Effect of buspirone: An anxiolytic drug on blood glucose in humans

The present study investigated the effect of an antianxiety drug, buspirone on blood glucose and plasma insulin level concerning the role of 5-HT _1A receptors in blood glucose regulation in healthy humans. Twelve healthy male volunteers were administered single oral doses of buspirone (10 mg) or placebo, in a randomized, crossover way, followed by oral glucose load (75 gm in 200 ml) at reported T _max i.e. the time of peak plasma concentration of the respective administered drug. The blood samples were collected as predose, postdose and post oral glucose load at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 hr to investigate the effect of buspirone or placebo at basal blood glucose and plasma insulin level and after oral glucose load induced (postprandial) blood glucose and plasma insulin level. Blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations were estimated by glucose hexokinase method and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method respectively. The concentration of blood glucose was significantly (p<0.05) decreased after oral glucose load following administration of buspirone in comparison with placebo however no significant change was observed in the fasting blood glucose and plasma insulin (fasting and oral glucose load induced) level. In conclusions, the present study findings show that buspirone produced a significant alteration in blood glucose level in healthy humans. In addition, study results also indicate that the involvement of serotonergic (5-HT ₁ receptors) mechanism of blood glucose regulation in humans is different from animals.