Buspirone: effects on prolactin and growth hormone as a function of drug level in generalized anxiety

Certain evidence suggests that buspirone, a novel nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytic, may be a 5-HT1A serotonergic agonist and may antagonize postsynaptic dopaminergic receptors. The latter property raises questions regarding a dyskinesia- or extrapyramidal symptom-inducing potential. We monitored serum prolactin and growth hormone in 10 subjects with generalized anxiety disorder and 10 matched controls before and after 4 weeks of pharmacotherapy. A drug effect upon serotonin-modulated prolactin release or on the tubero-infundibular dopamine axis (prolactin; growth hormone) was negligible at clinically effective dosages of buspirone. Concomitant buspirone levels also failed to demonstrate any significant relationships.