacy

Buspar works by altering the neurotransmitter level in the brain. This is how it manages anxiety. But when you drink while on buspirone, your anxiety symptoms worsen. Plus, it reduces the medicine’s effectiveness. So, does alcohol affect the effectiveness of Buspar?

Buspar and alcohol, in general, affect the central nervous system. The drink, especially, works as a depressant. After drinking, it affects brain function. When someone takes both at the same time, he can feel tired. However, Is it safe to drink alcohol before taking Buspar? Let me tell you,

Sometimes it becomes life-threatening if the amount consumed is high. Another fact you can’t ignore is that consuming alcohol makes you forget, for instance. By drinking this, you may forget to take your medication or consume an incorrect dose of medicine. 

Overall, drinking this hazardous liquid badly impacts Buspar’s efficacy.

How Does Alcohol Affect the Metabolism of Buspar in The Body?

The liquid, like alcohol, and the medicine metabolize in the liver. When someone consumes the liquid, the liver first removes it from the body. That affects other substances’ metabolism. Just like that, the buspar metabolism gets delayed, resulting in efficacy changes. 

Moreover, the drink induces the activity of some liver enzymes. That may speed up the breakdown of the medications and decrease their concentration in the blood. 

Conversely, after consuming alcohol, some enzymes are responsible for increasing the level of the medicine in the bloodstream. So the consumption of liquid speeds up or slows down the elimination of the medicine. Overall, the medicine lost efficacy. 

What Should I Do if I Accidentally Drink Alcohol Shortly After Taking Buspar?

If you accidentally drink alcohol shortly after taking Buspar, you can take the necessary steps to minimize the side effects. First, stop drinking immediately; include the following facts,

1. Don’t get panicked
2. Notice the effects you are experiencing
3. Avoid activities that require concentration and alertness. For instance, driving and operating heavy machinery.
4. Drink plenty of water
5. Seek medical advice.

Are There Alternative Ways to Manage Anxiety Without Alcohol While Taking Buspar?

There are numerous alternative ways to manage anxiety without resorting to alcohol while taking Buspar or any other medication. Also drinking alcohol causes more complications like stabbing pain in the jaw. Combining healthy coping strategies with your prescribed medication can improve overall outcomes and anxiety management. Here are some alternative methods to consider:

Therapy: therapies are highly effective in managing anxiety. For instance, Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based therapy, or relaxation techniques. 

Exercise:  Walking, jogging, yoga, or dancing can positively affect mental well-being. Exercise releases endorphins, natural mood elevators that can help reduce anxiety.

Deep Breathing: Simple breathing exercises can calm your nervous system and reduce anxiety. Try diaphragmatic breathing or other deep breathing techniques.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation: This technique tenses and relaxes different muscle groups to release tension and promote relaxation.

Social Support: Connect with friends, family, or support groups. Sharing your feelings provides emotional support and a sense of belonging.

Limit Caffeine and Stimulants: High caffeine intake can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. You can limit or avoid caffeine and other stimulants. 

Vaping without nicotine: Many people choose vaping to get relieved from stress and anxiety as well. In fact, in vape, you can choose the nicotine strength you want. 

Establish a Routine: Having a daily routine provides a sense of stability and control. It can be beneficial in managing anxiety.

Get Enough Sleep: Adequate and quality sleep is essential for managing anxiety and well-being.

Engage in Hobbies: Participating in activities you enjoy can greatly reduce stress and anxiety.

Are There Any Specific Guidelines for Alcohol Consumption with Buspar?

In general, there is no clear evidence of how much you can consume. However, you should know which drinks contain how much alcohol. An average drink contains 14.0 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol, according to CDC.gov. To know more, check out the table below. 

Now, here are the guidelines according to National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse

Here are the maximum limits according to age

For healthy men up to age 65—

• a maximum of four drinks per day 
• 14 drinks maximum per week

For healthy women (and healthy men over age 65)—

• no more than three drinks in a day AND
• no more than seven drinks in a week

Again, from the same institute, we found that certain people should not drink at all:

• Women who are trying to become pregnant or who are pregnant;
• Who plan to drive or engage in certain activities that require alertness and skill;
• People taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medications;
• Someone with medical conditions that can be made worse by drinking. For instance, someone with hypoglycemia should avoid drinking, especially on an empty stomach.
• Recovering alcoholics; and
• People younger than 21

So, from the above study, it’s clear that you can’t consume alcohol while on medications. Still, you want to drink? Well, you can do so in moderation. But it’s better to share this with your physician. He must suggest your limit for liquid consumption with Buspar.

Can Buspar help with alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

Benzodiazepines act as sedatives, ease withdrawal symptoms, prevent seizures, and lower the risk of consequences. These are the basis of treatment for alcohol withdrawal. Benzodiazepines act on the same brain receptors that the drink affects.

Contrarily, Buspar is not regarded as a first-line treatment for alcohol withdrawal. You can first use it to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Buspar has some anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects but lacks benzodiazepines’ sedative effects. And it is not well-known for treating the symptoms of liquid withdrawal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I have a glass of wine or beer with Buspar?

No. Avoiding a glass of wine or beer with Buspar is better, as both contain alcohol. According to research, 12 ounces of beer contain 5%, and 8 ounces of wine contain 12% alcohol. You can take them in moderation. But over-consumption of them may reduce the effectiveness of the medication. 

Can you drink alcohol after stopping Buspar?

The half-life of Buspar is about 2-6 hours. The half-life may vary regarding metabolism, liver function, kidney function, age, and overall health. Including these facts with formulations and dosages takes a long time to reduce in the body. That means the medicine is a slow-release tablet. So when you stop taking the medication, don’t drink immediately. Wait until the medicine is eliminated from the body. 

Conclusion

Finally, we hope you know how long after taking Buspar you can drink alcohol. Besides, you will understand better when the time is suitable. There is no exact time frame to take Buspar before or after drinking alcohol, but it is always best to consult your doctor, as he will give you the best solution through testing.