Long term effects of Buspirone

Dear Ask The Doctor: My 15 year old step-daughter has been on Buspirone for over 5 years for mild anxiety. I find when we don't give her the medication there is either no difference or I believe she does better without it. Can keeping her on this medication for so long be doing damage to her physically or mentally? Are there any long term effects from this drug at all?

Dear Gail: Long term treatment with an anxiolytic (buspirone) appears to be safe in maintenance therapy. No significant side effects were found to emerge with long-term therapy. In general, buspirone was well-tolerated during maintenance treatment. No withdrawal reaction has been reported to occur upon discontinuation.

In the end you will have to discuss with your daughter's doctor regarding the benfits and side-effects of continuing the drug for a long term duration.