Buspirone is typically used to treat which condition, and what is its onset?

• A. Panic disorder; 24-48 hours
• B. Generalized anxiety disorder; 1-2 weeks
• C. Major depressive disorder; immediate
• D. Social anxiety disorder; 6-8 weeks

Answer: (B)

Buspirone is a non-sedating anxiolytic that works gradually by acting as a 5-HT1A partial agonist, so its therapeutic effects build over time rather than giving immediate relief. Because of this slow onset, it’s best suited for generalized anxiety disorder rather than acute or mood-related conditions. The typical onset is about one to two weeks, with better improvement often seen after a few weeks. This aligns with the choice describing generalized anxiety disorder with a 1–2 week onset. It isn’t first-line for panic disorder, major depressive disorder, or social anxiety disorder, since those conditions usually require different treatments or have different onset expectations.