Buspirone

Buspirone is a novel anxiolytic agent with a unique structure and a pharmacological profile. Belonging to the azaspirodecanedione drug class, buspirone is a serotonin 5-HT receptor agonist that is not chemically or pharmacologically related to benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and other sedative/anxiolytic drugs. Unlike many drugs used to treat anxiety, buspirone does not exhibit anticonvulsant, sedative, hypnotic, and muscle-relaxant properties. Due to these characteristics, buspirone been termed 'anxioselective'. First synthesized in 1968 then patented in 1975, it is commonly marketed under the brand name Buspar®. Buspirone was first approved in 1986 by the FDA and has been used to treat anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and relieve symptoms of anxiety. It has also been used as a second-line therapy for unipolar depression when the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is deemed clinically inadequate or inappropriate. The potential use of buspirone in combination with melatonin in depression and cognitive impairment via promoting neurogenesis has also been investigated.