With one in five Americans suffering from an anxiety disorder, it is little wonder that so many of the disabled endure the irrational and extraordinary fear that marks this condition. Many doctors have treated anxiety with a drug called buspirone. Estimates are that physicians wrote fifteen million prescriptions for it in 2018. Buspirone is a popular drug because it is not addictive. Buspirone also has fewer bad interactions with other pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, supplies may be running short.
Too Few Manufacturers
Another factor driving the popularity of buspirone is that it a generic drug and thus less expensive. This feature may be contributing to its shortage. Because it does not retail at high prices, the companies making the drug struggle to turn a profit it on. This reduces the number of manufacturers.
Unclean and Unsafe
One of the principal producers of buspirone, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, interrupted production at their plant in Morgantown, West Virginia. This came after an inspection by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that found the plant was not clean enough and the workers were failing to follow quality control procedures. The FDA has yet to give Mylan the OK to restart production. This has led to the shortages seen around the country.
No Good Alternative Available
To further complicate matters, there is no brand-name version available. Also, there is no real alternative to buspirone.
As Always, Talk To Your Doctor
If you take buspirone for anxiety, contact your doctor to see what she recommends. It is probably not wise to simply stop taking this or any other medication without medical supervision.
