Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) gained FDA approval of buspirone in 1986 for treatment of GAD. The patent on Buspar by Bristol-Myers Squibb expired in 2001, and buspirone is available as a generic. It is used to treat Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) of very mild to moderate intensity, without any panic attacks (it is not generally considered to be effective, nor does it have regulatory approval for other types of anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and social phobia, with or without agoraphobia).^[1]

Although not FDA approved for the indication, it is sometimes used off-label for augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy against depression.