Buspirone Drug Details
Generic Name:
Availability:
Prescription only
Therapeutic Class:
Anti-anxiety medications
Forms:
Tablet
Administration:
By mouth
Therapeutic Uses:
Anxiety disorders
Controlled Status:
Not a controlled substance
Buspirone Drug Class
Buspirone (byoo-spy-rohn) belongs to a group of drugs called anti-anxiety medications.
Buspirone Age Range
Buspirone is approved for use in adults 18 years of age and older to treat generalized anxiety disorder. It may be used off-label in pediatric patients with anxiety disorders.
Buspirone Uses
Buspirone Uses
Buspirone is used to treat generalized anxiety disorder. It is also used off-label to help with smoking cessation.
There may be other uses of buspirone—your doctor or pharmacist can give you further drug information.
Buspirone Mechanism of Action
Buspirone changes the amount of certain natural substances in the brain that regulate mood.
Buspirone Doses
Buspirone is available as 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg tablets.
The typical starting dose of buspirone for anxiety disorders is 10-15 mg per day every 8-12 hours in divided doses. The dose can be increased by 5 mg/day at intervals of 2-3 days to a maintenance dose of 15-30 mg per day. The maximum daily dosage is 60 mg/day.
For smoking cessation, the dose of buspirone is 30-60 mg/day starting 2 weeks before quitting smoking and continuing for 9-13 weeks.
Buspirone Directions
How To Use Buspirone
Buspirone comes in the form of a tablet for oral administration. You can take it with food or without food, but you should do so consistently.
Read the prescription label carefully and use buspirone exactly as advised. Do not take a higher or lower dose of the medicine or take it more or less frequently than your doctor tells you.
Your doctor may start you on a low dose of buspirone and increase the dose every 2-3 days. It may take several weeks for you to get the therapeutic effects and reach a maintenance dose that works for you.
Missed dose: If you forget a dose of buspirone, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Storage: Store buspirone at room temperature (between 15-30° C or 59-86° F) away from moisture, heat, and direct light in its original container, tightly closed. Do not store medications in the bathroom where they can be exposed to moisture and heat. Keep all medications safely out of reach of children and pets.
Unused medicine: Unused buspirone should be disposed of in a way that children, other people, and pets cannot get to them. Do not throw buspirone in the trash or flush it down the toilet. The best way to dispose of expired or unneeded buspirone is through a drug take-back program. Learn more about proper medication disposal.
NOTE: This medication guide is a summary and may not contain all possible drug information on buspirone. The information contained here may not be up-to-date. This sheet is for information purposes only. If you have questions about buspirone, talk to your doctor for medical advice.
Discounted prices for buspirone
start at $11.65.
Get your FREE BuzzRx card and
start saving today!
Buspirone Side Effects
Buspirone Side Effects
Possible side effects of buspirone are listed below. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects if they are severe or do not go away in a few days.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Nervousness
- Excitement
- Confusion
- Anger or hostility
- Sleep difficulties
- Increased sweating
- Weakness
- Numbness
Some of the adverse effects of buspirone are more serious. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical help if you develop:
- Skin rash, hives, itching
- Swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, or throat
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Uncontrolled shaking
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness, fever, shivering, sweating, flushing, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, pounding heartbeat, muscle stiffness or twitching, seizures, loss of coordination, nausea, and vomiting.
The above list may not include all the potential side effects of buspirone. Contact your healthcare provider if your side effects are unusual or severe or they do not get better over time. You can also report unusual side effects to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Buspirone Overdose: In case of an overdose, call your doctor immediately. You can also call the national poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If someone has lost consciousness, collapsed, is not breathing, or has had a seizure, call 911. Overdose symptoms may include upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, dizziness, and drowsiness.
Source: FDA
Buspirone Warnings
Buspirone Risks, Warnings, and Complications
Buspirone can cause new or worsening health problems in some people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatments for anxiety disorders if you are at increased risk of complications from buspirone use. Some of the risks of taking buspirone include:
|
Precautions Before Starting Buspirone
Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to buspirone, any of the active or inactive ingredients in buspirone tablets, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.
Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, nutritional supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible drug interactions.
Give your doctor a complete medical history. Buspirone may not be right for people with certain medical conditions, such as renal impairment (kidney disease), hepatic impairment (liver disease), alcohol or drug abuse, and movement disorders.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are nursing an infant with breast milk.
Precautions During Use of Buspirone
Keep all your healthcare appointments while on buspirone. Your doctor may want to adjust your dose and monitor you for side effects.
Buspirone can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Avoid drinking alcohol because it can make these side effects worse. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires your full concentration until you know how buspirone affects you.
Avoid drinking large amounts of grapefruit juice during buspirone treatment.
Tell all your healthcare providers and laboratory personnel you are on buspirone, especially before any surgery, including dental procedures.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while on buspirone.
Buspirone Drug Interactions
Certain other drugs can affect plasma concentrations of buspirone and how it works. Possible interactions between buspirone and other medicines can increase the risk of severe adverse reactions.
Do not take buspirone within 14 days of taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors) such as linezolid (Zyvox), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), isocarboxazid (Marplan), and methylene blue.
Some of the other medications that can interact with buspirone include:
- Anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) and phenobarbital
- Steroid medicines such as dexamethasone
- Benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium)
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluvoxamine (Luvox), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Selfemra), paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil, Pexeva), and sertraline (Zoloft)
- Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor), desvenlafaxine (Khedezla, Pristiq), milnacipran (Savella), and levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
- Serotonin modulators such as nefazodone (Serzone)
- Serotonin receptor antagonists and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs) such as trazodone (Desyrel)
- Muscle relaxants
- Triptan medications used to treat migraine headaches such as frovatriptan (Frova), almotriptan (Axert), naratriptan (Amerge), eletriptan (Relpax), sumatriptan (Imitrex), rizatriptan (Maxalt), and zolmitriptan (Zomig)
- Antibiotics such as erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin, others)
- Antitubercular drugs such as rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
- Antivirals such as ritonavir (Norvir)
- Antifungals such as ketoconazole and itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox)
- Antipsychotic treatment for mental illness with haloperidol (Haldol)
- Calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac) and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan)
- Narcotic pain medications
- Sedatives, sleeping pills, tranquilizers
Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, OTC medications, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.
Buspirone Pros & Cons
Buspirone Pros and Cons
- Buspirone carries a lower risk of dependency and withdrawal symptoms compared to other medications used to treat anxiety disorders.
- It causes less drowsiness than other anti-anxiety medications.
- It is available as a lower-cost generic.
- Buspirone comes in various dosage strengths, such as 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, and 30 mg, which allows easier dosage adjustment.
- This medicine is not for quick relief of anxiety symptoms. It can take several weeks for buspirone to have its full effect.
- You need to take it 2-3 times a day
- It can interact with grapefruit juice.
Buspirone Pharmacist Tips
Buspirone Tips from Pharmacists
You can take buspirone with or without food, but you must do so consistently.
It can take several weeks for buspirone to work. Do not be discouraged if you don’t notice an improvement in your anxiety and other symptoms right away.
Avoid drinking large amounts of grapefruit juice while on buspirone. It can lead to higher peak plasma levels of the drug and an increased risk of side effects.
This medication affects your ability to concentrate. It can also cause dizziness and drowsiness. Alcohol can make these side effects worse. Avoid driving or doing anything that requires your full concentration until you know how this medicine affects you.
Buspirone Rx Savings Tips
Buspirone Rx Savings Tips
Buspirone is a generic medication and it is available at significantly lower prices than the brand name. Brand name BuSpar (now discontinued) and generic buspirone hydrochloride contain the same medicine and are equally effective and safe. Like with most medications, the generic version offers better value. A BuzzRx buspirone coupon can result in big savings on the drug. With a BuzzRx discount card, savings card, or discount coupons, the medication could cost you a fraction of retail prices. Buspirone may be under $12.00 for 60 tablets of the 10 mg dose at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS Pharmacy, and other participating pharmacies with a BuzzRx discount card or free coupon. For the biggest discounts on buspirone, give the checkout clerk your BuzzRx buspirone discount coupon when you drop off your prescriptions.
Lowest Price for Buspirone | |
| Brand N/A | Generic $11.65 |
VIEW DISCOUNTS Pricing based on most commonly-filled versions. Select the strength and quantity of your medication for the most accurate pricing. | |
Buspirone Common Questions
Common Questions about Buspirone
Is buspirone the same as Xanax?Buspirone and Xanax (alprazolam) are not the same. However, both are used to treat anxiety disorders. Xanax is a benzodiazepine and it works quickly to provide relief from anxiety symptoms. Unlike benzodiazepines, buspirone takes several weeks to have an effect. |
How quickly does buspirone work for anxiety?Buspirone typically takes 4-6 weeks to have its full clinical effects. |
Can you stop taking buspirone suddenly?Stopping buspirone suddenly is less likely to cause withdrawal symptoms compared to other anti-anxiety medications. However, withdrawal effects may still occur. Talk to your healthcare provider if you want to come off buspirone, and they will tell you how to do so safely. |
How long can you take buspirone?Most people take buspirone for 6-12 months for relief from anxiety symptoms. Do not take it for longer than your doctor ordered, as this can increase your risk of adverse effects. |
Does buspirone affect sleep?Buspirone is for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Talk to your doctor if insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep) is your main symptom. There may be other more effective medications available. |
What is the price of buspirone without insurance?Without insurance, buspirone can be as high as $72.37, but with a free BuzzRx prescription discount coupon, you could pay as low as $11.65 for the most common version of this medication. Use the BuzzRx drug price look-up tool to find the lowest discounted price, and be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity for the most accurate pricing. While generics tend to have the best savings, you can also use your BuzzRx card and coupons to purchase brand-name versions. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescription drugs—whether you have insurance or not. |
What is the price of buspirone with insurance?Ask your pharmacist or insurance provider for your copay price on buspirone—Copay amounts vary depending on the type of insurance plan you have and if there is a deductible to reach before prescription drug coverage begins. You could save up to 80% on your prescription medication with a free BuzzRx discount coupon for buspirone. When using the BuzzRx lookup tool to find the price of your medicine, be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity to receive the most accurate discounted pricing. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescriptions—whether you have insurance or not. |
SOCIAL